A shocked angler caught a crocodile while fishing in a canal in Thailand.

The local was out trawling, hoping to catch some freshwater fish in Khlong Pheung canal in Prachin Buri province on February 4.

He felt pressure on the tackle so he dragged the rod thinking a fish took hit bait. But when he pulled it up, he saw the 20kg crocodile instead.

Footage shows the fisherman slowly reeling in the rod, only to find a crocodile at the tip of the hook. A neighbour helped him remove the croc from the tackle before it was freed.

One of their neighbours Rasmee Chuajeen, 52, said: 'We take water from the canal to irrigate our paddy fields so after hearing this news it made me scared. We didn't know there were crocodiles living nearby.

‘The villagers go fishing here regularly. I’m afraid one of the villagers may get hurt as there may be other crocodiles left in the water.’

The crocodile was released in the canal, away from the community. No one was reported hurt in the incident.