A SCHOOLBOY reigned supreme after wrestling with a monster fish that put up a 15-minute fight.

Bobby Spiers, eight, hooked a hefty barbel and heaved it out of a river after a mad frenzy of splashing and scrambling.

The Kennington youngster caught the beast, weighing in at 10lbs 4oz, during a fishing trip to Worcestershire with his dad Ben.

Father-of-three Mr Spiers, 33, said: "Barbel are the hardest-fighting fish – people call them the kings of the river.

"It's a really special fish. I had to jump in with the water over my knees to help him get it.

"We were both really chuffed, it was brilliant. He had a big smile on his face. He was overwhelmed."

The pair had battled rain and eight hours of fruitless fishing that day in a different location, before Bobby spurred his dad to drive to Bewdley, which he calls their "lucky spot".

Bobby, who snagged the fish from the River Severn two Saturdays ago, added: "I'm really glad we stayed."

His dad said Bobby had been "over the moon" when he caught his first barbel – a third of the size – the previous week.

He told him it was a day he would "remember for the rest of his life" even though they did not have a camera to hand.

This time he managed to snap his cheeky son, who goes to St Swithun's School in Kennington, sticking his tongue out with his catch before they slipped it back into the water.

It was Bobby's personal best for a barbel, but he has boasted bigger catches with carp.

Mr Spiers said Bobby, who has all his own fishing gear, has joined him on his trips to the river since the age of three.

The youngster is also fanatic about football and plays for the village's under 10s team.