Local angler Daniel Finn landed the catch of a lifetime on Valentine's Day morning when a giant Murray cod took a plastic lure. But at no stage did Daniel even consider keeping the fish as he is a firm believer in the catch and release ethos.

He did, however, get some photographs for

posterity which the Western Advocate obtained after finally tracking him down yesterday.

Daniel, 35, estimates the fish would have taken about 15 minutes to land and would have weighed in at about 70 pounds (31.75 kilos), but he didn’t officially put the catch on the scales for fear of injuring it or causing further stress.

“But it was big. By any fisherman’s standards a truly magnificent trophy fish,” he said.

“These fish deserve the respect of what they have become, an absolutely beautiful fish of age and proportion rarely seen by human beings.

“Hopefully his next encounter with the human race is just as gentle and treats him with the respect he deserves.”

Daniel, who lives at The Lagoon – just a stone’s throw from the dam – is a regular at the dam.

“I try to get out for a fish a couple of times each week,” he said.

“I usually take my young bloke Jack, 12, with me, but I was by myself on this occasion.

“Luckily I was able to get my next door neighbour Troy to make a mercy dash over to take a picture on his mobile phone for me before I let it go.”

Daniel said the cod was feeding on a school of juvenile redfin which have taken over the dam.

He said the giant catch shows the restocking of Chifley Dam with native fish is paying dividends.

“Normally you only catch redfin out here,” he said. “I caught a couple of trout a couple of years ago, but nine out of ten local fishos will tell you ‘forget the trout and concentrate on the natives’.”