My Passion with Marcus Goodsir: Hooked at an early age on the Formula One of fishing

Marcus Goodsir, project manager at Beacons Business Interiors in Batley, talks about his passion for fishing.

I've been fishing since I was four, when I used to head down to the canal at the bottom of our garden, and it's pretty safe to say it's turned into a passion since then.

My passion is actually carp fishing, which I like to think of as the Formula One of fishing. Carp fishing is an involved activity and requires a lot of time to achieve success. I don't just turn up to a river and start fishing, I target lakes or rivers and plan exactly where to go to enhance my chances of catching the particular fish

I'm after.

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For the non-angler it might be hard to understand, but there are individual fish out there which I have pursued for years before finally catching them.

This is no ordinary hobby where a few hours a week are enough to keep your hand in. When I was fishing on gravel pits and lakes for carp, I was often there at least two days a week to be in with a chance of catching the fish I was after.

Each mirror carp, which is the variety I fish for, features very distinctive scale patterns, which is how you can recognise the individual fish you're after.

I've got special polarised glasses to help me see through the water, and I'll climb trees to get a better vantage point.

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My largest UK carp is 38 lb and I've caught carp to 46lb from the River Ebro in south-east Spain.

Other notable captures have been pike up to 28lb and wels catfish to 166lb – that's nearly 12 stone. Once I've caught a fish it's handled very carefully ensuring it's returned to the water in pristine condition for the next person who wants to catch it.

I used to be a fish farm manager as well as a curator at Sea Life Centres, so my passion has also influenced my career, but when I moved to Yorkshire four years ago I moved into a totally different sphere, office interior design and facilities management.

The qualities I need in fishing come to the fore in my day job.

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While managing the fit-out of new offices for our clients isn't exactly like sitting on a lake bank for days on end, the need for meticulous planning, innovation and supreme patience are vital.

Since my son was born I've had less time to dedicate to the fishing, but I have found a pretty impressive 30lb pike in a lake near my house.

I couldn't possibly tell you where – I don't want anyone else getting their hands on it.

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