As well as the challenges of fighting such a big fish from a kayak, Mr Harrold, from Mackay, hooked it on a "really light" 4-6kg combo, because he "likes to accentuate the fight".

Once it realised it was hooked, the giant fish peeled 80m of 30lb braid from the reel before crashing across the lake's surface.

"When I heard it crash, I knew it was a big fish," Mr Harrold said.

"I didn't realise it was a world record barra, but I knew it was a snodger."

Mr Harrold, who specialises in targeting big impoundment barra from a kayak, and his fishing partner Mick Self had landed about 15 barra during the four nights they had been at the dam.