The world’s largest bony fish by weight was another sunfish caught in 1996 off Kamogawa – a city in Chiba, Japan, says the Guinness World Records.

It weighed 2,300kg and measured 8ft 11in long – and though the two men didn’t measure the fish they encountered, they’re confident it was bigger.

“Well we didn’t catch it or have a measuring tape but the largest sunfish on record is 8ft 11in,” said Rich, 52.
“Matt’s board is 14ft long," he added, "and if you look at the pics you can see for yourself how big it looks.