Noé Pérez Mallafré, a devoted carp angler with over two decades of experience, finally saw his dream fulfilled on December 8th at the iconic Mequinenza reservoir in Zaragoza. After years of dedication to this type of fishing, he managed to catch a royal carp, a coveted variety that had eluded him until then.
The feat took place during a day of fishing from a boat on the reservoir, where Noé, a passionate fisherman, had carefully prepared the area two days earlier with seeds and boilies. On a frigid morning, in near-freezing temperatures, they began their efforts.
"It was a cold day. We started at 8 in the morning, it was below zero, and the hours passed without any bites. Shortly after, the fog cleared and around 11 in the morning, the sun warmed the water, and the carp started biting," Noé recounts.
His patience paid off when he managed to catch a 16-kilo carp, followed by another weighing 18 kilos. However, the most exciting surprise was reserved for later, around 14:00 p.m., when an intense fight with the reel revealed the presence of the coveted royal carp.
"That's when this huge specimen appeared. This makes us even more eager every day, and all we want is to go out and brave the cold for this reward. This is carp fishing," Noé enthusiastically shares.
Although Noé chose not to reveal the exact weight of the specimen, he emphasizes that the most valuable part of the experience was managing to capture this rare species in Mequinenza and in challenging weather conditions.
In keeping with the ethics of carp fishing, Noé posed for a photo with his catch before carefully releasing it back into the water. His gesture reflects his respect for nature and the preservation of these highly prized species.
