Giants caught off the coast of Littlehampton

The lobsters, netted about two-miles west of Littlehampton, each weighed more than 10lb, something which experienced fisherman and fishmonger, Simon Faber, pictured, said was “completely unheard of” in this part of the world.

Simon, 39, who works at the Riverside Fish cabin, in Pier Road, said: “These lobsters are unbelievable.

“The pair must be about 50 or 60 years old and they are absolutely enormous. They’re something you would only tend to find in a deep-sea shipwreck, not in the Littlehampton sea.

“The average weight of lobsters we tend to catch ranges between 2-3lb. But in all my years fishing, I have never seen any lobster hit double figures like these two.”

This remarkable catch follows in the wake of last month’s haul of a mammoth 24lb 8oz turbot in the sea not far from where the lobsters were caught.

Simon has his own theory as to why the area is being inundated with enormous fish and crustaceans.

He said that, during the past few months, there had been a sudden and uncommon influx of large shoals of sprats – a type of small fish favoured by turbots, cod, and brill – resting up a few miles out at sea.

“They can swim in shoals of millions, which attracts bigger predators,” he said.

“There is certainly something about the sea near Littlehampton. The water is uncommonly warm, for this time of year.

“So perhaps this has something to do with the impressive catches, over the past month.”

The lobsters, along with a third smaller one that was also caught, will be sold at the Billingsgate Fish Market, London, this week. All were caught by a fisherman who asked not to be named.