2022 World OF Angling Spirit

Contents..

8

Making of a

masterpiece

From vision to reality.. how

the SAC Trophy brings

past artefacts and modern

craftsmanship together

16 GLEN MILLIGAN

Sea Angling Classic Marshal

gives a brief overview of the

event and the five species

you’ll be looking for

20 ALIVE & CLICKING

A quick quide to the Angling

Live app

22 ON YOUR MARKS

Some of the fishing zones

of interest and the species

you’re likely to find there

26 KNOW YOUR

COMPETITION

All the boats and anglers

you’ll be up against

20

32

5

34 EXTREME

MEASURES

From start to finish, The

Extreme 745 Game King

prize boat offers stability,

safety, excellence and

much more

40 DISCOVERING

PORTSMOUTH

Famed for its maritime

history, we give you

the background to

some of Portsmouth’s

most iconic landmarks

ROSS HONEY

WELCOME

An introduction from

the founder of the Sea

Angling Classic

It could be yours..

32

Full Prize Table for the event, but be careful

... you’ll only have 60 seconds to choose!

56 ACTION

STATIONS

What do you do

when you want

an on-board bait

station? Build one

yourself!

102

Breams can

come true. .

Local hero Dan

Sissons knows

these waters well

and offers some

valuable words of

wisdom

2

BIG THANKS TO

Marianne Guilois

Honey: Fellow Director

and Owner of World of

Angling Spirit

Lucy Allsopp:Art Director/

Editorof the magazine

Man on a mission . .

EFFTA CEO, Olivier portrat TALKS

ABOUT HIS DETERMINATION to make A

DIFFERENCE TO ANGLING CULTURE

120

World of Angling Spirit magazine 2022

INSIOE YOUR WORLD OF ANGLING SPIRIT MAGAZINE . .

WORLD OF

ANGLING SPIRIT

135

Welcome to the

World Carp Classic

A welcome to the event from

Dynamite Baits’ Daryl Hodges

136 PRIZE TABLE

Minimum £70,000 prize

table up for grabs!

144 IN THE RUNNING

Full list of this year’s WCC

participants

148 KAREL NIKL

2016 WCC Champion

believes you gotta have

faith to take the trophy

184 WCC ROLL OF

HONOUR

We celebrate past

champions from 1998 to

2021 .. who’s name will be

added this year?

193 YOUNG GUNS

WCC Junior Event: How

we’re making sure the

next generation are ready

to take on the mantle

200

ENDLICH MEISTER

World Predator Classic

Champions 2021

It’s been a long time

coming for Thomas Engert

and Marc Ptacovsky

218 FULL LIST OF

COMPETITORS ‘22

226 OFFICIAL MAP

All the pegs, all the

sponsors of the WPC

228 WELCOME TO

HELLEVOETSLUIS

Host venue to the WPC

154

It’s been emotional ..

2021 Champions make WCC history after

catching a 30.4kg – the largest carp ever

caught since the start of the event

168 ANGELO VIOLA

Fishin’ Canada’s presenter

takes on the government

fish lords

176 LAC De MADINE

Your official map to the

World Carp Classic event

212

206 THE FAST AND

THE FURIOUS

The Nitro Z18 Prize boat

ticks all the boxes when it

comes to performance

210 UP FOR GRABS!

There’s Everything to play

for with this amazing Prize

Table package

POWER CRAZED

The 150 Pro XS Fourstroke

engine will be the power

behind your success

252 2021 STREET

FISHING CHAMP

A last minute decision

played out well for

German Jamie Parkins

264 A LO0K AT

THE FUNNY SIDE . .

We thought we’d share

a few lighter moments

just for fun .. every one

a Classic!

3

FOUNDER ROSS HONEY . . THE SEA ANGLING CLASSIC

INSPIRED BY THE

LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE . .

At home, during COVID, I was thinking

about the events that we run and that all

of them were abroad. Pre COVID, I was

constantly travelling to different events

and different countries.

Thinking about how COVID had changed

the travelling landscape and wondering about

the future, I decided it would be a good idea,

with my love of the sea, to study again. So, I

took the exams and qualified as a Commercial

Captain. This led me to spend a lot of time out

on the water, in and around the Solent where I

live and it dawned on me that this area offered

an amazing potential for a fishing competition,

right on my doorstep.

In March 2021, I came up with the idea to

establish a UK based recreational boat angling

competition. There were several recreational

boat angling competitions already, but there was

nothing with as big a high profile prize table and

nothing that compared to the theatre in line with

the events we staged abroad.

With our events, we like to have a big

opening ceremony, boat parades, flags, music,

a festival atmosphere and to include the local

communities around the fishing area.

As time went by, I quickly realised that

Portsmouth had everything I needed to create

a world class event; the maritime history in

Portsmouth, which is second to none, an

incredible infrastructure complex – enough

to support an international event– the unique

facilities and most importantly, the prolific

waters with great fishing.

In June, 2021, I ran a pilot event based out

of Northney Marina. Very quickly, everything

gathered great momentum and just 12 weeks

later, the SEA ANGLING CLASSIC was born!

This was so much more than just a fishing

event, as it involved shoreline clean-ups,

crabbing competitions for children, children’s

angling tuition, poster design competitions

and in the middle of 2021, when COVID had

stamped out most of the fun, there was a

light at the end of the tunnel with our event.

Literally, the day before the event began, the

government altered the tier level restrictions

so that we were able to go ahead. As you can

imagine, the weeks leading up to the event

were nailbiting and crazy.

After months of lockdown and as restrictions

began to get lifted, there was an extra special

atmosphere ... a sense of anticipation and

excitement by everyone involved. We had

great support and encouragement from

The event was such a

success, it highlighted the

excitement and appetite for

a recreational sea angling

competition in the UK

Shaping Portsmouth, the Hampshire Chamber

of Commerce, Portsmouth City Council,

Northney Marina and the angling Trade.

Everybody was up for this event.

The opening party was a total celebration

– including a brilliant live band, Mermaid Gin

providing fantastic cocktails for everyone and

stands from the event partners. It was great to

be back meeting people again, face to face.

It took just over 12 weeks from the initial

idea to actually running this event! It’s amazing

what you can do when you put your mind to it

and have great support from those around you.

The initial event was run as an individual

competition using the live leaderboard app

that we’ve developed over the years. Anglers on

charter boats and recreational boats competed

for a share of the huge prize table provided by

our event partners.

The event was such a success, it highlighted

the excitement and appetite for a recreational

sea angling competition based in the UK.

With the experience gained by running the

invitation competition, we were able to fine

tune some of the rules in preparation for the

inaugural event this year. This included having

a dedicated category for Charter boats and a


SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

PAST

Portsmouth

had everything

I needed to

create a world

class event

5

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC


FOUNDER ROSS HONEY . . THE SEA ANGLING CLASSIC

INSPIRED

BYTHE PAST

LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTRE

seperate one for Recreational boats.

Another fine tune and probably the most

import modification, was that the competition

would be fished as a pairs event on Charter

boats, fishing a maximum of two rods per pair.

On the recreational boats, a minimum of two

anglers and a maximum of four with each boat

being allowed to fish a maximum of four rods.

Having successfully built an online live

leaderboard in 2014 for the World Predator

Classic – which has been used at all of our

events ever since – we wanted to pioneer the

way forward and use the app in the world of

sea angling. Of course, there had to be some

modifications, as some fishing areas had little

or no internet. We also needed to let anglers get

familiar with the app, so we sent out test codes

where they could practice in advance of the

event and also run live tutorials.

The App developer was also on site during

registration to give one to one assistance if

required. It really is cutting edge technology

and we really excited to be developing it.

The format of the event has been adapted

from our other events to make the

competition exciting and challenging

for those taking part and also for those

following it.

We decided that 5 species would be a good

number – selecting Tope, Smoothound, Skate,

Bass and Bream – and that the length of the

three longest of each species per day would

be a great format. The total length of what had

been caught from the longest three of the five

species per boat on Day 1, would be added to

the same total from Day 2, which would give a

total overall length. The winner being the boat

with the greatest combined length over the two

days and the Pair in the Charter boat Category.

The Sea Angling Classic is open to all and

to encourage the next generation of anglers,

competitors can be as young as 10 years old,

providing they are accompanied by a parent or

guardian. There are in fact lots of activities for

children, including Poster design competitions,

shore line clean ups, crabbing competitions,

angling tuition, educational programs linked

to school curriculums and safety on or by

the water. On the educational side, we have

linked with Portsmouth University Marine

department, who will be conducting a

profound scientific study with data that we

will provide from the event. Ecologically, this is

particularly fascinating and links perfectly with

the sea grass replanting initiative we have.

To achieve what we have this year, has

involved an incredible team of people working

together for countless hours over meetings and

planning.

Child friendly... Young people are always

at the front of my mind, as they will be

responsible for keeping the sport alive

The opening ceremony will be spectacular.

If there’s one thing I really love, it’s flags

flying and the Sea Angling Classic will be no

exception.

To begin with, the streets of Portsmouth

will be closed specially to mark the occasion

and allow for the flag parade – a marching

band leading 150 children from the local area,

waving Sea Angling Classic flags, followed

by hundreds of competitors, event partners

and the Portsmouth community. This really

will be a momentous occasion as the parade

enters Gunwharf Quays which will be fully

decorated with flags and banners. And thats

just the start of it ... On the following day, there

will be a Boat Parade of all competing boat

anglers. This will be led by a WW2 gunship into

Portsmouth Harbour – again, specially closed

for us by the Queens Harbour Master. This will

truly be exceptional and Gunwharf Quays will

be buzzing!

Two days of the actual competition will

follow and, unlike most events, the Prize

Giving will take on the day after the final at the

Historic Dockyard with HMS Victory as the

spectacular backdrop to the occasion.

Live bands will be playing and Express FM

will be broadcasting live from the stage area,

all of which will be open to the public and

the Portsmouth community. BT Sports will

be there too, filming and producing a twopart

programme. With all of these activities

happening over two hours, that’s a lot of

coverage!

It doesn’t stop there of course! There is the

huge prize table to be presented. This includes

the incredible first prize of a fully equipped

Extreme745 Gameking boat. I love that sound

the Mercury motor makes when you start it

up and then the roar of the V8 4.6L engine

when you power away . . it’s exhilarating.

The Lowrance Ultimate fishing system is

everything an angler needs on a boat and I can’t

wait to shake the hands of the winners as they

are crowned Sea Angling Classic Champions.

The winners of the Charter Boat category

will also enjoy a host of fantastic prizes. These

include trips abroad, Mermaid Gin, fishing

equipment and more.

As a big samba band leads everybody from

the prize table arena to HMS Warrior, the prize

boat will be launched into the water and the

winners of the Charter Boat category will have

the honour of boarding one of the historic

ships – normally reserved for royalty – as they

do a tour of honour in the harbour.

At this stage all invited guests will board

HMS Warrior for a celebratory drinks reception

and live music. Once back on shore, the

Champions will be led aboard HMS Warrior

by a guard of honour to join the other guests

and show off their amazing trophies. And these

trophies are really quite something ..

Not only are they unique, they are created

from recycled material like no other ... the

Nelson Flag Ship HMS Victory, the aircraft

carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS

Prince of Wales. They are undoubtedly

works of art. BAE Systems apprentices along

with those from Hythe Marine Group have

painstakingly created these masterpieces

whilst demonstrating what world class skills

they possess.

Having crowned our Champions, we will

be looking forward to launching the 2023

Sea Angling Classic event. This will see the

introduction of the European levels allowing

national champions of other countries to come

to Portsmouth to compete for the European

title. And in the years to follow, as with the

other events that have been created, we will

ultimately introduce the Global Champion of

Champions.

I am immensely proud that from the idea

that I had last year that Portsmouth and all that

is incredible about it will be seen by people all

over the world though the Sea Angling Classic.

Thank you to everybody that has shared the

vision that I have had and helped in making the

Sea Angling Classic a reality

Tight lines everybody and please, have a

great time, keep safe and enjoy the event!

n Ross Honey

these trophies are created from recycled

material ... the Nelson Flag Ship HMS

Victory, the aircraft carrier HMS Prince

of Wales and HMS Middleton

7

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC


LABOUR OF LOVE . . THE SEA ANGLING CLASSIC TROPHY

MAKING OF A

MASTERPIECE

One of Angling Spirit’s key initiatives is the before and

after event shoreline clean-up. Competitors and locals are

encouraged to get together to remove any debris and any other

8

First thoughts... the beginnings of the vision,

sketched by Daryl Hodges, then moved on to

an artists impression

BAE Systems met with Ross Honey

on the 25th of January to discuss

the potential of designing and

manufacturing the trophy for the Sea

Angling Classic competition.

Danny proceeded to reach out across BAE

Systems to those with an interest and passion

for the world of fishing and as it happened,

many of them were taking part in the event –

more importantly, including the manufacturing

team of the Thunderer Workshop at BAE

Systems Portsmouth. It was decided that this

project was to be apprentice driven.

Very early within the design phase, the team

agreed the trophy would incorporate features

from both the Sea Angling Classic – from the

honeycomb hexagons to the open mouth

fish and links to Portsmouth’s legacy – from

the historic ships to the iconic landmark, the

Spinnaker Tower.

After that, several meetings took place in the

historic dockyard, which also brought on board

Hythe Marine Services.

These meetings were to discuss initial

designs of the trophy and brainstorm how the

trophy would be manufactured and with what

materials.

It was agreed that we would utilise recycled

materials from Royal Naval platforms,

incorporating one of Portsmouth’s oldest

flagships, Nelson’s HMS Victory and the latest

flagship of NATO’s Marine operations, the HMS

Prince of Wales.

An initial sketch of the trophy, by Daryl

Hodges during one of the earlier meetings, was

passed to Ross Honey who then arranged to

have an artist’s impression drawn up.

Once the impression returned, a series of

conferences between BAE Systems and Hythe

Marine Services.

It’s all hands on

deck as the Trophy’s

journey begins . .

Project kick-off was initiated mid-march with

Cymi Atwal and Jordan Craven from BAE

Systems appointed as joint Project Managers.

The apprentices from Hythe Marine Services set

to work manufacturing a steel mock-up of the

trophy, whilst BAE Systems used CAD to design

3D models and generate dimensional drawings

and printed a small scale 3D model.

Once these designs were completed, both

teams collaboratively presented them to Ross

Honey for initial concept acceptance. Once

approved, it was time to bring the vision to

life. The project team sat down to discuss the

different capabilities and how we could use

these to our advantage.

It was agreed that Hythe Marine Services

would manufacture the final design for the

tower, whilst BAE Systems would manufacture

Throughout the project’s lifecycle, many

prototypes were brought together to

ensure both teams were working parallel

toward the same outcome

Step by step... throughout the design process,

numerous protypes were produced, tweaked

and adjusted until the trophy met the exact

standard required

9

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC


MAKING OF A

MASTERPIECE

THE SEA ANGLING CLASSIC TROPHY

the base plates. Throughout the lifecycle of the

project, numerous prototypes were brought

together to ensure both teams were working

parallel toward the same outcome.

Although we had the initial design and

vision, the meetings encouraged attendees to

express freedom of creativity and design and as

time went on the trophy evolved into something

even more unique, bringing with it a greater

level of passion to the project by everyone

involved.

With this freedom of innovation

and expression, the project has allowed

our organisations to really show off the

workshop’s capabilities. Mentors like

ex-apprentice George Clayton, were

given the opportunity to teach the

upcoming apprentices the possibilities

and potentials of what their skills could

create without limitations or restrictions

on freedom of creativity. The largest

aspect of creating this trophy was that

everyone involved wanted the final piece

to stand out and have a high standard

of detail and craftsmanship from every

angle.

Throughout the whole process,

the two organisations were in close

communication, not only with each other

but also with Ross Honey. Ross was able to

provide us with the wood from HMS Victory

and the Portsmouth Lord Mayors’ crest which

was incorporated into the design and whilst

we understood our capabilities, we were also

experimenting and learning. Thankfully Lee

White of the workshop had experience with

resin and was able to offer support.

Similar to the construction of a Naval ship,

there were a lot of teams providing support,

right down to the smallest of tasks. There were

points within this project where efficient project

management was required and decisions had

Ross was able to provide

us with the wood from HMS

Victory and the Portsmouth

Lord Mayors’ crest which

was incorporated into the

design

to be made in order to meet the customer’s

deadline.

Through the dedication and hard work from

different areas of both organisations including

Joiners, Machine operators, Engravers,

Constructors, Fabricators and Welders plus subcontracting

polishers in the end it was brought

together to create the final product on time.

We would also like to give a special shout out

to the polishers M M P Electrovibe UK Ltd. who

dropped everything to help out.

During the analysis of the artist’s impression,

it was agreed every aspect of the trophy was to

be manufactured in house, right down to the

machined HMS Victory copper rivets engraved

with the Sea Angling Classic logo.


“We took the artist’s impression and made a

decision on a measurement to make the final

product, this was 750 mm. We then decided

to make the spinnaker in 2 parts, one being

the cage and the other being the back piece.

This made it easier to polish and get the mirror

finish. We then used brass to add contrast and

depth to the stainless.

Some of the problems we ran into when

building the final product were the distortion

caused by welding, where the prototype was

made of mild steel and the final product

was made of stainless steel it possessed

different characteristics and pulled in different

directions, so to amend this we made sure it

was clamped tightly in the position we needed

Attendees were encouraged to express

freedom of creativity and design bringing

a greater level of passion to the project

Recycled components used . .

n The round bar was recycled material

from a job completed on the HMS Prince

Of Wales in 2020.

n The stainless was an off cut from a job

taken place on HMS Middleton in 2021.

n The Oak and copper were salvaged

materials from the HMS Victory’s

refurbishment.

What is it made of?

n 250-Year-old Timber

n Government approved mahogany

n Aluminium, copper and brass

n Resin inlay

n Stainless steel

Of course we could not have

an event with out a trophy ...

Words can never do justice to the

phenomenal work of art that

carries the name “Sea Angling

Classic trophy”.

To see the pride on the faces of

everybody involved in the making

of this trophy when it was revealed

with HMS Victory as the backdrop,

is something that I will never

forget.

I would profoundly like to thank

everyone for making this happen

and congratulate BAE Systems

and The Hythe MarineServices for

hitting every single deadline on

time.

This work of art, is so much

more than a trophy. It represents

skill, commitment, cooperation,

education, vision patience and

dedication. The Sea Angling Classic

Trophy will be seen by millions of

people all over the world for many

years to come. BAE Systems and

Hythe Marine Services have helped

create something very special

and demonstrated why they are

companies that work at a world

class level in what they do. To have

the trophy made in Portsmouth at

the home of the Sea Angling Classic

is something I am very proud of.

ROSS HONEY

FOUNDER OF

THE SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

11

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC


A piece of history...

After months of

maticulous engineering

and collaboration between

Hythe Marine Services

and BAE Systems, the

Sea Angling Classic

Trophy now stands

proudly by Portsmouth’s

iconic and historic

landmarks


13



SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

MAKING OF A

MASTERPIECE

THE SEA ANGLING CLASSIC TROPHY

it to be. Another problem we ran into was when

bending the round bar, when getting it out the

power rollers we had to make little adjustments

to make sure it replicated the spinnaker tower

and matched the template we had before on the

prototype.” – Lleyton Hussey - Hythe Marine

Services Apprentice

Hythe Marine Services

and BAE Systems . .

It is fantastic to see two reputable, respected

companies coming together to provide

exceptional work experience for the next

generation of marine engineers. Through a

partnership between BAE Systems and Hythe

Marine Services, apprentices are often given

incredible opportunities to work on real-life,

important projects with real responsibilities.

This collaboration was taken one step further

through the Sea Angling Classic event where the

apprentices got to work together to use materials

from some of the most iconic vessels of our

time to create what can only be described as a

stunning masterpiece.

Finally, the apprentices would like to thank

the following people:

Ross Honey: Sea Angling Classic Lead

representative, Thank you for allowing us this

opportunity.

Luke Fitzgerald and Alister O’Neill: from Hythe

Marine Services

Darren McKell, Rob Cox, Danny Thompson,

Darryl Burges, Paul Scantlebury, George

Clayton, Lee White, Nick Carter, Dave Locke,

Paul Webster, Callum Williams, Mark Williams,

Jim Dickson and Patrick Holmes: from

BAE Systems we thank you all for this great

opportunity.

Whoever wins this trophy will not only be

taking home a piece of history but a clear and

present representation of the skills Hythe Marine

Services and BAE Systems are building as the

talent of tomorrow.

A BIG THANKS TO

THE APPRENTICES:

n Cymi Atwal: 5th Year

Project Management

Degree Apprentice

n Jordan Craven: 2nd

Year Project Management

Degree Apprentice

n Beau Greenwood: Higher

Engineering Apprentice

n Alfie Westrope:

Advanced Engineering

Apprentice

n Owen Dunn: 2nd Year

Pipefitter Welder Apprentice

n Lleyton Hussey: 3rd Year

Pipefitter Welder Apprentice

n Bradley Franks : 4th

Year Fabrication Welder

Apprentice

the apprentices got to work together to use materials from some of the

most iconic vesels of our time . . creating this stunning masterpiece

15

GLEN MILLIGAN . . SEA ANGLING CLASSIC MARSHAL

Hello Anglers and WELCOME to this

incredible event, the Sea Angling

Classic 2022!

My name is Glen Milligan and I am the

Head Marshal of the Sea Angling Classic 2022.

From its inception, I have worked with Ross

and his team in planning and creating, what is

without doubt, the single biggest sea angling

event in UK history. Throughout the event,

you will see and hear a lot from me, so let me

give you a brief background to the experience

I will bring to the event and some helpful

advice to get you started.

Like many of you, I have been addicted to

this amazing hobby since I was a young boy.

Born to a fishing community on the Essex

coast, it has been a huge part of my life ever

since. In the early 90’s, I relocated to the Isle of

Wight and then Hampshire where I really got

stuck in to boat fishing around Portsmouth. I

soon became involved in fishing competitions

and had major success, winning individual,

national and European titles with the England

team becoming World Champions!

A career change followed, as I took to the

water full time, firstly owning an angling

charter boat and then a commercial boat,

which has been used around the local

Portsmouth area. I know the area you will be

fishing very well!

My own competition days are now well

behind me. However, I am very proud to be

offered the opportunity to get involved in this

event. The Sea Angling Classic is more than

just another fishing event. What a wonderful

opportunity to show off our sport in this

historic dockyard city. The event has profound

support from the local councils, schools and

businesses, unlike any other!

This will be more of an angling festival, that

the whole city will be behind!

LOOK OUT!

THERE’S

A NEW

MARSHAL

IN TOWN

Best known as a successful competition

angler, Glen Milligan has been boat fishing in

and around the Solent for the past 20 years

– this gives him all the right credentials to

marshal the Sea Angling Classic

This will be

more of an angling

festival, that the

whole city will be

behind!


SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

17

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC


GLEN MILLIGAN

TOP FIVE

LOWDOWN

The Sea angling classic is focusing on five

species from the bigger Tope to the small

Bream. Here’s my top tips on bagging a beauty!

Tope: handle with care

Large packs of Tope traditionally arrive inshore

with the Mackerel shoals in the Summer

months.

These fish are feeding on the baitfish, which

is why fresh fish baits, particularly Mackerel, are

effective. A word of warning, Tope have teeth and

they are absolutely razor- sharp! So, handling the

fish correctly is really important! My advice is to

be sure to wear tough gloves, and to restrain the

fish by holding the upper snout and either a fin

or the wrist of the tail! With the fish incapacitated,

leave your partner to remove the hook.

I recommend using circle hooks, size 6/0

using a chunk of Mackerel as bait. This results in

less deep-hooked fish, it also means that you can

use lighter hook length line because the fish do

not get to bite through it. Otherwise, minimum

80lb hook length or a wire trace will be needed.

Again, fishing a flowing trace away from

the boat will result in more bites! The fishing

areas are the same as for the Smooth-hounds,

although the deeper water can sometimes be

more productive. Smaller Tope will be found

throughout the competition fishing area, these

smaller fish are less fussy about bait and will

often take smaller Bream baits.

RAYS: Dig deep for

these bottom dwellers ...

Our fishing grounds around Portsmouth

hold several varieties of Rays. There are subtle

differences between all the varieties, but

essentially, they could and do all turn up all

over competition area.

Thornback Rays, Undulate Rays, Spotted

Rays. I have grouped these three varieties

together because generally they are all caught

on similar marks, they are often not that fussy

about where or when they feed, and they all

take on most commonly used baits. They often

taken accidently and indeed can be difficult to

specifically target. Squid and fish baits are the

most productive and these must be presented

hard on the bottom on a flowing trace. A point to

remember is that if one of these rays gets caught

then be sure that there will be others down there

and it may well be a good time to go for them as

they are often caught in 2’s and 3’s!

Spotted Rays are the smallest averaging just

a few pounds, Undulate Rays are much bigger,

typically 10-20lbs!

bass: Look out for divers

TO specifically target the Bass, then there

are marks where the large shoals often feed

specifically, around the shallower banks of

Boulder Bank and the Middle grounds South

of Selsey.

Also, on the edges of the main shipping

channel between the Isle of Wight and

Portsmouth. These fish feed hardest as the tide

is running hard. A clue will be the presence of

plenty of birds on the water or diving. Plastic

lures, small metal jigs will all catch fish by

casting away from the boat and working the

lure from the bottom up.

If the tide is really running hard then just

holding the lure near to the seabed can be

effective!

The odd Bass will also be taken on baits

that are meant for other fish, particularly fresh

mackerel.

BLACK BREAM: small

but perfectly formed ..

The black Bream shoals normally arrive inshore

during May each year.

Popular marks for them will be all along the rocky

marks around Boulder Bank, the shallow rock marks

in Bracklesham Bay,

Bullocks Patch and the rocky areas Between

Bembridge on the Isle of Wight and the Nab Tower,

specifically Princessa and Nab Rock. Most of these

marks will produce rays, Tope and Smooth-hounds

too! Bream will also be taken throughout the

competition area, often they will take the baits meant

for other fish. A clue to their invasion will be rattling

bites on the larger baits.

Bream are not difficult to catch but I’d

recommend to fish as light as possible to catch

more fish.

Using 12-15lb hook line and small squid baits is a

typical local technique. If the tide is running then fish

this on a flowing trace, as the tide eases then small,

baited feathers often work well.

SMOOTH-HOUNDS:

Always ready for a fight

Get familiar with the App ...

The Sea Angling Classic is unlike any

other fishing event that’s ever been

staged in the UK. It is a catch and

release event with fish welfare as a

priority! But this is a fishing competition,

and so we needed to establish a

scoring system for the anglers, a

system that looks after the fish and is

also 100% reliable.

The Angling Live App has been

created especially for the Sea Angling

Classic. Tried and tested, the App is

regularly used at other Angling Spirit

events such as the World Predator

Classic.

The fishing waters around Portsmouth

are well known for the amazing

Smooth-hound fishing during Spring

and Summer. These fish really are a

treat for anglers as they are easy to

catch and fight really hard!

In June, Smooth-hounds should be

found throughout the entire fishing area

of the competition. The most prolific

area starts about a mile East of the Nab

tower and runs up towards Boulder

bank in about 60’ of water, and then up

to an area called ‘The Streets” in the

shallower water. Exact boat positioning

is not necessary as there should be fish

throughout this area.

The size of these fish is between

5-20lbs. The smaller fish will often

take Ragworm and small squid baits.

The larger fish like squid baits but the

absolute No1 bait is crabs! If you’re

feeling brave and want to target the

biggest fish, then hardback shore crabs

and velvet swimming crabs are the way

to go. Peeler crabs in any form will often

produce a fish a chuck, but you’ll catch

small and large fish, along with pests

such as Dogfish.

As Smooth-hounds don’t have teeth,

then a 50lb mono hook length fished on

a flowing trace hard on the bottom is the

way to go. If you can cast this away from

the boat (either uptide or downtide) then

you will get more bites.

The App was expertly adapted

for our use in this event after hours

of testing in varying conditions in our

fishing grounds. You will have plenty of

time to use it and test it. If you have any

questions before, please ask questions.

We are here to help!

The App records your catches and

submits them to the leaderboard. As

a fisherman, I know how important

your catches are to you. So, please

familiarise yourself with the App and

make sure you submit each of your

catches correctly. Mistakes will lead to

rejection!

ANGLING LIVE! HOW IT WORKS .. PAGES 20 & 21

19

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC


ANGLING LIVE ... HOW IT WORKS

LIVE & Clicking..

Introducing the smartphone

angling app where live

captures, reports and results

all happen in real time

How does the

system work?

Every competitor is given a

username and PIN to allow them

to log into an event. Once logged

in the competitor can do various

things including add a fish, view

their scorecard, view the overall

leader board, view notifications

and view pending, approved and

rejected fish.

20

What is

Angling LIVE?

The angling match scene has

been growing every year and

now you can’t avoid being drawn

into the exciting competition,

whatever your angling discipline.

Angling LIVE is a smartphone

application that takes away the

manual process for recording

fish captures and reports in

real time. Having this facility

means everything is ‘as it

happens’ and the event

organisers can display

live leader boards to

a vast audience, run

statistics through

a fish log

database and

eliminate

the need

for any

paper.

What does Angling LIVE look like?

The system has been developed to be intuitive. The app runs in-line with other popular

apps such as Facebook and Twitter with a bottom menu bar providing the content in

a viewing window. It remembers where you left off so you can quickly switch between

tabs without losing data and having to repeatedly log in.

All matches will run in the ‘live’ tab and this is where competitors will be able to log in

and submit their catches.

1

Should I trust

Angling LIVE?

The app has been running since 2017, albeit

in its simplest form. Over 10,000 competition

fish have been logged through the system with

an accuracy of 100% over 16 different match

formats. Due to the way Angling LIVE records

fish captures means the system is bullet proof.

All competition leader boards are generated

from complex coding that interrogates the fish

log. Each piece of coding is tested, then tested

again to ensure what is going to be displayed

is the truth. From standard cumulative totals

to points conversion over multiple days, the

system can do it all with impressive accuracy.

How many have

downloaded the Angling

LIVE app and viewed the

leader boards?

The app has over 12,000 downloads from

countries all around the world. The split

is about 50/50 between iOS and Android

devices.

The statistics on viewing data is somewhat

incredible. Angling LIVE has had over 15 million

transactions since going live in 2017 and

32,000 concurrently users at the same time.

Since 2017, Angling LIVE has upgraded the

server 3 times to keep things running smoothly.

The future

Angling LIVE is a development project and will

remain so for the foreseeable future. The AL

GPS API is currently under trial and provides

GPS positions for all competitors whilst fishing

an event. The app will ping the server every

four minutes with a GPS location and also logs

the GPS location of every fish submitted for

approval. It proved to be a great success

in the World Predator Classic 2020 and it

looking to be rolled out in the near future.

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

3

4

2

How do I submit my

catch and view other

catches?

The details required to submit a fish will vary

from event to event but the process will be

explained within the app and will follow the

rules given by the event organisers.

The app is designed to be intuitive and easy to

use whilst fishing. It is to make life easier, not

a burden! By clicking the ‘Add Fish’ button will

allow the details of a catch to be entered.

Once a fish has been submitted it is

immediately set to ‘pending’. At this stage

the fish is not considered for any of the

generated leader boards but does sit within

the competition fish log database. The event

organisers have access to a separate web

administration panel where they can carry out

numerous tasks, one of which is to review

submitted fish.

They will look at all the submitted details

and images and review the fish against the

competition rules. Should the fish not meet the

requirements it will be set to ‘rejected’; sitting

within the database but not considered for any

scoring. Should the fish be correct and in line

with the rules it will be marked as ‘approved’.

Immediately after this has happen the fish is a

scoring entry and will be considered by all live

generated leader boards. Each stage of this

process can be viewed by competitors from

the user panel by notifications at the bottom

of the screen labelled ‘Pending’, ‘Approved’

and ‘Rejected’. Competitors can click each

notification to see all the fish in each stage and

remarks as to why each decision was made.

5

6

How does the system generate

the leader boards?

This is the clever bit! Each competition has multiple database

tables in order to provide live generated leader boards but

two are extremely important. The competitor tables hold all of

the details relating to a reference, whether that be peg, boat or

individual angler. This is how the system knows who is fishing where

or in what vessel. These details are extracted to input data into

the fish log table when a fish is submitted. The competition leader

board is generated based upon the format of the event. Complex

coding queries the fish log to place the competitors in a winning order

by reference. This reference is then used to extract data back from the

competitors table to display country, team, sponsors etc etc.

When Angling LIVE was developed it was decided that data

extraction was the best way forward for accuracy. The leader

boards are produced ‘on the fly’ using a single point of information. As

long as the fish is in the fish log database and marked as ‘approved’ it will

be incorporated into the angler’s total.

7

Where can

I download

the Angling

LIVE app?

The app is available

in the Apple App

Store and Google Play

Store. There are

no restrictions by

country.

M

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

M. NEW GROUNDS

The new grounds is a large area

of ground that is easy to fish with

depths around 50’ with clean ground.

This area fishes on both tides and

all the species can be caught here

although in general it may be that

they may be smaller fish. Fishing the

edges or contours can produce. The

ground away from the new grounds,

East towards the Nab Tower can also

be good. To the south is ‘Nab Rock’,

which often holds good shoals of

bream, with smoothounds and rays

on the edge.


KNOW YOUR MARKERS

ON YOUR MARKS!

M

E

G. BULLOCK PATCH

Bullock patch is an isolated area

of rock. It is best known for holding

good numbers of specimen black

bream and as such is a popular

local mark. This can make it a busy

mark and can have a significant

impact on catches. On the flood tide

boats anchor just to the west and

fish into the rock. On the ebb tide

boats anchor on the top of the rock

fishing down it. Fishing around the

edges of the rock can produce rays,

smoothounds and the odd bass and

tope.

The five species chosen as scoring

fish for the Sea Angling Classic can

be caught throughout the entire

permitted fishing zone for the event,

particularly during the month of

June when fishing is at its best.

There are some areas that are more

well known for particular species,

it is these marks that we have

highlighted and offered a

brief insight into.

E. HORSE TAIL

This is a relatively easy

inshore mark to fish

that can produce all of

the species although

any tope are likely to

be small in size.

G

N

L

N. PRINCESSA

This is a rocky area that often holds good numbers

of bream. Like many of the other marks, fishing

around the edges can produce all the other

species.

L. BUTTERFLY: RAY BANKS

Easily identified on charts these banks are obvious

to see. Fishing down these banks can often produce

not just rays but all the other species. At the bottom

of the banks in the deeper water larger tope can be

caught.

22

NEED SOME MOTIVATION? FIND OUT WHAT PRIZES

F

F. HOUNDS &

BRACKLESHAM BAY

This entire area is shallow water and

easy to fish with substantially less tide

than most of the marks. It holds large

areas of rock which hold good stocks

of specimen black bream. This area

also produces some rays, small tope,

and some smoothounds.

C. LOO CHANNEL C

This general area consists of

shingle. This is a consistent mark for

smoothounds and Ray

D

B

B. HAIRY BALLS

This is a shallower mark

that is rock and shingle,

it can be very snaggy.

Although shallow it has

significant tide flow. This

mark produces black

bream, smoothounds

and some rays.

A. BOULDER BANK

This is a rocky reef, clearly visible on the chart. A

very snaggy mark; it is easier to fish on the flood

tide anchoring into the reef. During the ebb tide

caution should be exercised as the tide runs

hard and anchoring can be very difficult! It is very

shallow at its highest points and should be avoided

by travelling boats. There’s a clearly marked

navigation channel with distinctive green and red

marker buoy!

The reef holds good quality specimen size

Black Bream. Best to anchor away from the reef

and lines fished into it. Along the edges of the reef

the water is 50-60’ in depth. This area is also good

for targeting smoothounds, tope, and rays. If there

are birds working on the reef, the presence of bass

will be obvious.

A

D. MEDMERRY BANK

A shingle and sand bank that holds

some rays, smoothounds, tope and

bass around the edges.

I

I. BOULDER

The southern corner of the rock can

often throw up a variety of good

fish swimming around the bank. On

the actual rock you will still catch

bream. This corner can often hold

large shoals of bass that can easily

be caught by casting and retrieving

lures.

H

K

J

H. HARD GROUNDS

These cover a large area made up of shingle

bottom. It fishes on both tides and can be

very good for smoothounds particularly. The

tide can run hard but as the depth is around

60’ it is manageable. All the other species

can be caught here. This could be a wise

choice for boats in this event. One mark that

you could fish all day long!

K. PULLAR

The deep water can be very good

for specimen tope and often holds

mackerel shoals. On the shallower edges

smoothounds, rays and bass can be caught.

J. MIDDLE GROUNDS

The middle grounds is an area of

shallow sand banks. Shoals of bass

are often found there when the tide

is running, again cast and retrieving

lures is effective. Fishing at anchor

on the southern side often produces

good specimen blonde rays.

ARE UP FOR GRABS ON PAGES 32&33

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC


CLEARING

THE DECKS

One of Angling Spirit’s key initiatives is the before

and after event shoreline clean-up. Competitors

and locals are encouraged to get together to

remove any debris and any other discarded waste

Very rewarding

way to spend a

few hours. Felt it

was particularly

important to pick up

the polystyrene.. fish

often mistakenly

eat it. Not seen a

Shippams Paste jar

like that for a while!

WAYNE COMBEN

24

ANGLING SPIRIT . . MAKING A DEFFERENCE RESPONSIBLY

Luke and I launch

our boat from

Calshot so it felt

the right place

to carry out the

clean up ..there

was a sense of

well-being, looking

back over the

ground we had

cleaned up

Darren mckell


SAC PARTICIPANTS 2022

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

SEA ANGLING CLASSIC

PARTICIPANTS

RECREATIONAL BOAT CATEGORY

Boat Name Captain Angler #2 Angler #3 Angler #4 Sponsor

LUNA-C Ashley Godwin-Eyles Phillip Godwin

Bad Boyz Martin Fisher Luke Fitzgerald Martin Fitzgerald Nick Wallis

Miss Molly Chris Ellis Steven Tipples Alan Woodage

Go For It

Daniel Read

Wahoo Adam Kirby Ashley Dowdswell Charlie Gatrell Steven Manning

Shorething John Baggs William Baynes

Marijeta Robert Groves Paul Chapple

Oneday Kim Bowden Dick Prosser

Big G Tony Dickson Steve Andrews

Victors Vessel Tony Allen Martin Allen

Avonhurst Jason Williams Liam Smith

Bang Tidy Jimmy Lemon Aled Nicholas Awesome FW

Well Plumbed Gary Mead Paul Want Bob Lawrence Richard Herbert

Tequila Jon Challinor Kelvin Hindmarch

Pebbles Steve Stefanou Jeanette Stefanou

Debbie-ann Andrew Gerstel Liam Gerstel

Motley Crew Too Jamie Eyers Mark Oldfield

Reel Deal Ryan Sibbons Lee Parsons

Life of Riley Terry Wallworth Graham Dickinson

Captain Sherri Ben Ralph Wayne Moth

Lucky Strike ii Ben Carter Dave Chidzoy

Billy Bouy Thomas Baker Aidan Ely

Thresher Wayne Comben Grant Childs

Messy Neil Buckett Alan Brand

Deep Blue 2 Gareth Williams Geoff Williams Terry Walden

Blue Jason Gillespie David Mordecai

Destiny Dean Kilford Clint Jewar

Sophia Marie Steve Kilford Eric Binding

May Queen Tim Newcome Michal Newcome M Newcome

New Dawn Garry Sharp Daniel Pipe

KID-N-ME Ben Coleborn Steve Coleborn

No woman no cry Joe Ansell

Trev

Paintball Stefan Eppelein Kevin Hare

Hot Pursuit Adam Kirby Dan Sissons Peter J Baker

Squidward 3 Darren Mckell Luke Mckell Caroline McKell

Sea Jay

Dan Lumsden

Bill Arnold

Coronado Kevin Long Dave Shappott Tony Burrows

Extreme boats 7.45 Dave Wilson Mark Quilliam Sam Quilliam Stuart Jones Extreme Boats

Jackobie Mark Bryant Matt Boast Lowrance

Lady Margaret Mark Fairhurst Danny Lowrance

Smartfish Will Parkinson David Loony Aaron Barrett Pantaenius

Challenger Geraint Thomas Ryan Thomas O’Grady

Moaning Mertyl Wayne Balchin John Valentine

Time Out Terry Leach Chris Karimzandi

Eva Mai Dave Collins John Locker

Sea Witch 2 Robert Shefford Gareth Protheroe Ray Eyers

Island Son Jim Dickson Vincent Harris Mark Williams Raymond Gattrell

Sowley Jack Coombes Shane Coombes

Chelle Tim Ralph Tom Emmence

Pippin Michael Hardy Craig Hardy Jim Brewer Paul Robbins

Golden Girl Tom Hendersen Lewis Hendersen Adam Hendersen

SAC PARTICIPANTS 2022

RECREATIONAL BOAT CATEGORY

Boat Name Captain Angler #2 Angler #3 Sponsor

Aquaholic Shaun Barnett Matt Barnett

ECA

Alex Hawks

Pedro Clive Newnham David Newnham

Lovecat Phillip Lovegrove Ricky Collier Ricky Christmas

Sea Jet Fred Creamer Jack Austin

Snowflake Darren Mockford Ben Stevens

Bob the

Magnificent Lawrence Sargrove

Gega

Guillaume Fourrier

Kira Darren Kirby Bradley Gattrell Scott Fitzgerald

Orkney

Strikeliner 16 + Andrew Mears Lewis Lemarquand

Chiggsy Steven Eves James Franklin AV Boats

BLUEFIN Jason Cock Victor Kmec AV Boats

JACK THE LAD Ross Stewart Harry Templeman Paul millman Sea Angler

SUPERSMOOTH Ben Wallis Kyle Waterhouse Liam Fasey Penn

CHARTER BOAT CATEGORY

Charter Boat Angler#1 Angler #2

Sportsman’s Knight Trevor Sutch Steve Clemens

Sportsman’s Knight Kevin Preston Jon Law

Harvest Moon Stuart Newell Peter Churchill

Harvest Moon Steve Batchelor Colin Searles

Valkyrie 6 Peter Stotesbury Stephen Dobbins

Valkyrie 6 David Havers Ben Bream

Kelly’s Hero III Mike Bays Chris Hawkins

Wet Wheels Solent Geoff Holt David Rodgers

Wet Wheels Hamble Luke Loudon Dean Loudon

Dotty

Peter Atkinson

Valkyrie 6 Colin Morley C B

Kelly’s Hero IV Arthur Machoney Richard Kitney

Kelly’s Hero IV Neil Deluchi Simon Adams

Deep Blue Anja Heppner Robin Heppner

Deep Blue Torben Boelter Marko Smitt

Anglers’ Edge Darren Westrope Max Jump

Anglers’ Edge Adam Houghton Matthew Crook

Valkyrie 8

Hookpoint

Wet Wheels Solent Andy Beadsley Iam McCoy

Wet Wheels Solent David O’Donnel Trevor Stewart

Wet Wheels Hamble Alan Rackett

Kelly’s Hero III Simon Adams Neil Deal

Kelly’s Hero III Millie Dale Bex Florence

Deep Blue Mike Wimbridge Deano Ryan

27

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC


THE SAC ROADSHOW

LET THE

GAME KING BEGIN

SEA ANGLING CLASSIC KICKS OFF WITH AN EPIC NINE-DAY ROADSHOW

The Sea Angling Classic

Roadshow build-up began on

Saturday 19th March at Gunwharf

Quays with the Lord Mayor of

Portsmouth in attendance.

From there, Ross and his team

headed to Weymouth to embark an

epic nine-day tour up and down the

country – prize boat and trailer in tow

– to promote the Sea Anglng Classic

event, get the nation excited about the

competition and inspire young and old

anglers to get involved.

The next day, it was off to Plymouth

and then Bristol, Cardiff, Nottingham,

Glasgow, Edinburgh, Grimsby and

finally Eastbourne before heading back

to Portsmouth for the launch of the big

boat reveal.

During the Roadshow, visitors

could get up close and personal with

the prize boat, the amazing Extreme

745 Game King kitted out with all the

lastest tech and a Mercury V8 Pro XS

250 engine.

They also got the chance to meet

expert anglers for advice on the best

bait, rods and reels to use, with event

partners Penn, Rapala and Okuma.

Other partners included insurance

Coast to coast...

Sea Angling Classic

founder, Ross

Honey and his team

took the Roadshow

the length and

breadth of the

country to promote

this year’s event.

experts Pantaenius and Wetwheels,

who provide specially adapted boats for

disabled people .

Fishing electronics specialist

Lowrance® joined the tour with their

Technical Support Unit and provided

advice on the best electronic equipment

to use, how to use it, and gave free

software updates to owners who already

have Lowrance units.

All in all, the Roadshow was a huge

success and generated a lot of attention.

from the public and the press.

Next stop ... Portsmouth for the start

of the Sea Angling Classic 2022 event.

29

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SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

THE PRIZE TABLE . .

SEA ANGLING CLASSIC

PRIZE TABLE

32

Recreational

Category

Champions

n Title “Champions of the 2022 Sea Angling

Classic” and trophies.

n 60 seconds to decide between the amazing

boat or £50,000 in cash.

The boat prize comprises of a fully rigged

Extreme 745 Game king with Mercury 250 Pro

XS, Lowrance Ultimate Fishing system and trailer.

T&Cs apply

The cash option includes the use of the prize boat

and entries at various competitions throughout

the UK.

Second Overall winners

n A Seakeeper system installed by Osmotech

Third Overall winners

n Penn equipment and a Lowrance fishfinder unit

n Isle of Wight Sea Angling Classic VIP Tour to

include a custom-fitted Spinlock life

jacket while visiting their factory followed

by a Mermaid Gin meal at the distillery

where the winners will be invited to

choose their favourite gin to the value of

£2000 RRP.

n 4 Reuben Heaton set of scales; trophies

Fourth Overall winners

n Penn equipment and a Lowrance

fishfinder unit, trophies

n Isle of Wight Sea Angling Classic VIP

tour to include a custom-fitted Spinlock

life jacket, a visit to their factory followed

by a Mermaid Gin meal at the distillery

where the winners will be invited to

choose their favourite gin to the value of

£1000 RRP.

Fifth to 9th Place

n 4 Spinlock life jackets provided by Pantaenius;

Penn equipment; 4 bottles of Mermaid Gin plus

event support prizes and trophies

10th to 30th Place

n A bottle of Mermaid gin per angler; a local

partner’s experience for 4 persons to include

Historic Dockyards pass; The Alchemist meals

and cocktails; Spinnaker Tower experience plus

event support prizes, trophies.

Small Boat prize – under 6.7 meters

n 2 Spinlock life jackets; 2 bottles of Mermaid Gin;

Reuben Heaton set of scales; trophies

OVERALL

PRIZES..

H BEST OVERALL OF EACH OF THE

TARGET SPECIES

H BEST PLACED LADIES’ PRIZE

H BEST PLACED 6.7M UNDER

BOAT CATEGORY

CHARTER BOAT

CATEGOTY PRIZES

n Title “Winner of the 2022 Sea Angling Classic Charter

category” and trophies.

n A trip to Finland with a day fishing on the Baltic sea –

includes flights and hotel accommodation.

n Okuma and 13 Fishing equipment and garments to be

chosen by the Champions during a visit to Normark UK HQ

n The opportunity to become part of the Okuma fishing

team – to be discussed directly with the sponsor.

n Isle of Wight Sea Angling Classic VIP tour to include a

custom-fitted Spinlock life jacket; a visit to their factory

followed by a Mermaid Gin gourmet meal at the distillery

where the winners will be invited to choose their favourite

gin to the value of £2000.

n Lowrance fishfinder; 2 Reuben Heaton set of scales




followed by a Mermaid Gin meal at the distillery where the

winners will be invited to choose their favourite gin to the

value of £2000.


chosen by the champions during a visit to Normark UK HQ



n Lowrance fishfinder; 2 Reuben Heaton sets of scales;

trophies

SAC EVENT

ITINERARY..




followed by a Mermaid Gin meal at the distillery where

the winners will be invited to choose their favourite gin to

the value of £1500.


chosen by the champions during a visit to Normark UK

HQ



n 2 Reuben Heaton set of scales; trophies

Fourth Overall winners

n Okuma and 13 Fishing equipment; 2 Spinlock jackets; 2

Reuben Heaton sets of scales; 2 bottles of Mermaid Gin;

trophies

Fifth to 9th Place

n Okuma and 13 Fishing equipment; 2 Spinlock jackets; 2

Reuben Heaton sets of scales; 2 bottles of Mermaid Gin;

trophies

10th to 15th Place

Okuma and 13 Fishing equipment; 2 bottles of Mermaid

Gin plus support prizes and trophies

Charter Boat Skipper prizes

n 1st – 3rd place: prizes will be awarded to the charter

boat skippers with the top three best pairs in this category.

Only one prize per boat is allowed.

n Trophy and Okuma/13 Fishing equipment;

Stainless Steve custom-made landing nets in colours of

bronze, silver and gold and disgorgeous

Wednesday 15th June 2022

12:00 - 16:15:

Registration at Gunwharf Quays

17:45: Official Opening Ceremony

and start of entertainment at Guildhall

square

18:15: Lord Mayor’s official Opening

Declaration at Guildhall square

18:30: Opening Flag Parade with

marching bands. Guildhall square to

Gunwharf Quays

19:15: Live entertainment at Gunwharf

Quays

Thursday 16th June 2022

10:00 - 14:15: Registration at Gunwharf

Quays

16:00: Captains’ briefing, Historic

Dockyards at Action Station theater

18:00: Boat on parade assembly at

Muster Point

18:30: Boat parade commences from

Portsmouth harbour

Friday 17th June 2022

08:00 - 16:00: Day 1 of competition in

The Solent (designated fishing grounds)

Saturday 18th June 2022

08:00 - 16:00: Day 2 of competition in

The Solent (designated fishing grounds)

Sunday 19th June 2022

10:00: Prize giving entertainment

commences at the Portsmouth Historic

Dockyards by HMS Victory

12:00 - 14:00: Prize giving at

Portsmouth Historic Dockyards by HMS

Victory

14:30: Champions Boat Parade in

harbour, Portsmouth Historic Dockyards

by HMS Warrior

14:30: Champions celebration party

Portsmouth Historic Dockyards on HMS

Warrior

BOTH CATEGORY PRIZES..

The following prizes will be awarded regardless to which category

the angler comes from

H LONGEST FISH OVERALL

one prize in each of the 5

target species: (Ray, Tope,

Smooth-hound, Black bream,

and Bass); A trophy; Rapala

lures; equipment from 13

Fishing or Okuma; a set of

Reuben Heaton scales and a

bottle of Mermaid Gin

H BEST LADY

A trophy, a set of

Reuben Heaton scales;

two bottles of Mermaid

Gin and a Sea Angling

Classic

cocktail for 4 at the

Alchemist Gunwharf

Quays.

H BEST JUNIOR

A trophy, a set of Reuben

Heaton scales, Rapala

lures and equipment

from 13 Fishing/Okuma

H SPORTSMANSHIP

Trophy and a bottle of

Mermaid Gin

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC


TAKING IT TO

THE EXTREME

FROM START TO FINISH, THE EXTREME 745 GAME KING PRIZE

34

EXTREME BOATS . . PROUD SPONSORS OF THE SEA ANGLING CLASSIC

Extreme Boats is a family owned

and operated business that has been

producing high quality aluminium

boats for over 20 years.

From a small shed on a rural property

Glenn Shaw combined his engineering

skills with a passion for fishing and boating

to produce a few Aluminium Boats in

what was a market heavily dominated by

Fibreglass. From the early stages Glenn

could see that Aluminium Boats had a lot

to offer. Durability, lighter towing weights

and the ability to customise the boats

to better suit clients needs were just a

few of the many advantages Aluminium

Boats held over Fibreglass. This began a

journey of innovation and refinement

which still continues today. “Every boat is

a compromise, and there is no such thing

as the perfect boat - but we are always

trying to close that gap in search of what

we believe are the best Aluminium trailer

boats available”

TO WHERE WE ARE NOW!

Extreme Boats currently employ over 200

staff and produce more than 600 boats per

year in their Whakatane based factory.

With an in house design team, admin

staff, CNC operators, fabricators, painters,

upholsterers, and marine technicians the

crew at Extreme Boats carry a diverse range

of skills which combine to produce a high

quality product second to none. Extreme

Boats now have an extensive dealer

network through out New Zealand as well

as Australia, Europe, New Caledonia, and

the United States meaning we can now get

boats to most parts of the world and have a

great support network to look after you.

THE “GOOD OLD DAYS”

Friendly reminder of how things were

through a clients eyes!

My association with Glenn Shaw and

Extreme boats goes back to 2006 when I

decided to replace a Fyran 600 Horizon

with an Extreme 650 Game King. With 3

boys in the family and all getting bigger

by the day I wanted a boat that could go

out wider after game fish, but also double

as a family boat at the lake enjoying water

sports. In those days Extreme operated out

of a shed on their dairy farm at Whakatane.

To pick up your new boat you had to watch

out for either a milk tanker or a herd of

dairy cows wandering down the access

road when you arrived. That boat fulfilled

all my expectations of what I wanted,

catching numerous marlin at Waihau Bay

and also great to wakeboard and waterski

behind at Waikaremoana. In 2010 I also

purchase an Extreme 460 to keep at our

bach at Waihau Bay for weekend use as

easy to launch and retrieve solo and always

there for family members to use. In 2015

I replaced the 650 with a new 795 Game

King with an enclosed cabin and really

appreciated the new design features and

the extra size~ Mark Gemmel

BUILT TO LAST

We do not only design and build boats that

perform and look great - we build them

to last and back them with a 5 year hull

warranty!

Where possible we use Aluminium

components such as rod holders, bungs,

cleats, hand rails to name a few and we

weld them in place ensuring a strong

product that will stand the test of time.

With all of the Extreme Boats range from

the 545 and up we also choose to use a

minimum hull plate thickness of 5mm with

6 and 8mm upgrades available, and use

4mm plate everywhere else.

WE LOVE FISHING

AND BOATING TOO!

Not only do we build boats - we USE

boats! Being keen on fishing and boating

ourselves has enabled us to understand

what is required in a boat to not only

perform and look great - but also be

functional on the water. It is by spending

time on a product that you get to KNOW a

product.

BOAT OFFERS STABILITY, SAFETY, EXCELLENCE AND MUCH MORE

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC


EXTREME BOATS . . PROUD SPONSORS OF THE SEA ANGLING CLASSIC

TAKING IT TO

EXTREMES

“PROUDLY ALUMINIUM”

Aluminium Boats have come a long way over

the past decade or so and today it can be hard

to tell the difference in appearance between

an Aluminium Boat and Fibreglass boat. High

quality finishing and design incorporating

curves and athstetically pleasing lines give you

the appearance of a Fibreglass boat with the

lighter towing weight and cutomisation offered

by an Aluminium Boat.

Aluminium is the major component to our

business and due to that we choose to use high

quality Marine grade Aluminium for all the plate

work ensuring a product that lasts. As well as

being lighter to tow, more robust and easier to

customise than Fibreglass, Aluminium offers

many other benefits when it comes to building

boats. Aluminium is the most abundant mineral

on earth after oxygen and silicon. Aluminium is

also infinitely recyclable which means it can be

melted down and reused

without loosing its strength

and structural integrity and

thanks to recycling over

75% of all Aluminium ever

made is still in use. This is

great for our planet and the

environment we love to

enjoy.

EXTREME

BOATS EU

Extreme Boats Eu limited,

was established in 2018

based off the success and

phenomenal growth rate

of the factory in New Zealand, it wasn’t long

before we started to see a sizeable growth rate in

interest levels in Europe and the UK, we needed

to establish a distribution Hub within Europe

and the UK that clients could rely on.

It was with this in mind Mark Divito

established our EU Hub, based out of

Leicetershire UK serving all EU states, with a

state of the art showroom facility backed by

Manafacturers such as Yamaha.

Our the team in Leicestershire are able to

cater for our clients exacting needs and more

importantly provide instant support that

exemplifies our brand qualities and values

which we have successfully built our company

on to date. We look forward to serving you.

We have Demo boats available in the UK and

a full support and rigging team to cater for your

every need.

Please contact Mark anytime 07920 453990 if

you would like any further information on our

ranges, to arrange a visit or take a sea trial, Mark

FROM START TO FINISH

Extreme boats are built completely

on-site allowing us to have full

quality control over every aspect

of the build

and his team are always happy to help. info@

extremeboats.eu.

THE EXTREME ADVANTAGE

When you purchase a boat you will no doubt

have needs and wants which will differ from

other people. This is due to everyone wanting

to do the things that THEY enjoy with their

boat and lets face it - we all like to do different

things in different ways while we enjoy time on

the water! There are a few features that come

standard with all Extreme Boats however - and

it is these things that have made Extreme Boats

the success that it is today!

Predictability: One word that is not often

mentioned to describe a boats behavior is

“PREDICTABLE”, yet it is something that is very

important when you find yourself crossing a

bar, or caught out in rougher seas. Large reverse

chines are built into all Extreme Boats which

make them track very well in following/beam

on seas and restrict broaching. They also ensure

a dry and comfortable ride deflecting spray.

Predicatability cannot be “seen” in a boat - but it

can certainly be “felt”

From start to finish: The build on an

Extreme Boat is carried out on site from start to

DISCOVER THE

EXTREME RANGE ..

645 Game King

The 645 Game King is the perfect balance

between an inshore and offshore boat with

seating options for up to 4 people and a

large enough cabin for overnight trips away.

Whether you are after a family boat, or serious

fishing boat this boat will have you covered.

745 Game King

PRIZE BOAT

Enclosed wheelhouse,

or open configuration

- you decide! The

ultimate inshore and

offshore trailer boat

that has you covered

from an inshore day

with the family, to a

serious day game

fishing offshore.

605 Game King

The 605 Game King is the smallest member

of our hard top family. Extremely versatile and

capable boat offering family fun at the lake

skiing one day and a serious trip out to sea

fishing the next.

795 Game King

When it comes to offshore adventures the 795

Game King has you covered with a massive

2.80m beam giving you plenty of room on

those extended trips.

finish including the design, cutting, folding,

fabrication, painting, upholstery and fit out.

This enables us to be in control of the product

the whole way throughout the build ensuring

all aspects of the build are completed to the

highest of standards.

Safety: All of our Extreme Boats are designed

to have a huge amount of reserve buoyancy.

Large underfloor air tight chambers are located

either side of our central fuel tanks acting like

life rings to keep a vessel afloat if it was to take

on water. Reserve buoyancy is something not

to be taken lightly and will keep you afloat until

help arrives should you find yourself in a worst

case scenario.

Stabiliity: A self flooding keel is built into

our Extreme Boat range which enables a large

volume of water to enter the central vee of the

hull adding extra weight down low when at

rest. This adds a huge amount of stability, and

combined with a wide beam and large reverse

chines ensures your fishing platform is a very

stable one! When underway, the self flooding

keel will rapidly empty to ensure you are not

carrying that extra weight around saving fuel.

Reputable: Reputation is something that is

not given - it is earnt! Over the past 20 years we

have been on a constant journey of refinement

and improvement driven by a desire to be

the best. This has led to Extreme Boats being

New Zealands most awarded Aluminium Boat

manufacturer in what is a very competitive

industry.

Built to Standard: Extreme Boats are built

to CPC standards & CE Certified. Displayed

on the helm bulkhead a CPC & CE certificate

means your boat is designed and built to a safe

standard giving you confidence and peace of

mind that your time on the water will be safe

and enjoyable.

Quality: At Extreme Boats we pride ourselves

on our build quality and producing a finished

product second to none! We build our boats

with passion and back them with pride.

915 Game King

When only the best will do! The 915 has

room to burn and ideal for getting the

configuration that suits your needs and

wants. A serious offshore boat that will let

nothing stand in its way!

The 885 Game King is one serious offshore

weapon built

985 Game King

The father figure of the Game Kings! With

room to burn and ready for what ever

comes its way the 985 Game King has

been designed for serious adventures and

comfort.

1185 Game King

The King of the game! The 1185 Game King

is the largest boat in our Game King range

and ready for what ever comes its way.

Custom seating and layout configured on

application.

37

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC


GUILLAUME FOURIER. . THE FRENCH CONNECTION

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is

Guillaume Fourrier and I am a Frenchman

with a serious passion for angling .. in fact,

my life revolves around fishing.

I am so excited to be attending this year’s Sea

Angling Classic. This is an area I’ve never fished

before and there are so many reasons for me to

be there … the species, the fact the tournament is

open to both lure and livebait, the waters and of

course, the prize table!

Actually, Portsmouth is over 100 nautical miles

from my home town in Dieppe, so I’ve decided

I’ll sail directly to the competition by boat – a

Beneteau Barracuda 7 with 200 HP which is

fully-equipped with Simrad electronic gear and

navigation software onboard, so hopefully I won’t

get lost!

My passion for fishing all began as a child.

Growing up, I was always close to water and

loved to swim so took part in various swimming

CHANNEL

CROSSING

competitions. I was also a lifeguard for a while. One

day, a friend invited me coarse angling and ever

since I have been infected with the “fishing” bug –

spending any time I had learning and refining my

fishing techniques.

At 18, I bought my first boat so I could

experiment with fishing in different ways and when

I was 19, I caught more and more big fish in the

English Channel and that made the local news.

As the passion grew, I began working on a

website, PecheWeb.com – where I could share

my progress and everything I was learning

along the way. This website turned out to be a

real springboard for my career. I started making

documentaries, writing articles and soon gained a

large audience as well as sponsorship.

In 2005, I sent Pêche en Mer, France’s most

popular sea angling magazine, some photos of

fish I’d recently caught and before long I gained

the editor’s confidence and became a regular

contributor to the magazine and in 2006 I joined

the editorial team full-time. I also now write for the

Le Chasseur Français, which is a popular magazine

about hunting and fishing in France where I offer

advice on the easier ways to fish, both saltwater and

freshwater.

In 2007, I collaborated with Sakura’s launch

of new rods and lures for the EU market and

since 2012, I have been in charge of marketing

in Southern Europe for Daiwa. To date, I’ve also

written several books covering everything from lure

fishing to shellfish picking.

In fishing, as in my life, I like a challenge, so for

a few years I was hell bent on going after huge fish

– notably seabass – during which I broke several

records in both France and Europe. My biggest

seabass was in the summer of 2015, where I caught

an 8.6kg monster.

I’ve always tried to understand the way fish

live and and I never tire of discovering new fishing

techniques. I love how sea fishing is increasing in

popularity in Europe – every day the sport seems to

gain a little more kudos and considered a littl more

cool by the younger generation. And as long as

there’s a keen interest out there, I am happy to pass

on the driving forces behind my passion for the sea

and for fishing: a world of escape and adventure,

an encounter with nature, the mix of advanced

technologies with the elements and yes, a lot of fun.

I look forward to meeting you all on the Solent

and good luck at the event.

Having written and

published multiple books

on angling, Guillaume’s list

of achievements makes for

an impressive CV

1998: Started my own website

PecheWeb.com

1999 - 2002: Gained Coast licence

and Deep-sea licence

2005-2006: Writer for Loup&Bar, a

magazine about european Seabass

2006: Writer for the french magazine

about sea angling, Pêche en Mer

n PecheWeb.com receives 3000 visits

a day and becomes FisherMag.com®

2009: Caught a 9,8kg Pollack - French

record. Wrote book on Lure Fishing

2010: Catch of 4 cod French records.

2011: Wrote the book Boat fishing.

n Caught about 10 fish – mostly

seabass – French and European

records.

2012: Wrote the book The Seabass

fishing.

n Marketing & Communication

Director at DAIWA

2013: Wrote the book The Livebait

fishing and The Shellfish picking

2014: Caught a 7,070kg Seabass

– Europe record. Wrote “Vagnon” of

Sea angling

2015: Catch a 8,63kg Seabass – World

record on 8lb class line.

n Wrote 50 Easy Fishing Techniques

in the Atlantique Vagnon and The

shore angling, Vagnon

2016: Wrote Fishing rigs & knots

2017: Wrote Easy shore angling: 40

species, rigs and knots.

n Catch a 4,825kg Ray - French record

2018: Wrote The “Vagnon” of

Sea Angling, 2nd edition and The

Shellfish Picking, 2nd edition.

n GUILLAUME FOURRIER

39

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC


40

DISCOVER

PORTSMOUTH

WELCOME TO THE HOST VENUE OF THE SEA ANGLING CLASSIC

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC


DISCOVER

PORTSMOUTH

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THIS MARITIME CITY

42

Portsmouth is unique in being largely

an island city, with a rich and diverse

history, shaped largely by the strategic

advantages of its excellent deep-water

harbour and its association with the

Royal Navy, stretching back almost a

thousand years.

Evidence of Bronze Age activity has

been found on Portsea Island, along with

archaeological finds from the Palaeolithic

period in Langstone Harbour and from

the Neolithic and Iron Ages on and around

Portsdown Hill. The first well-documented

human presence was at Portchester Castle,

where the Romans and then successive

medieval kings maintained a fortification.

As the upper reaches of the harbour

became silted up, settlement moved to the

mouth of Portsmouth Harbour, in the area

now known as Old Portsmouth.

Sometime between 1170 and 1180 Jean

de Gisors, a French merchant, purchased

the manor of Buckland and founded the

town of Portsmouth, including building

what would later become Portsmouth

Anglican Cathedral. In 1194 Portsmouth

was granted its first Charter by Richard I.

The city continued to develop in

importance and in its role in national and

international events.

The town’s fortifications were

developed, including the Round Tower

and Square Tower, built in the 15th

century. In 1545 Henry VIII watched the

Mary Rose sink in the Solent during an

engagement with the French Fleet, and in

Lights fantastic... illuminations at Hotwalls in Old Portsmouth

Early defence strongholds...

Porchester Castle (top) was initially

occupied by the Romans and successive

medieval kings. Additional fortification

for the city, the Round and Square towers

(above) were built in the 15th century

1628 the Duke of Buckingham - the de facto

Prime Minister - was murdered at what is

now Buckingham House.

During the English Civil War, Southsea

Castle was stormed by Parliamentarians.

In 1662, Catherine of Braganza landed

in Portsmouth prior to her marriage

to Charles II at the Garrison Church. It

is believed that Catherine of Braganza

brought with her the first tea to be drunk in

England.

During the mid-19th century Southsea

began to develop as a middle-class suburb

and seaside resort, home to naval and army

officers and retired professionals.

In the 19th century, the city cemented its

status as the pre-eminent naval base of the

world’s leading maritime and commercial

power. Admiral Lord Nelson left Britain

for the last time from Portsmouth in 1805,

shortly before the Battle of Trafalgar. The

expansion of the Royal Navy and the

dockyard led to an expansion of the city’s

population. Among the workers drawn to

the city were Charles Dickens’ father John

who worked in the Pay Office.

The expansion of the Dockyard

continued during the late nineteenth

century with the introduction of ironclad

and steam-driven warships, leading a huge

expansion of the facilities at the yard. This

created one of the single largest industrial

sites in the world.

It is believed

that Catherine

of Braganza

brought

with her the

first tea to

be drunk in

England

PORTSMOUTH . . SAC HOST VENUE

The identity of Portsmouth as the

“home of the Royal Navy” means that it

also hosts a number of historic ships:

n HMS Victory: Nelson’s flagship, the

visual centrepiece of the Historic Dockyard

and the UK’s only surviving Georgian

warship.

n HMS Warrior: UK’s first ironclad

warship.

n The Mary Rose: Henry VIII’s iconic

flagship.

n M33: a ‘monitor’ launched in 1915.

In 2020 the city also became home

to Landing Craft Tank 7074, one of few

surviving D-Day landing craft of her type.

The Dockyard continued to be busy

during the ‘Dreadnought race’ of the

early 20th Century, when the yard was

launching on average one battleship a year.

Although Portsmouth’s industries have

been dominated by the dockyard and

shipbuilding, a significant supportive

infrastructure grew around this. Brewing

was a notable industry - Portsmouth

traditionally had one of the highest

concentrations of pubs in the country.

Other traditional industries included

ironworks as well as Chubb locksmiths.

The city also had a long-established corsetmaking

industry.

In more recent years the city has

become more known for its high-tech

industries, still linked to the role of the city

in national defence, including aerospace,

with companies such as Airbus and BAE

Systems having a presence in the city and

providing employment for hundreds of

residents.

It has also become a key tourist

destination within the UK, welcoming

millions of visitors every year who head

to the island city to enjoy coastal scenery,

outlet shopping, top attractions and a yearround

programme of events.

n IMAGES COURTESY OF PORTSMOUTH MEDIA STORE

Light fantastic...

Portsmouth

Cathedral (far left)

built by Jean de

Gisors in 1194.

Nelson’s flagship,

HMS Victory (left)

is the UK’s only

surviving Georgian

warship

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC


A SEASIDE

ATTRACTION

Portsmouth is steeped in maritme history, so

when your rods are at rest, we suggest taking

some time out to experience this wonderful

coastal city and it’s fascinating attractions

44

Put the wind in your sails with a visit to

Portsmouth.

With a perfect location on England’s south

coast, Portsmouth is home to world-class

attractions, fabulous shopping, amazing events

and a fantastic cultural and creative vibe. Add to

this an array of evening entertainment, mouthwatering

food and great places to stay and you can

see why Portsmouth is the top choice for a short

break or day visit.

Enjoy the breath-taking views from the iconic

Spinnaker Tower, then stay on the waterfront

with a visit to Gunwharf Quays to shop at over 90

premium designer outlets and eat at one of 30

cosmopolitan bars and restaurants - many with a

sea view.

A short walk takes you to Portsmouth Historic

Dockyard, home to the finest maritime heritage

in the world, including the historic ships HMS

Victory, Mary Rose, HMS Warrior 1860 and M.33,

along with the National Museum of the Royal

Navy and boat trips around the harbour.

Stroll through the cobbled streets of Old

Portsmouth, visit Portsmouth Cathedral, Hotwalls

Studios and the Garrison Church, and explore the

historic fortifications including the Round Tower

and Square Tower.

Continue the walk along the waterfront into

Southsea, where you will find miles of beach and

seafront attractions. Visit Henry VIII’s castle and

The D-Day Story - now including the massive

landing craft LCT 7074.

Southsea boasts not one but two piers, packed

with family fun. Blue Reef Aquarium and Exploria

indoor soft play at Portsmouth Pyramids are

further great options for family visits, along with

the Canoe Lake area, home to Southsea Model

Village, play areas, pedalo hire and the nearby

Cumberland House Natural History Museum.

You will also find plenty of places to eat

and drink, both on the seafront and in nearby

Southsea town centre, which is also home to an


n IMAGES COURTESY OF PORTSMOUTH MEDIA STORE

array of independent and antique shops. Treat

yourself to a bite to eat and purchase a unique

Portsmouth gift to take back home.

Enjoy Portsmouth’s great open spaces,

harbours and nature reserves - ideal for blowing

away the cobwebs and getting closer to nature.

The seafront’s green spaces - Southsea Common

and Castle Field - are the location for many of

the city’s year-round events, with something

happening most weekends throughout the

summer months.

For more entertainment head to one of the

three theatres in the city - Kings Theatre, New

Theatre Royal and Groundlings Theatre - or take

in a show at Portsmouth Guildhall. A range of

other venues host comedy and live music events

throughout the year, check online before visiting

to make the most of your time in the city.

Portsmouth has great literary connections.

Discover more about the city’s Sherlock Holmes

connection at Portsmouth Museum and Art

Gallery and visit the birthplace of the great author,

Charles Dickens, open on selected weekends

throughout the year.

As the UK’s only island city, home to great

sailing, the Royal Navy and an unparalleled

collection of maritime heritage, Portsmouth has

always had a love affair with the sea.

HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of

Wales, the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers, are

both based in Portsmouth. If you are lucky, you

may time your visit when one of these is in port

and available to view from the water.

n For the most up to date information on all

things Portsmouth go to: visitportsmouth.co.uk.

If you need some additional assistance, contact

our Visitor Information Service:

vis@portsmouthcc.gov.uk. n

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

KSM . . PROUD TELECOM SPONSORS OF SAC

Staying connected during

the Sea Angling Classic will

be of key importance for

the event team and anglers

alike .. thankfully KSM

are on board to keep the

airwaves open

Testing the waves ..

KSM Telecom’s MD,

Michael Thornton and

SAC Event Founder

Ross Honey

South coast based KSM

Communications Limited, T/A KSM

Telecom, is to sponsor and provide the

communications network for the Sea

Angling Classic.

KSM Was founded in 2016 by owner

and managing director, Michael J Thornton,

along with his wife Suzanne and daughter

Karleigh, hence the KSM. They now have a

team of nine people, and the company is very

much operated on a family culture with their

customers being at the centre of everything

they do.

Michael is very focussed on the local

community with a lot of things that he

undertakes through his businesses and the

most important one of those is his

community and charity work. KSM

provide charities with a costplus

proposition on very shortterm

agreements. This allows

charities to access the very latest in

communications and IT services at

a near zero cost of entry and very low

monthly running costs.

KSM Telecom are a leading provider of

hosted voice, internet connectivity, IT services

and a wide range of other products and

services such as mobile SIMs, CCTV, network

installations and much more. The company is

proud to be a Certified Microsoft Silver Partner

and are Cyber Essentials accredited.

The company can save businesses

up to 60% on their current IT and

telecommunication services and provide

a dedicated help desk and on-site

engineers free of charge should they be

needed to attend a customer’s premises.

The Sea Angling Classic has, by the sheer

nature of being a water born event, challenges

with comms in keeping the control and

management teams on board the control craft

in touch with the shore-based team. Setting

up a wi-fi network onboard the control craft,

Express FM can report live during the start,

ongoing coverage of the event and finals day

where the event will come to an end. Having

tested the solution with Darren Gamblin

they are excited about the live coverage that

Express FM will be providing.

At Sea Angling Classic’s control and media

suite KSM Telecom will be providing dedicated

networks for voice, data, and broadcast

services. This will provide dedicated bandwidth

allowing each of the services to ultimately

perform at optimum capability. Through hosted

voice applications for smartphone KSM will also

provide a dedicated voice network allowing the

organiser to communicate effectively amongst

SHIP TO SHORE

themselves and away from the traditional GSM

network which will no doubt be very crowded

with the huge influx of competitors and

spectators alike.

Michael J Thornton, Managing Director,

KSM Telecom commented “we could not be

more excited than we are to be chosen by

Ross Honey of Sea Angling Classic to be the

communications partner of choice for this very

exciting event. This is a game a changer for

Portsmouth and this first event will be the first

of many, of that, I am sure. To be involved in the

inaugural event is a real honour and everyone at

KSM Telecom is very proud”

Michael is very much a person focussed on

his community and charity work. Along with

being the managing director of KSM Telecom

Michael is also a Non-Executive Director of

Shaping Portsmouth, a Trustee of Pompey in

The Community and more recently appointed

as a Governor of Havant & South Downs

College. Community runs through his veins

and KSM Telecom also provides free telecom

and IT services to several local charities. Giving

something back is very much in Michael’s and

the companies DNA.

Michael added “working with Ross has

opened my eyes to many more opportunities

where we can make a difference and I look

forward to working with Ross now and well

into the future. Ross is making a significant

contribution to the City of Portsmouth, and I

know that many people are very grateful for

that”


A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

It’s going to get

a bit ‘Rocky”

out there

There’s going to be a real party

atmosphere rocking the Sea

Angling Classic event this year.

Ian James, Morning Show

breakfast presenter and Darren

Gamblen from Express FM, will be

broadcasting their show live from

the Sea Angling Classic prize-giving

stage.

In addition, there will be fantastic

local bands performing, including

Mixed Tape and Frank and Glo and

this will culminate with a samba

band leading everyone at the end

of the prizegiving to the jetty by

HMS Warrior. Here, you will be able

to watch the newly appointed SAC

Champions head out on the water

for the first time in their Prize boat.

Express FM is an incredibly

popular radio station in and around

Portsmouth with over 45,000

listeners. To have them broadcast

a live show and share the exciting

evolution for Portsmouth and its

community is tremendous.

Mix-Tape, one of the hottest, indemand

party bands on the South

Coast, have performed on some

of the largest stages in the area,

including Portsmouth Guildhall,

Southsea Bandstand and are a

regular at The Victorious Festival.

Performing classic anthems

from the last 50 years, they cover

everything from Bruno Mars

to Madonna and Elton John to

Aerosmith. They set up in 2017 with

one goal – to entertain – something

which they’ve done with great

success and critical acclaim!

Lead vocalists Will Maxted and

Tasmin Escott said; “ We can’t wait

to have a party with Sea Angling

Classic, it’s going to be a fantastic

event.”

Welcome to everyone

on this great historic

occasion!

Portsmouth has

always been affiliated

with sailing, fishing

and many great

maritime events.

We are so proud and

privileged to be hosting

this inaugural sea

angling event and we

know, that Portsmouth

will not disappoint

all those who have

travelled far and wide

to compete.

5

Portsmouth is one of the world’s

best known ports. Her Majesty’s

Naval Base in Portsmouth is the

largest dockyard for the Royal Navy

and is home to two-thirds of the

UK’s surface fleet. Our city is home

to some famous ships, including

HMS Warrior, the Mary Rose and

Horatio Nelson’s flagship, HMS

Victory!

Indeed, the Trophy is actually

made from some recycled artefacts

of these actual ships!

I would also like to thank the

schools, scouts and the bands who

have come together to welcome

and bring together this community

in celebrating this occasion.

As a City, we are particularly

pleased that this event has brought

about many shoreline clean-ups

and has involved the University

who are able to do a profound

scientific study with the data that

this event will provide.

Finally, welcome to the Sea

Angling Classic competitors and all

involved to our City. We wish you a

great competition and look forward

to seeing the inaugural champions

crowned!

Without further ado, I hereby

declare the First Sea Angling Classic

competition officially - open! Let

the parade begin.

Councillor Canon Dr Hugh Mason,

Lord Mayor of Portsmouth

47

A brief history

of Gunwharf. .

Gunwharf Quays has

enormous history. In the 12th

century, Richard I first started

construction in the area,

developing a dock for Royal

Galleys.

By the 1500s, it had become

the site of Portsmouth’s

defences, and by the late 17th

century, its stature had grown

further, when Gunwharf was

established as a main ordnance

yard, storing weapons for the

navy and for the army to help

fortify Portsmouth. After the

Ordnance Board was disbanded

in 1855 the Gunwharf fell into

disuse.

The site was re-established

as HMS Vernon when it was

taken over by the Navy in 1923. It

continued as a naval base, until

it was decommissioned in 1986.

All mine divers were trained

here, and the site was integral in

D-Day preparations.

After HMS Vernon was no

longer needed by the Navy, the

Ministry of Defence sold off the

redundant land. Portsmouth

City Council were keen that

the land was used to build and

grow the prosperity of the city.

Their goal being to regenerate

a derelict City Centre site, to

open up the waterfront for public

use, to create jobs, to improve

the attractiveness of the city

and therefore increase visitor

numbers, and to attract further

inward investment.

The development was not

straightforwardas the site

offered huge challenges above

and beyond the norm due to its

location and its previous use.

WHAT’S IN STORE?

Uniquely positioned in a cultural harbour front

location in the heart of Portsmouth, Gunwharf

Quays is the South’s leading designer shopping

outlet.

Set on the beautiful Solent waterfront, the Marina

offers immediate access to some of the best sailing

and cruising on the South Coast. The iconic 170m tall

Emirates Spinnaker Tower is also ideally situated just a

stone’s throw away and provides spectacular panoramic

views of the event.

Visitors are invited to explore Gunwharf Quays’

fantastic shopping during the five-day event – over 90

incredible outlet stores offering a blend of high-end

women’s and men’s fashion stores, childrenswear, shoes

and accessories, sportswear, homewares and lifestyle

and beauty stores, all offering up to 60% off regular retail

prices.

Top tip for shoppers: Gunwharf Quays has partnered

with Dropit to launch a carry to car and home delivery

shopping service, offering guests a new level of

convenience during their trip to the South Coast’s biggest

outlet shopping destination. Most stores at Gunwharf

Quays are participating in the scheme, meaning visitors

can enjoy a bag free retail experience whilst at the event.

The Dropit service is also available for Isle of Wight

customers to enjoy.

Visitors can also find a vast collection of over 30

restaurants, bars and coffee shops to suit all tastes, day or

night. Those looking for other activities will be spoilt for

choice with a 14-screen Multiplex cinema, bowling alley

and casino, there’s something for everyone.

If you’re looking for culture, Gunwharf Quays’

location is ideal to get a real taste of Portsmouth. Nestled

amongst the city’s Historic Dockyard, a short stroll from

the outlet centre will take you to the Mary Rose Museum,

the world-famous HMS Victory, HMS Alliance and HMS

Warrior ships.

With excellent customer service, on site security

and all berthing within a pontoon stroll of the centre,

a friendly and professional team are also on hand to

making your stay an enjoyable one.

GUNWHARF QU

waterfront venue IS THE HUB OF CULTURE, HISTORY AND OF COURSE

48



SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

more than 1,500 anglers estimated to

take part, The Sea Angling Classic will draw

in hundreds of people for the event and will

create a huge boost in tourism for the South

Coast city.

Promoting the support of local businesses is a key

priority in the city of Portsmouth and the Sea Angling

event coincides nicely with this. The VIP Function at

the Spinnaker Tower on 15th June is in collaboration

with local Isle of Wight gin supplier ‘The Mermaid

AYSWith

Gin’. Buying and supporting local suppliers in the

event will help to build a stronger economy and

community in Portsmouth.

The ethos of Angling Spirit is to promote angling

.. GREAT SHOPPING! in a responsible manner; to organise and stage events

with the betterment of angling as the focus. In line

with this ethos, the event will be environmentally

responsible and staged accordingly. The event will see

participants taking part in a shore clean as a condition

of entry, helping to benefit the environment.

The Angling Trust has also teamed up with Angling

Spirit to help deliver a vision by organising a Get

Fishing event for new anglers at the competition and

supporting events commitment to be part of their

Angler Against Litter campaign. In a further show of

support, five competition entry places will be on offer

to The Angling Trust and for everyone they sell, all

proceeds will go to fund the work to get more young

people sea fishing.

Overall, the Sea Angling Classic will be a fantastic

competition in Portsmouth and will bring together

the community to support sustainable fishing. Make

sure to head down to Gunwharf Quays on Thursday

15th June to catch the opening parade.


HISTORY IN

THE MAKING

PORTSMOUTH’S HISTORIC DOCKYARD

50


SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

Take a journey through time

and step on board the HMS

Victory to walk in Lord Nelson’s

footsteps. Experience the plight

of the sailors who went down with

the Marie Rose and marvel at 350

years of the Royal Navy ... the rest,

as they say, is history

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is the UK’s premier

destination for naval history and features a

uniquely impressive collection of historic ships

including HMS Victory, the legendary ship of Vice-

Admiral Lord Nelson, the Mary Rose, the flagship

of none other than Henry VIII and HMS Warrior, a

trailblazer in ship design.

Galleries and museums enhance the offer even further,

with two in Gosport alone, Explosion Museum of Naval

Firepower, housed in a former armaments depot, and

the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, which contains

Britain’s last surviving Second World War era Submarine.

Both these museums are easily accessible via waterbus

during peak period. Other attractions include Boathouse 4,

which is helping to train a whole generation of traditional

boatbuilders, and the Harbour Tour which brings you even

closer to the modern Royal Navy. Portsmouth Historic

Dockyard is the only place in the world to see the Royal

Navy past, present and future.

Read on to discover all there is to experience from

our world-renowned collection of ships, museums and

activities when you visit this remarkable venue.

HMS Victory

One hundred years ago, HMS Victory was brought into dry

dock. Since then, over 30 million visitors have been wowed

by her story, the bravery of the men who lived and often

died onboard, and by Nelson, who led the British fleet to

victory at Trafalgar. Victory is one-of-a-kind, and now also

includes the ability to walk down into the dry dock under

the enormous hull on a dedicated walkway. Visitors get

to experience HMS Victory through Nelson’s eyes, as the

drama of the battle unfolds, deck-by-deck, hour by hour, as

the ship sets sail on September 14th, 1805.

The Nation’s Flagship gallery just across from HMS

Victory tells the extraordinary story of this remarkable

survivor from acorn to Icon. The gallery explores the lesserknown

history of the oldest naval ship still in commission in

the world. One of stunning objects on display is a section of

HMS Victory mainmast, damaged at the Battle of Trafalgar,

which is on display in an exhibition in Portsmouth for the

first time. W. L . Wylie’s panorama of the battle of Trafalgar

has also been redisplayed and digitally reinterpreted so

visitors can get even closer to it.

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC



HISTORY IN THE MAKING


Mary Rose

The Mary Rose is the only recovered sixteenth

century warship on display anywhere in the

world. Built in 1510 for King Henry VIII, she

sank on 19 July 1545 in the Solent off the coast

of Portsmouth, defending England from a

French invasion fleet. When the ship capsized,

its starboard side became embedded in clay

below the soft sediment of the seabed, enabling

it to survive intact.

By extraordinary human endeavour, the

ship was excavated from the bed of the Solent

in 1982, watched live on TV by an estimated

worldwide audience of 60 million. The hull of

the ship was returned by barge to Portsmouth

Historic Dockyard dry dock and 36 years of

ground-breaking conservation treatment

commenced. During that time, an awardwinning

building was erected around her,

creating a state-of-the-art new Museum.

Excavated with her were 19,000 artefacts,

providing a time capsule of everyday life during

the reign of King Henry VIII. This unparalleled

collection consists of items made by or used by

the crew in the course of their personal life and

work.

The museum tells the stories of the 500 men

who lived, worked and died onboard. Listen

to the sounds of the past, smell real Tudor

smells and see the ship brought to life with

cutting edge technology telling the emotionally

compelling stories of what life was like onboard

when she sank in the Solent in 1545.

When the ship capsized, its

starboard side became embedded in

clay below the soft sediment of the

seabed, enabling it to survive intact

52

HMS M.33

HMS M.33 is one of only three

British warships to survive from

the First World War, and the only

one from the Gallipoli Campaign

and the Russian Civil War.

Built on the orders of First Lord

of the Admiralty Winston Churchill,

she was part of a new fleet of small

‘monitor’ gunships designed to

operate in shallow coastal waters.

M33 lost no crew to enemy action

and gained a reputation as a ‘lucky’

ship.

As you explore this lucky ship,

keep an eye out for her four-legged

crew, and the attractive dazzle

paint designed to mislead enemy

spotters.

National Museum of the Royal

Navy Portsmouth

Showcasing treasures from the past 350 years

and examining the common threads which

link the sailor of England’s ‘Wooden Walls’ to

the professional crews of today, the National

Museum of the Royal Navy Portsmouth is

bringing history to life.

The museum’s major gallery, Hear My

Story, tells undiscovered stories from the

ordinary men and women of the ships which

have shaped the navy’s amazing history over

the last 100 years.

Hear My Story brings you closer than ever

before to the real Royal Navy; cutting edge

interpretation lets you see and hear the stories

of the navy in war and during peacetime. The

museum also contains a recently conserved

original copy of Arthur Devis’ Death of Nelson,

as well as the recently opened Her Majesty’s

Service, The Queen’s Role at the Heart of the

Royal Navy Family exhibition.

The Royal Navy

Submarine Museum

An often-unrecognised aspect of the navy’s

power, find out more about submariners

and life under the waves at the Royal Navy

Submarine Museum in Gosport.

Climb aboard HMS Alliance, Britain’s only

remaining Second World War era submarine,

learn more about the work of modern

submariners, and see HMS Holland 1 the

first submarine commissioned by the Royal

Navy. 2022 also marks the 40th anniversary

of the Falklands conflict, and the museum

offers unique artefacts about life onboard a

submarine during this event, including the

Captain’s cabin from HMS Conqueror.

Waterbus

Travelling to our Gosport sites and back again

is made simple by the Waterbus at Portsmouth

Historic Dockyard, located next to Boathouse

4 and across from HMS Warrior. Look out

across the harbour as you travel to either

the Royal Navy Submarine Museum,

Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower.

The Waterbus runs during the second

half of the year and during holiday

periods, and is completely free

with an Ultimate Explorer ticket,

allowing visitors to explore beyond

Portsmouth.

2022 marks 40 years since the Mary

Rose was raised.

The Mary Rose was brought to

the surface on 11 October 1982.

Amateurs and Naval Royal Engineers

alike were dedicated to the cause,

and the project broke new ground in

diving, under water archaeology and

conservation techniques.

A huge team of divers,

archaeologists and scientists returned

the Mary Rose to the surface on live

television, an event seen by around 60

million people worldwide.

The 40th anniversary of the raising

of the Mary Rose is being celebrated

with a new 4D experience bringing

the story to life. Tudor Detectives is

a new AR game families will be able

to play together in the

museum to see

In a matter of moments,

Henty VIII’s favoutite 34-year-old

naval ship, the Mary Rose, collapsed on

its side spilling 500 crew into the murky depths

– 0nly 35 survived. The vessel sank deep into

the ocean’s floor where it would sleep for over

400 years until scientists and conservators

dredged her up in 1982.

WANT TO PLAY

DETECTIVE?

why they think

the Mary

Rose sank.

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC



HISTORY IN THE MAKING


A TRIBUTE TO

HER MAJESTY

To mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, a

new exhibition celebrating Her Majesty’s

loyal service to the Royal Navy, both

official and personal, is now open at the

National Museum of the Royal Navy.

Her Majesty’s Service, The Queen’s

role at the heart of the Royal Navy family,

takes a fascinating look at both her role as

ceremonial head of the Royal Navy and as

granddaughter, daughter, wife and mother

of naval officers.

Photographs record the decades of

service when, as a princess aged just 18,

she launched her first naval ship, HMS

Vanguard in 1944. Since then, she has

launched many others, including HMS

Dreadnought, the navy’s first nuclear

powered submarine, on 21 October 1960.

Included in the display and recently

donated to the museum by the Her Majesty

The Queen, is a naval uniform belonging

to the Duke of Edinburgh alongside his

Admiral’s cap. It joins other uniforms worn

by the Princess Royal and a flying suit of the

Prince of Wales.

n Entry to the exhibition is free with a

valid ticket.

PREPARE

FOR BATTLE

When planning your day out, remember

to check out Laser Quest Portsmouth at

Action Stations for the ultimate adrenaline

fuelled experience.

Set in a pirate stronghold and hijacked

container ship, groups will work together

to defeat the opposite team through

billowing smoke effects and an exhilarating

atmosphere. Based on our action movie,

Command Approved, each session will

transport those who dare to a deserted

pirate base. Laser Quest at Actions Stations

is available for groups and birthday parties

with a minimum of 6 players. Pre-booking

is essential.

n Timeslots can be booked at www.

historicdockyard.co.uk

HMS Warrior

Launched in 1860, this famous warship is an engineering marvel,

bigger and faster than any other ship of the time.

An icon of both steam and sail, explore her four decks and

encounter costumed interpreters each portraying a colourful

character who may have been onboard. Visitors can experience the

captain’s cabin, galley, engine room, and more. All areas of the ship

are packed with historically accurate details – as if the inhabitants

have merely stepped out for a while, so come aboard and experience a

genuine slice of naval history.

Explosion Museum of

Naval Firepower

Housed at the Royal Navy’s former armaments

depot at Priddy’s Hard in Gosport, Explosion

Museum of Naval Firepower tells the story of

the weapons made and stored there for over 200

years. From cannons to torpedoes the museum

also tells the stories of the people behind

these weapons, from designers and makers,

to ordinary seamen. First-hand accounts of

the munition workers who dealt with these

dangerous materials are front and centre.

New to Explosion Museum of Naval

Firepower learn about the remarkable and littleknown

story of the Royal Navy’s Coastal Forces,

which made such an extraordinary contribution

to both world wars in The Night Hunters: The

Royal Navy’s Coastal Forces at War. Taking centre

stage are two Second World War historic boats,

Coastal Motor Boat CMB331 and Motor Torpedo

Boat MTB71. The stories of the small band of

young men, often reservist volunteers, as well as

the Womens’ Royal Naval Service who managed

and worked the shore bases from which the

boats operated, are commemorated.

All areas of the ship are

packed with historically accurate

details – as if the inhabitants have

merely stepped out for a while

Harbour Tour

Portsmouth is the home of the modern Royal

Navy. The Harbour Tour offers unrivalled views

of Britain’s modern frigates, destroyers and the

new aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth

and HMS Prince of Wales as well as historic

buildings, sights and ships.

A Harbour Tour takes 45 minutes and enables

visitors to enjoy fascinating views across the

harbour whilst listening to a lively commentary.

Please note that Harbour Tours may not operate

every day during the winter months. Navy ships

in port will vary daily.

Dockyard Apprentice and Boathouse 4

Free to the public, Dockyard Apprentice tells

the story of 200 years of history through the eyes

of the workers who created the dreadnought

battleships of the 20th century. Learn about

boatbuilding techniques, handle traditional

tools, have a go at knot-tying and more. Once

you’ve seen the history of boatbuilding, see

the future of these traditional techniques at

Boathouse 4.

PREPARE FOR

VICTORY

The National Museum of the

Royal Navy will begin the next

phase of major conservation

works to HMS Victory, intended

to ensure the ship is protected for

the next half century.

Rotting planking will be removed

from the hull and replaced with

new oak, repairs made to the

ship’s structural framework, and

she will be fully re-rigged, in a

process lasting 10 to 15 years and

costing £35 million. The project

will provide visitors with a oncein-a-generation

opportunity to

see beneath Victory’s skin and

experience a First Rate line-ofbattle

ship being taken through a

great repair.

Since opening as a museum ship

to the public by King George

V on 17 July 1928, Victory has

welcomed a host of famous

visitors including Royalty at

dinners and balls. She remains

the flagship of the First Sea Lord

& Chief of Naval Staff, and is the

oldest commissioned warship in

the world.

Also free to the public, Boathouse 4 combines

an exciting interactive exhibition, traditional boat

building training and a brasserie overlooking the

harbour under one roof. Boathouse 4 is home to

the UK’s largest collection of small Royal Naval

craft. Discover the heroic stories of their crews

at the sharp end of naval operations and see

traditional boat building skills in action. The

International Boatbuilding Training College

(IBTC) Portsmouth is training a new generation

of students in the techniques of traditional

boatbuilding, passing on skills vital to the ongoing

preservation of Britain’s historic vessels.

BECOME AN ULTIMATE EXPLORER

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard has a range of tickets on sale which give visitors

extraordinary access to its world-class attractions.

The Ultimate Explorer Ticket is the best value option for 12-month entry to all

attractions. It includes the Mary Rose, HMS Victory, HMS Warrior, HMS M33, the galleries

and exhibitions of the National Museum of the Royal Navy, the Royal Navy Submarine

Museum, Gosport and Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower, Gosport and Harbour

Tours. An Ultimate Explorer is valid for multiple entries throughout the year, with family

tickets available.

Here’s even better news ... We’re offering an Ultimate Explorer money-off deal for all

Sea Angling Classic participants. Please sea the voucher below!

n Find out more on-site or online at www.historicdockyard.co.uk

EXCLUSIVE SEA ANGLING CLASSIC OFFER!

Enjoy this exclusive offer for Sea Angling Classic

2022 attendees, from Portsmouth Historic

Dockyard, where you could enjoy up to £30 off

Ultimate Explorer tickets.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard’s Ultimate Explorer

tickets entitle the holder to unlimited entry to over

10 attractions for a full calendar year. This Sea

Angling Classic 2002 offer gives £15 off individual

tickets and up to £30 off a family ticket (up to two

adults and three children).

Terms and Conditions:

This is a walk-up only ticket, that cannot be redeemed online.

This voucher entitles the user to one discounted Ultimate Explorer

ticket only. Voucher cannot be redeemed during school holidays

and is valid until October 31st 2022

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

Sure to catch on .. Luke Fitzgerald testing the waters

After noticing a gap in the market for

a catch-all storage and bait station,

engineer Luke Fitzgerald set about

creating a bespoke fishing bait

solution for his own boat.

As Director of Value Engineering at

Hythe Marine Services (HMS), Luke has

extensive experience in fabricating bespoke

solutions for the marine industry.

He leads the team at Hythe on anything

from small-scale projects to supporting the

Navy’s warships and composites for luxury

superyachts.

And as a keen fisherman, he knew there

was nothing widely available that would

be suitable as a customisable solution for

a fishing rack. As a result, Luke created a

bespoke fishing bait station from scratch – a

complete custom design to suit the boat and

the needs of the fishermen.

ACTION

STATIONS

When Luke Fitzgerald spotted there was a distinct

gap in the market for on-board storage and bait

station, he quickly set about creating his own ..

What Was The Problem?

Nobody is selling tailored bait stations, so

bespoke boat storage is hard to come by.

Luke told us: “Bespoke custom-made boat

equipment and things like that just aren’t on

the market.”

The aim was to create a fishing

workstation that would fit a toolbox, fishing

rod holders, a chopping table, brushes

and all the necessary equipment and

organisation needed in one place.

What was The Solution?

Nothing like this existed for the customer’s

Offshore 2000 fishing boat. And so, Luke

wanted to create a central workstation that

would tailor to every need when out fishing.

Spending his free time fishing in coastal

waters, as well as offshore fishing targeting

wrecks and sandbanks, Luke knew this onestop-shop

would provide more time to enjoy

the actual fishing.

With a career in fabrication, Luke knows

what he’s doing when it comes to bespoke

solutions for boat owners. He explained,

“I’ve done a few similar projects in the past.


HYTHE MARINE SERVICES... PROUD SPONSORS OF SAC

pretty much

anything the

customer dreams

up for their boat

can be made. The

sky’s the limit

Dream team .. Luke Fitzgerald and MD of Hythe Marine Services, Josh Mathias, put his invention to the test

With custom solutions – pretty much anything

the customer dreams up for their boat can be

made. The sky’s the limit.”

Using 316L stainless steel tube and fittings,

he designed, constructed and fitted this

custom-made fishing bait station.

What is the Process For Building A

Bespoke Fishing Bait Station?

These bespoke units are very appealing to boat

owners, marinas, and anybody with an interest

in fishing or the marine industry.

We asked Luke what the process would

look like for customers interested in a similar

solution.

He explained, “If someone’s looking for

something similar, we can make anything they

want, but finding out what their needs are is

the first step.”

Once the team has a good idea of what the

customer is looking for from their bespoke

unit, they can work backwards from there. The

Hythe team will then produce a drawing and

use CAD software to get the dimensions and

create a 3D image of what it will look like.

This enables the customer to visualise the

unit in their own boat. Finally, the customer

approves the look of the design, before the

team begin the work.

Of course, no project like this would be

complete without testing out the fishing

bait station in person! So Luke and MD, Josh

Mathias, went out and tried it for size, purely

for product testing purposes of course!*

*Hythe returned all catches to the sea. n

Mission accomplished .. Luke’s aim was to create a fishing workstation

with toolbox, chopping table, rod holders and cool box ... everything the

modern day angler needs in one unit

57


AHOY MATEY. . ALL IN THE SPIRIT OF ANGLING

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

JUST PLUM

LUCKY..

BAD BOYZ

DONE GOOD!

Most competition anglers will tell you events like these are less

about the Prize table and more about friendships made ... like

the beautiful moment the Bad Boyz met Well Plumbed

We were invited to attend the sac

opening last year at Northney Marina

and upon arrival we were given the

wrong pontoon number so we were

moved twice until we ended up next to

team Well Plumbed (Gary Mead) who

were all alone. As soon as we turned

up, we hit it off and started to chat.

On the first night of the opening event,

Bad Boyz had a BBQ and decided to invite

Well Plumbed over so that they felt part

of the event and to give them a warm

welcome. What a amazing bunch of people

and what a great night!

As we got to know eachother better, it

turned out that Well Plumbed had already

been in Portsmouth for a week or so

before the opening event and, due to no

knowledge of the local area, had little or no

luck catching any decent fish.

Over the course of the weekend,

we all became really good friends. We

shared fishing marks and suggested Well

Plumbed follow us – we just wanted to

make sure they all had a great experience

and received a warm reception at the

Opening.

This competition is long overdue in

Portsmouth, the city and its surrounding

areas are the perfect location. All the

local fisherman have got behind this

event and it’s been on everyone tongues

for some time.

Personally, the Sea Angling Classic

is an opportunity for me and all the

local angling competitors to showcase

their skills in our local waters. I love

that the event is not only a fishing

competition, but so much more.

It’s a way to meet new people (Well

Plumbed as a great example), share

experiences and learn from others.

On top of that, the backing of all the

sponsors is something else and Portsmouth

should be proud in hosting this event.

n Luke FitzGerald

Last year, we were lucky enough to be

invited to the Sea Angling Classic trial

event, out of Northney Marina.

We’re based in Eastbourne, East

Sussex, so we moved the boat down to

Chichester marina the week before. The

whole team were looking forward to the

event but as we all know, when there’s a

prize table, you don’t get any tips or advise

from the locals!

On arriving at Northney Marina, we

moored up in the allocated berth and

looked around in anticipation at all the

competitors and officials getting ready –

everyone was very helpful, but very busy.

We started prepping Well Plumbed for

the boat inspection, when we noticed a

boat (Bad Boyz) heading to the berth next

to us. As always, your there to help anyone

berth, but they needed no help (experts in

boat handling).

We started chatting and as the day

went on, we just seemed click – like

minded chaps, work hard and play hard.

We asked the guys for any tips on

areas that we should fish and the good

guys from Bad Boyz, suggested we

follow them and they would put us on

the fish, so we did.

The sportsmanship from team

Bad Boys – who we had only met the

day before – was top notch.However,

although the mark they led us to did

produce a lot of fish, none of them were

on the list, so this gave for some great

conversations after the day’s fishing.

Over the next couple of days we fished,

drank a couple of beers and enjoyed the

banter with the guys.

Since then, we’ve all kept in touch and

enjoyed the build-up banter for this year’s

event.

Having said that, when the starting flag

drops this year, were in competition mode.

Regards Gary

The Boyz are alright .. Bad Boyz and Well

Plumbed side by side (top); Gary Mead and the

Well Plumbed Team at last year’s Sea Angling

Classic trial event above

59

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC



ABOVE

& BEYOND

Considered to be the most iconic structure on the

South Coast, Spinnaker Tower rises proudly above

Portsmouth’s landscape at an incredible 170 meters tall

offering breathtaking views of the City and beyond

Built as part of the centrepiece during

the Renaissance of Portsmouth

Harbour Project and designed to reflect

the billowing sail of a ship in honour of

Portsmouth’s famous maritime history,

Spinnaker Tower opened to the public

in 2005 and has welcomed millions of

visitors.

Three viewing decks sit at the top of

the structure where visitors can sit and

relax among the clouds, take High Tea

or a morning Brunch whilst soaking in

the uplifting views from the best vantage

point. However, for those seeking an

adrenaline rush, the Tower also offers

the abseil challenge: a 100m descent

down the side of the Tower – not for the

feint-hearted!

Spinnaker Tower is the perfect

location for the Sea Angling Classic

competition thanks to the breathtaking

23 mile views of The Solent. The outlook

is never the same on two visits as

weather conditions change and different

boats sail in and out of the harbour. The

Tower is the only place where you can

see all the action as it happens, making

it the ideal location for the filming of the

event.

In conjunction with the Sea Angling

Classic Event, Spinnaker Tower is

hosting a VIP event, where the Tower will

be transformed into a gigantic flag to

mark the occasion.

We are delighted for Portsmouth

to be hosting the Sea Angling Classic

2022, as it’s an amazing opportunity for

the city. We’re super excited to see 100

boats stretch the length of the harbour.

Bringing an event of this magnitude to

the city is going to help showcase the

amazing features that Portsmouth has to

offer. The event will to put Portsmouth

proudly on the map.

Although Spinnaker Tower is already

the icon of Portsmouth, this event is

sure to cement it. General Manager of

Spinnaker Tower, Tony Sammut, says:

“In my eyes it could only ever have been

the Tower, we are the icon for the city,

owned by the city, for the people of the

city.” n

SPINNAKER TOWER IS A PROUD SPONSOR OF THE SEA ANGLING CLASSIC

61

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC


SHAPING PORTSMOUTH .. PROUD SUPPORT PARTNERS OF SAC

IT’S ALL ABOUT

TEAMWORK

Our mission is to create sustainable collaborations

and innovative programmes to ensure Portsmouth

becomes the UK’s premier waterfront city in which to

invest, live, learn, work and visit

62

Shaping Portsmouth are proud to partner

with Ross Honey and his team, and we are all

passionate about Portsmouth.

We are bringing Education and Community

together under one event scheduled over five days

across our Waterfront City (15th – 19th June 2022).

This partnership ties in perfectly with Shaping

Portsmouth’s values and vision. Our mission is to

create sustainable collaborations and innovative

programmes that make Portsmouth, Britain’s

premier waterfront city, to invest, live, learn, work,

and visit. The Sea Angling Classic event could not be

better suited!

Shaping Portsmouth has been involved with the

SAC since June 2021, helping Ross with the event’s

promotion, logistics and sharing vital contacts

to ensure everyone is behind making this a huge

success.

The event will bring so much to Portsmouth in

terms of tourism, with people coming from all over

the country and even the world to stay in our city’s

hotels and use all that Portsmouth has to offer from

Gunwharf Quays, the Historic Dockyard and many

more attractions.

It can also bring exposure to our city’s marine

SUPPORT PARTNER HAMPSHIRE CHAMBER

Launching new

partnerships ..

Members of Shaping

Portsmouth and the media

Team at the Sea Angling

Classic Boat reveal

Hampshire Chamber

delighted to support the

Sea Angling Classic

conservation, such as the Solent Seagrass Restoration

and the Solent Oyster Restoration projects, which are

currently active.

The event will partner with our city’s schools and

encourage our young generation not only to be part of

the event but also to learn about marine conservation.

Shaping Portsmouth are very excited to be involved,

and we are looking forward to this fantastic event being

hosted in our wonderful city. We are looking forward to

showing everyone what Portsmouth has to offer!

Our CEO Stef Nienaltowski said: ‘With the greatest

respect to other cities along the south coast, I believe

we are the best city to host this with our heritage and

culture. We hope that anglers will come and see our city

in all its glory – the tourism aspect is incredible, and we

think this will grow and grow.

‘It’s just the start of a brilliant long-term partnership,

and I think the city will benefit tremendously from

this. It will bring significant prosperity to the area and

income to hotels along the coast. I’m looking forward

to putting on a world-class event and in the long future

ahead of us.’

n To find out more go to: https://

shapingportsmouth.co.uk and to get in touch,

please email contactus@shapingportsmouth.co.uk

Hampshire Chamber of Commerce

is a business community that

represents over 1500 organisations

across the County.

Our purpose is to support

businesses by forging connections

within our network, promoting their

services and representing their

needs as the ‘voice of business’

in Hampshire. The Chamber of

Commerce network through its

British Chambers of Commerce

membership stretches out across

the globe.

We are delighted to support

the Sea Angling Classic 2022 in

Portsmouth and to

represent the businesses

in the region throughout

the event. Hampshire

Chamber has a history

of partnership with

major events across the

region, which includes

the Southampton Boat Show, which

Hampshire Chamber has partnered

for 50 years through its annual ‘Boat

Show Brunch’.

Between the 15th and 19th June

the Sea Angling Classic will become

another chance for businesses

in the Solent to come together in

a new setting and event format

in celebration of Hampshire’s

wonderful maritime heritage.

Hampshire Chamber has a

longstanding relationship with the

City of Portsmouth and through

its Portsmouth Business Strategy

Group it brings together leading

local businesses together with

the City Council, University of

Portsmouth, Shaping Portsmouth,

The News, Havant and South

Downs College and many others.

Recently, the Portsmouth Business

Strategy group launched the

Portsmouth and South Coast

Business Week 2022. This involved

key organisations across Portsmouth

hosting events to support local

businesses

Local business leaders are

excited that such a significant event

is coming to their City. Sea Angling

Classic is a great opportunity to

establish a major event giving

new focus and bringing fresh

perspectives to the business world,

inspiring new thinking from all

those organisations participating.

Hampshire Chamber has seen

growing interest around the Sea

Angling Classic from within the

business community and will be in

attendance at the VIP

launch alongside our

members and partners.

The Sea Angling

Classic is so much

more than a fishing

event. It not only shines

the spotlight on Portsmouth but

also shares a commitment on real

current issues such as sustainability.

Sea Angling’s ‘Friends of the Solent’

initiative includes groups such as

Solent Seagrass and Chichester

Harbour Conservancy whose

aim is to protect the Solent for

future generations. This reflects

Hampshire Chamber’s key strategies

of sustainability at the centre of

growth. Businesses are enthused

by major events coming to their

region and by supporting this

prestigious event it also opens an

avenue to demonstrating a shared

commitment to clean growth.

Hampshire Chamber looks

forward to seeing you at this

celebration of the wonderful coastal

environment of the Solent.

The Sea Angling Classic will become another chance for

businesses in the Solent to come together in a new setting

to celebrate Hampshire’s wonderful maritime heritage

SUSTAINABLE ANGLING ... UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH

Now, FOR the

Science bit. .

BIOLOGISTS will BENEFIt FROM ‘CITIZEN SCIENCE’ during Sea ANgling Classic

64


SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

of species caught within the Solent, but

also provide important data on size ranges

for each species. Georeferenced location

data collected for each fish caught will then

enable us to link the species to a specific

habitat and map the spatial distribution for

each species. Finally, using cutting edge

DNA sampling methods (see Figure ??) we

will be able to gather data on the genetic

structure of each species i.e. are there

genetically distinct stocks.

By developing and testing these protocols

using the Sea Angling Event, we will improve

the quality and quantity of long-term

baseline data necessary to sustainably

manage the five data-poor species/groups

across the UK.

Sustainable management of capture

fisheries requires ecological and

biological data for target species.

However, for many in the UK

appropriate data to make evidencebased

management decisions are

limited.

This leads to unreliable local and national

quotas and, ultimately, an unsustainable

catch. Collecting ecological data requires

significant investment (people and money)

so one increasingly popular approach

is to use members of the public (citizen

scientists).

Sea fishing is a globally popular activity

with hundreds of thousands of people

regularly participating in the UK alone.

Recreational sea anglers are a substantial

group of highly motivated and engaged

potential citizen scientists. Whilst

recreational anglers are being increasingly

used in citizen science projects to support

fisheries management and collect data,

the popularity of fishing competitions

has also risen sharply, with international

competitions attracting hundreds of

participants. These competitions have been

restricted to freshwater, but Angling Spirit

has now established the first annual sea

angling competition in the UK. Starting in

2021, the 2-day event attracted 40 teams

who caught (and released) hundreds of fish

from five target species/groups (sea bass

[Dicentrarchus labrax]; black seabream

[Spondyliosoma cantarus]; skates & rays

[Rajidae]; tope [Galeorhinus galeus]; smooth

hounds [Mustelus spp.].

Our approach is to use the newly

established annual sea angling competition,

Sea Angling Classic, located in the Solent,

to develop and test citizen science data

collection. These novel methods will focus

on three key themes that require data to help

develop sustainable fisheries management.

Using the images from the fish caught

during the competition we will be able to

collect data on the diversity and abundance

One of the habitats that we believe to be

important to the species targeted in the

Sea Angling competition is seagrass.

There are two recognised species in the

UK: common eelgrass (Zostera marina) and

dwarf eelgrass (Z. noltei). Both are found

from the intertidal to subtidal areas on

sandy and muddy shores. Globally, seagrass

habitats have declined significantly and this

is also reflected in the UK where there has

been extensive seagrass loss over the last 100

years. Recent estimates suggest at least 44%

since 1936 has been lost, with 39% of those

losses occurring since the 1980s. The Solent

has extensive areas of seagrass (see figures)

in many locations, but these areas have also

been degraded by multiple human impacts

including poor water quality, increased

nutrient inputs from agricultural run-off and

sewage, damage from boating and fishing

activities.

Seagrass meadows are critical habitats

because they provide many ecosystem

services and are, therefore, of high ecological,

social and economic value. It is now

recognised that seagrass stores significant

amounts of carbon; storing carbon at rates

faster than many terrestrial ecosystems and

so contributes to tackling climate change.

However, from a fisheries and recreational

angler’s point of view, seagrass importance is

linked to its high biodiversity value. Globally,

it supports the productivity of 20% of the

world’s biggest fisheries. This can be as a

source habitat for food, or as nursery areas

for juveniles of the target species, whilst

some species also utilise them as breeding

sites.

No, it’s not a Monet! Seagrass habitats in the UK have

declined significantly over the last 100 years

Seagrasses also provide a range of

other ecosystem services, such as coastal

protection through the stabilisation of

marine sediments, nutrient cycling and

water filtration. For example, in the Solent

alone we estimate the seagrass provides

water quality services (removes nitrogen)

worth an equivalent of £37 million per year.

Following growing recognition that the

ecosystem services provided by seagrass

habitats are being lost, efforts have

now turned to protecting and restoring

these sensitive habitats. Over the last

three decades, progress has been made

throughout mainland Europe and globally

in recovering these critical ecosystems.

Restoration is now at the forefront of UK

coastal management with seagrass planting

in the Solent just one example of how this

habitat could be restored and supported.

We expect that data collected from

the sea angling competition will confirm

our hypothesis that many species are

preferentially found associated with seagrass

areas in the Solent. This will add more

scientific data to the calls to do more to

protect and conserve these critical habitats

and in so doing help protect the fish species,

and the anglers that depend on them.

n PROFESSOR WATSON

UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH

We expect that data collected from the event will

confirm that many species found are preferentially

associated with seagrass areas in the Solent

WETWHEELS ... PROUD INCLUSIVITY PARTNERS OF SAC

66

Working with

Wetwheels as the

event’s Inclusivity

Partner means

the Sea Angling

Classic is truly

open to all

WAVES OF EXP

WETWHEELS CHARITY BELIEVES EVERYONE DESERVES

Wetwheels is a UK based powerboating

charity providing barrier-free boating to

all disabled people of all ages.

Now in its 11th year, Wetwheels has six boats

in the UK taking 8,000 people a year on the

water. Disabled participants can come aboard

with friends and family and everyone has the

opportunity to drive the boat.

Offering a range of activities, sea angling is a

firm favourite. All Wetwheels vessels are Cheetah

Marine catamarans powered by Suzuki engines

and are capable of speeds up to 30 kn. The large

open deck is perfect for sea angling, especially

for those in wheelchairs.

Most of the vessels carry rods and tackle,

many with electric reels for those disabled

anglers with limited hand movement. We also

have state-of-the-art marine electronics including

fish finders although our professional skippers

always know the best marks.

Geoff Holt MBE, founder of Wetwheels

comments; “We are absolutely delighted to

be working with the Sea Angling Classic (SAC),

coincidentally, our Wetwheels Solent boat is

based in Gunwharf Quays Portsmouth, home to

this year’s SAC. When I first heard about the SAC,

I immediately made contact with Ross Honey to

say we would love to be involved.

As Inclusivity Partner, two Wetwheels

vessels will be providing the opportunity for six


SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

ERIENCE

THE CHANCE TO GET INVOLVED ON THE WATER

disabled anglers and their buddies to fish in the

tournament. For disabled anglers to have the

opportunity to fish in an international tournament

alongside some of the world’s greatest anglers is

going to be awesome.

As we all know, fishing is more than just

catching, it’s about the camaraderie, it’s about the

mindfulness and, perhaps most importantly, an

opportunity to step away from your daily troubles

and to pit your wits against nature. Disabled

people need that opportunity just as much,

sometimes more so, than able-bodied anglers

and what better way to do that than as part of

a disabled angling team in one of the biggest

angling competitions”.

Wetwheels was promoted as part of the

SAC UK roadshow and enquiries have come in

from around the country from disabled anglers

hoping to secure their place aboard a Wetwheels

vessel in the competition. Not everyone will be

successful for a competition place

however Wetwheels vessels around

the country run fishing trips throughout

the year so for more information contact

enquiries@wetwheelsfoundation.org

Ross Honey, Angling Spirit and Sea

Angling Classic founder, added;

“This will be an event like no other,

we are not only going to see top-level

fishing but also encourage newcomers to

the sport and inspire the next generation

of anglers. Working with Wetwheels as

the event’s Inclusivity Partner means the

Sea Angling Classic is truly open to all.

Throughout the event the Wetwheels vessel

will be taking people afloat, many for the first

time, to experience the world of fishing and all

the accompanying emotions, from the thrill of

landing a fish to the peacefulness of being out on

open water.” n

Most vessels carry rods

and tackle, with electric

reels for those disabled

anglers with limited

hand movement


ENABLE ABILITY ... PROUD INCLUSIVITY PARTNERS OF SAC

READY, WILLING

AND ABLE

ENABLE ABILITY are thrilled

to be a local inclusivity

partner for the Sea Angling

Classic n our home port

Today, we know

that the majority

of disabilities are

complemented

by a very special

and unique talent

or intellectual

quality

While our historic city may be best known

as a naval port, fishing has long been in the

community’s blood.

Commercial ships have been landing their bounty

here ever since Jean de Gisors, who was the owner of

a fleet of merchant ships. The fleet decided in 1180

that the sheltered harbour at The Camber was the

ideal place to start a port with the purpose of trading

with Normandy - a fascinating historic fact about our

hometown!

At Enable Ability, we know that the people of our

city, and their range of abilities, are just as diverse as the

fish that swim in our waters. It is our particular privilege

to work with local disabled children and adults, as

well as their families and carers, to provide a range of

high-quality, professional and confidential services. We

work and advocate tirelessly for their care, welfare and

advancement, supporting people with severe disabilities

as well as those whose needs are at a more mild to

moderate level. Altogether, we work with approximately

700 children and adults through a growing range of 15+

different services.

Examples of our services include a weekly social

activities schedule and a daily holiday programme, all

delivered in a safe environment either in the community,

in local venues, or using the incredible services of

independent businesses. All activities we deliver are

supported by fully-trained staff and volunteers.

Other services include supported work streams,

providing skills in a variety of work placement settings

to gain meaningful employment. We offer a one-to-one

befriending service that our service users benefit greatly

from. We also have our own community centre in the

heart of Landport where our Social Enterprise, Inter Activ

is based. This service offers a variety of workstreams to

people with disabilities who need support in obtaining

relevant employment skills and qualifications.

Ever since our charity was first established in

Portsmouth over 70 years ago, Enable Ability has had a

strong connection with the water that surrounds this

beautiful island city. In fact, the young people we work

with find great comfort in any activity that involves The

Solent or watersports in general. For example, we often

partner with The Andrew Simpson Watersports Centre,

where our young people have the opportunity to get

involved in everything from sailing to windsurfing and

paddle sports. It is always amazing to observe just how

much fun they have on the water! Nevertheless, more

importantly, we see how practical, personal and life skills

are developed at the watersports centre that help our

young people grow in confidence and manage life’s daily

challenges.

The Sea Angling Classic is a brilliant opportunity for

the charity to collaborate with others who share our

values and gets us involved in an event that provides

Portsmouth with a more inclusive competition. We love

the work the Sea Angling Classic is doing to make the

event more inclusive, and we fully support the event’s

environmental issues it is promoting through beach

cleans. We are very excited about the fact that disabled

people will have the opportunity to compete alongside

some of the world’s greatest sea anglers this summer,

as well as giving our young people opportunities such

as boat trips in The Solent waters, crabbing fun days

around Portchester Castle, beach cleans and angling

awards. This all means so much - not just to the young

people but also for the entire community, including

their families, the local authorities and the social care

network.

It is our hope that being an inclusive partner of

such a large-scale event taking place in our hometown,

it will help raise awareness of the needs of disabled

young people, not only in Portsmouth but also across

the whole country; as well as raising the profile of the

work that we do. We were particularly encouraged by

the opportunities created by the prize boat reveal at

Gunwharf Quays in March and the roadshow which took

the charity’s flag to many other fishing ports, flying the

disability flag with pride.

Thank you to the whole Sea Angling Classic

community for everything you have done for our charity

in recent months. We hope this is just the beginning

of something special, not only for Enable Ability and

the 700 families we work with but, for the whole of

Portsmouth and the surrounding area. n

n Enable Ability; Registered Charity 276422; 311-313

Copnor Road, Portsmouth, PO3 5EG 02392 671846

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

THE CHANGING FACE OF DISABILITY

Thankfully today is a very different

picture to the days of old, when the term

‘disability’ was something to be avoided,

whispered or spoken with shame.

Today, we know that the majority of

disabilities are complemented by a very

special and unique talent or intellectual quality

and, whatever your abilities or disabilities, you

deserve to be celebrated.

Exclusion, bullying, victimisation and

judgement still happens in our modern world.

Enable Ability seeks total acceptance for the

young people we work with, and this can only

be achieved by spreading awareness of just

how incredible disabled people can be. Our

partnership with the Sea Angling Classic event

provides an excellent opportunity to showcase

exactly that.

Partnerships like this one have always

been important to our charity, but they are

now more crucial than ever. It is no secret

that the British charity sector has been hit

hard by the pandemic; Enable Ability is no

exception to this. At the same time, reductions

in government funding, increased competition

for grants and the cost of living crisis have

brought major challenges for us and our work.

However, as vital as money is, partnership

working is much more than this. It is also

about working together to unlock further

opportunities to encourage independence

in the workplace, developing and building

volunteering projects, and collaborating

creatively to launch new activities that

will change young lives to form our next

generation. These are important ways in which

the wider community can make a difference to

what our charity already does; we know many

of you reading this article will be well-placed to

help and we would love to work with you.

In whatever way you feel able; we invite

you to get involved. Please make a donation,

create a fundraising event, or discuss an idea

that could help inspire our young people to be

independent. We would encourage you to visit

our website (www.enableability.org.uk) or email

us at together@enableability.org.uk

We hope that you enjoy the Sea Angling

Classic and that you’ll love our city of

Portsmouth just as much.

69

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC


ANGLING TRUST . . PROUD SUPPORT PARTNER OF SAC

LET’S GET

INVOLVED

As a non-profit organisation, Angling Trust

relies on it’s members to fight for the rights

of anglers and the protection of the sport

To protect and

preserve ..

Increasing amounts of litter are ending

up in our oceans and negatively impact

the health of ecosystems, killing fish and

other wildlife.

The Angling Trust’s Anglers Against

Litter campaign acts as the voice for

anglers and outlines practical ways the

angling community can get involved to

reduce plastic pollution. This includes

supporting anglers to undertake beach

litter picks and installing Anglers National

Line Recycling Scheme (ANLRS) bins

along the coast to enable old recreational

fishing line to be recycled rather than

going to landfill.

Dr Emily Smith, Angling Trust

Environment Manager, said: “This

campaign is something that all anglers

can agree on, and we encourage

everyone to pledge their support for

Anglers Against Litter and call on more

action to reduce litter waste.”

n The campaign is supported by

Shimano and you can find more

information on the Angling Trust

website: www.anglingtrust.net

We rely on the income from membership

to fight for the rights of anglers, get more

people into fishing and protect fish and the

environment. Join the Angling Trust today

in the knowledge that your subscription

will help to protect the sport you love.

As a member, you will receive public

liability insurance and discounts on a

range of tackle and other goods and

services. Membership costs from as little

as £30 for adults (£26 for senior citizens

and young adults).

n Find out more at www.anglingtrust.net

70

The Angling Trust are proud to support the

Sea Angling Classic which will not only be an

amazing competition for top anglers but offers a

fantastic opportunity to showcase our work and

gives families and individuals the chance to try

sea fishing for the first time.

Jamie Cook, Angling Trust CEO, said: “The Angling

Trust has seen strong growth in both individual

membership and trade support thanks to our work over

the past year. As a not-for-profit organisation, every

penny is re-invested to increase our influence across all

disciplines of angling, including sea angling.

“The area I am most excited to see develop is in

grassroots participation where our seven regional

officers now have an opportunity to actively engage

with sea fishing clubs to run participation events and

introduce more people to fishing.

“One of my first fishing memories was catching

a small plaice off the pier on the Isle of Wight during

a family holiday. My fishing journey continued in

freshwater closer to home, but that gateway was there,

and we must utilise the coastline and the fishing

opportunities it offers to bring new anglers into the sport.

“These are exciting, but challenging, times for

recreational sea anglers in England and Wales and the

Angling Trust will be fighting hard to ensure the interests

of sea anglers are considered by the Government and the

contribution we make to managing and protecting the

marine environment is valued.

“With more members we can do more to protect fish,

fishing and the environment and I urge sea anglers to

get behind the work of the Angling Trust by becoming a

member.

“We are delighted to be supporting Ross Honey and

his team at the Sea Angling Classic and look forward to

what promises to be a fabulous few days of fishing, fun

and exciting competition.”

n JAMIE COOK

CEO OF ANGLING TRUST

Fighting to protect

the interests of

sea angling

The Angling Trust are a not-for-profit

organisation that represents anglers

from all disciplines and fights on

their behalf for fish, fishing and the

environment.

They are recognised by the

Government as the National Governing

Body for angling in England and partner

with Visit Wales and Natural Resources

Wales to promote Fishing in Wales.

That campaigning includes working at all

levels to protect and promote the interests of

sea anglers, whether fishing from the shore

or a boat, are passionate about bass, mullet,

sharks, or even the prospect of fishing for

bluefin tuna returning to our waters.

Recently, the Angling Trust successfully

campaigned to have a ban on sea fishing

removed from Dover’s Admiralty Pier and are

lobbying Inshore Fisheries and Conservation

Authorities (IFCAs) on their latest byelaws to

ensure sea anglers are not unduly restricted.

There are further battles ahead with the

Trust already lobbying the Government

to ensure the forthcoming fisheries

management plan, which will be emerging

in the coming years now we have left the

EU, ensures the interests of sea angling are

protected.

Stuart Singleton-White, Angling Trust’s

Head of Campaigns, said: “If we want

thriving coastal communities, a healthy

marine environment and a greater

understanding of our fisheries, our message

is clear: sea angling needs to be at the heart

of decision making at all levels.

“Anglers are key champions in the

protection of our marine environment, major

contributors to the understanding of our

fisheries and the science that sits behind it,

and important economic contributors to the

economies of coastal communities.”

Get ‘em on board

and Get Fishing!

The Sea Angling Classic provides

the perfect opportunity for the

Angling Trust’s Get Fishing team to

give non-anglers the chance to try

sea fishing for the first time.

Have-a-go sessions will be run

between 10am and 3pm on South

Parade Pier on Friday and Saturday

(17-18 June) with a further session

taking place on Sunday morning

(19 June) in the historic dockyard,

prior to the closing ceremony.

The participation event will

allow families and individuals to

complete the Angling Trust’s Get

Fishing Bronze Award and enjoy

an introduction to recreational

sea angling while being under

the supervision of qualified and

licensed coaches and qualityassured

volunteers.

All sessions must be prebooked

via the Get Fishing website

and bait and equipment will be

provided on the day.

Graham Mabey, Regional

Development Officer for the

Angling Trust, said that the beauty

of the Sea Angling Classic is

that it is not just a world class

competition.

“It’s important to not lose sight of

how participation sessions such as

these engage with the anglers of

tomorrow. Our Get Fishing Awards

allow coaches and volunteers to

help people take their first steps

into angling and it is a pleasure to

work with Ross [Honey] and his

team on this exciting project.”

Join the Angling Trust

today in the knowledge

that your subscription will

be helping to protect the

sport you love.

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC


SUPPORT YOUR LOCALS..

Lock Stock and Tackle

ready for action

The team at Lock Stock and Tackle

have been providing anglers with

fishing tackle for more than 20 years.

We pride ourselves on having

an extensive range of sea angling

equipment for Boat and Shore and

are able offer equipment from the

most recognised leading brands in the

industry such as Shimano, Penn and

Daiwa. We are also recognised across

the south coast for our supply of handdug

Ragworm and other fresh baits

which include Peeler Crab and Black

Lugworm – all of which are sourced

from the best companies along the

coast, Ammo Baits and Riot Baits.

As joint owners, Callum and I, have

more than 50 years experience fishing

The Solent and Mid Channel Marks

and we’re both advocate Bass Anglers

Lock Stock and Tackle can’t wait for

the Sea Angling Classic Competition to

begin. It’s a great idea and we know it

will be a brilliant, well-organised event

for those who take part!

Being that it is hosted in the historic

city of Portsmouth, it’s landed right

on our doorstep so we feel we have

a duty to help wherever we can. The

competition’s generated a massive

hype within the fishing community

and is a positive push for the sport and

industry within the local area.

And, with a £120,000 top prize boat

up for grabs and televised on Sky

Sports, says it all really – how big the

The Sea Angling Classic will be!

Our Tackle Shop can provide the

contestants and all anglers with the

correct and reliable information for

the area, giving you the upper hand

and best chance of catching fish in this

event. We do this everyday along with

an excellent, friendly service. We wish

all anglers good luck and tight lines

and thank the team at Sea Angling

Classics for hosting the event.

n Check out our 5 star Google reviews and get in touch with us on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.

com/lockstockandtackle or contact us on 02392812478 and email us at Info@lockstockandtackle.co.uk

Better than that, in person @ Lock Stock and Tackle 26 Elm Grove, Southsea, Portsmouth, PO5 1JG.

Fishon hopes to reel in the customers

A new fishing tackle and bait shop,

aptly named Fishon Bait N Tackle, is

hoping to offer the everyday fisherman

premium fishing tackle at a

price they can afford.

Situated in the heart of Portsmouth,

they offer a large selection of fresh and

frozen baits, a huge selection of rods, reels

and tackle from a variety of the leading

brands within the fishing business.

Owners Ashley Dowdswell and Steve

Manning pride themselves on providing

the best, fresh bait in the area because of

their expert knowledge and commitment.

Ashley said: ‘We have over 20 years experience

fishing from shore and boat and

came second in the invitation competition

last year, so we have all the knowledge

to help those entering this time.

‘The Sea Angling Classic means a lot

for the shop and all the local business

in Portsmouth as a whole – it’s bringing

the whole community together and

the buzz in the shop is like nothing we

have ever witnessed before.

‘Being involved last year has given

us a sneak peak on how big this event

is going to be and the impact it is

going to have on us and everyone

here in Portsmouth. We’ve already

started stocking up with all the quality

baits you will need – mackerel, squid,

hermits etc – just to make sure there’s

enough to go around!

Ashley encourages anyone with an interest

in fishing to pop in for a chat, have

a look around and to discuss everything

fishing.

‘Please pop in store, meet the team

and hear about our experiences last

time around.”

n Find us at unit 10 Bourne Road,

Paulsgrove, Portsmouth PO6 4JS or call

us on 02394 007684

Fishon and fish well.. Ashley Dowdswell, co-owner of Fishon Bait n’ Tackle,

n Picture: Chris Moorhouse/The News Portsmouth


SOUTH PARADE PIER.. FUN, FOOD AND FISHING!

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

As the venue for the Sea Angling

Classic’s children’s fishing courses,

South Parade Pier would give

Blackpool a run for it’s money ... so

come on down!

COME JOIN

THE PARADE

Portsmouth’s famous South Parade

Pier will host the Sea Angling

Classic’s fishing tuition classes on

June 17th and 18th. The courses will

be run for local school children in

conjunction with Angling Trust and

their qualified instructors.

This is a great opportunity to

encourage youngsters to get familiar with

all the different aspects of angling and

hopefully develop an appreciation for the

sport.

South Parade Pier is a fantastic venue

for fishing and suitable for new and

experienced anglers, young and old and

those with limited mobility.

This very popular fishing spot is good

all year round. During the summer there’s

mackerel, garfish, pollack, bass, mullet,

bream, smoothhounds, scad and flatties

and in the winter, codling, whiting and

flounders. All fishing works well off the

pier, hence its popularity but the best

fishing is during late evening / night at

high tide. Generally a light spinning rod

with a float fish or simple rig will suffice

but if you want to catch something larger

try some crab or worm bait!

The pier itself has had quite a colourful

history. It was originally built between

1875 to 1878 at the point where Henry VIII

watched his beloved flagship the Mary

Rose sink, taking over 500 men down with

her.

Since then, it has been destroyed by

fire 3 times – the most infamous being

in 1974 during the making of the film

‘Tommy’. It was then requisitioned during

World War II for the preparation and

embarkation of troops for the D-Day

landings during which it was partly

dismantled and temporary piers were

built from scaffolding alongside South

Parade Pier to increase the number of

troops that could be loaded.

In later years, Southsea South Parade

became the entertainment venue of

choice for many famous names, such

as, Frankie Howerd, Peter Sellers, David

Bowie and Genesis.

After years of neglect, this much loved

Victorian structure has been restored

once more, ready for it’s next historical

adventure!

Today, as a traditional seaside pier,

South Parade has plently for the all family

to enjoy – a fabulous new amusement

arcade, take away fish and chips, licensed

restaurant, ice-cream parlour, The Gaiety

Bar Venue and of course the perfect

spot to sit and watch the world go by

with open views to the Isle of Wight and

Southsea & Portsmouth’s coastline.

Definately worth visiting for a relaxed

stroll, a spot of fishing or a pile of family

fun! n

73


PANTAENIUS . . PROUD SUPPORT PATNERS OF SAC

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

PANTAENIUS:

ALWAYS BY YOUR SIDE

The Sea Angling Classic are

delighted to be working with a

family of supporting partners and

sponsors.

Managing director of Pantaenius

UK, Mike Wimbridge who is a keen

amateur angler will be competing in

the charter boat category.

Mike commented “I’m looking

forward to some great fishing in this

fantastic competition, having taken

part in the media launch last year. I

wish all the competitors the best of

luck and can’t wait to see who bags the

amazing Extreme Game King 745 from

what is a huge prize table!

The Sea Angling Classic is a great

opportunity for us to introduce

ourselves to the fastest growing sector

in the marine market.

Recently we introduced a policy

aimed at many of the boats that will be

competing in this year’s event. Being

anglers ourselves we have included

extensions in cover to ensure that your

fishing gear is adequately protected

along with the usual damage and

liability covers ”

Pantaenius UK, part of the

Pantaenius Group, has been providing

insurance solutions to boat owners for

over 30 years and today has offices in

Plymouth and Southampton.

Over 100,000 boat and yacht owners

place their trust in the Pantaenius

brand and enjoy the peace of mind

that our unique and comprehensive

policies provide. With 35,000 trusted

partners around the world, Pantaenius

is well placed to provide the best

support offering 24-hour emergency

claims assistance, 365 days of the year.

Whether you opt to glide through the

waters on a sailing yacht or power your

way to your next destination, we are

always by your side.

Pantaenius UK also offers insurance

solutions for private and professional

skippers who sail on borrowed or

chartered boats.

n For more information, please get

in touch: hello@pantaenius.co.uk -

01752 223656 - pantaenius.co.uk

I can’t wait to see who bags the amazing

Extreme Game King 745 from what is a huge prize table!

75

ANDREW SIMPSON FOUNDATION ... PROUD INCLUSIVITY PARTNERS OF SACTHE SAC

I took my first

sailing course

mid-pandemic in

the summer 2020.

I was so happy

to find an

activity that I really enjoyed and looked

forward to the promise of more sailing

opportunities.

Since then, sailing has become a great

way for me to get active, learn new

skills and make lots of new friends from

around the area. Sailing Club has become

a valued part of my weekly routine. I feel

that it has helped me, not only discover a

new activity, but grow in self-confidence

and interact with lots of other people.

A new addition

to the family ..

Freya Murray, age 13

Andrew Simpson Yachting

(ASY)is our latest addition to the

Andrew Simpson Foundation family, creating

pathways for people to create life-enhancing

experiences and career opportunities in the

watersports and yachting industries. ASY offers

the full range of practical RYA yachting, power

and motor boat practical and theory training,

whilst also creating personalised packages, own

boat tuition and the opportunity to extend your

horizons with our Milebuilder events. As another

not-for-profit organisation, every time you book

a course with us, you are supporting the work of

the charity and giving back to young people in

your local community!

n Visit andrewsimpsonyachting.org

WELCOME

HELP US TO TRANSFORM MORE

Our mission is to transform lives

through sailing. To do this, we need

your help. Everything we do is driven

by our belief that all young people

have the ability to excel and succeed

in life and work. We believe that the

challenges of Sailing and Watersports

do this by promoting health &

wellbeing and building essential

personal skills.

The Foundation enables our Centres to

deliver our charitable activities. And our

Centres donate surplus profit back to the

Foundation to help it to continue to grow.

All our centres are not-for-profit, so

everything surplus to the running costs

of the Centres goes straight back into the

Foundation to support us in our work to

transform the lives of young people through

sailing. In addition to the charitable delivery,

they also run commercial courses to those

looking for their next outdoor adventure,

with a range of watersports on offer all year

round.

This includes sailing, windsurfing,

foiling, kayaking, paddleboarding,

instructor training and even taster sessions!

Our vision is to build an engaged, global

community of accessible sailing and

watersports and is underpinned by our

ethos of “Sailing for All”.

Our not-for-profit Centres enable

people from all backgrounds and abilities

to gain access to the thrills, challenges and

life-long skills gained through Sailing and

Watersports. We are based in Birmingham,

Haslar, Portland, Portsmouth, Reading and

Lake Garda, Italy!

Working with the

Sea Angling Classic

The Andrew Simpson Foundation (ASF)

and it’s local not-for-profit Andrew Simpson

Centre in Portsmouth are delighted to

be part of the Sea Angling Classic event,

alongside the Portsmouth Sail Training Trust

(PSTT), who look to transform the lives

of young people through sailing and raise

aspirations, respectively.

We are delighted to have the opportunity

to enable some of the young people we

work to be part of the competition itself.

This exciting and unique experience

will be open to local young people engaged

with our PSST programme and Diploma

students from our Marine Education Hub.

This event provides an invaluable

platform for us to raise awareness of the

impact of the Andrew Simpson Foundation

on transforming the lives of young people

across the UK and the many opportunities

available to young people in our local

Portsmouth Community to get on the water

and do the same. n

Our Community programmes

2021 was a hugely busy year for the

Andrew Simpson Foundation. Over 30,000

people participated in our wide range

of Watersports and activities, many of

whom wouldn’t have otherwise had this

opportunity.

Here’s how we’ll get even more

people out on the water this year through

a carefully thought out charitable

programme of opportunities:

Access & Participation

Community Clubs: regular access for

all across our centre’s. We deliver a

variety of Community Clubs incuding BYS

Windsurfing Club, Race Club, Sailing Club

and Paddle Club.

Discover Sailing: inspiring

participation. Bringing taster sessions

to children from all walks of life to help

increase their activity levels, learn water

safety and provide opportunities to

progress.

Bart’s Bash: Connecting the global

sailing community.

The Andrew Simpson Foundation’s flagship

fundraising race which connects sailing

communities around the world.

Health & Wellbeing

Aiming High: Physical and mental

wellbeing. A sailing and watersports

programme which supports young people

living with a learning and/or physical

disability.

Sail Fit: Focused on tackling inactivity

in young people, teaching them new

skills and inspiring them to eat a healthy &

balanced diet.

Careers & Education

Young Leaders: Equipping the next

generation. Focused on those aged

Sailing Session for one young person

ABOARD!

LIVES THROUGH SAILING


SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

DONATING IS

PLAIN SAILING ..

Help support the Foundation and

transform lives by donating to our

JustGiving page: www.justgiving.

com/assf

n £35 covers the cost of one Discover

n £150 supports the running of one

16+, providing an opportunity to attend

a leadership training programme where

they learn key skills and prepare for the

Dinghy Instructor qualification.

Skipper: Providing opportunities.

Delivered in Mossel Bay, South

Africa, ‘Skipper’ focuses on providing

opportunities for disadvantaged young

people from local townships.

Aspire: Portsmouth Sail Training

Trust (PSTT) - Raising aspirations.

The Aspire PSTT programme provides

opportunities for disadvantaged young

people from Portsmouth who are

struggling to engage with mainstream

education.

Volunteer Instructor Training:

Training the trainers. In partnership

with the RYA, we deliver a national

programme of Volunteer Instructor

Training across all RYA Sailing Regions.

term of Sailing Club or Race Club

n £600 Gives one aspiring young

leader the chance to access our yearlong

programme

n £2,100 pays for one block of 6

sessions of Aiming High for 10 young

people

n £8,400 allows 40 young people to

benefit from the Sail Fit programme

Find out more visit

www.andrewsimpsonfoundation.

org or call us on 0300 224 0449

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC


ANDREW RACE. . ANGLING TRADES ASSOCIATION

When I took over over as chairman of

the Angling Trades Association (ATA)

in April 2020, I had a list of goals that I

wanted to achieve for both angling and

the ATA. Thanks to Covid, I had time to

devote my thoughts to the industry and

the factors affecting it’s future.

In 2023, the ATA will celebrate its fiftieth

anniversary in an industry far removed from

that of 1973. The ATA mission statement “to

promote, represent and protect the angling

trade”, encompasses many aspects and

whilst some have remained constant over the

last 47 years, others have been dramatically

refocussed by climate and societal change.

Recent developments within angling’s

governing bodies however, have produced

the greatest potential for progression of

both sport, industry, and environment. For

the first time in many years, we have ATA,

Angling Trust and Environment Agency

working together on a shared vision for

angling, and it is the ATA’s intention to bring

about a closer working relationship with

more and more of the industry’s stakeholders

as we progress.

Angling Spirit, the first major independent

event organiser to join the ranks of the ATA,

came on board in April of this year. Ross

Honey and his team have long championed a

positive attitude to both aquatic and societal

environments through their events, and this

ethic fits well with ATA.

Being involved in the National angling

strategy, ATA actively engages with issues

affecting the aquatic environment yearround,

something that is paramount in

protecting future populations of aquatic

species that we depend on. Angling

Spirit events like the Sea Angling Classic

(SAC), represent a new breed of angling

competition giving back to the environment,

through projects such as the Solent Seagrass

and beach clean-up initiatives.

The ATA’s remit covers both salt and

freshwater. One of our aims is to see sea

angling and sea anglers better represented as

part of the angling community. Freshwater

angling is well documented due to the

legalities of the licencing system, but

much less is known about the sea angling

community and its needs. Events like the

SAC are important to coastal communities,

bringing a much-needed boost to local

businesses, bringing those communities into

focus for a wider audience.

UK inshore fisheries are a vital resource

TRADE

SECRETS

Since taking the position as ATA Chairman,

Andrew Race has had a goal to encourage

more people in to angling from all

communities and played a big part in the

marketing campaign for National Fishing

Month and Take A Friend Fishing

for the industry and ATA needs to be proactive

to invest in its future. Events such as the SAC

give us a window into that sector and a point

of contact with the sea angling community

which helps us to develop policies and

products.

Small angling related businesses are many

in coastal communities. From the tackle

shops providing focal points for both resident

and visiting anglers and their community,

to charter boats and bait firms, and the ATA

is working to provide a supportive structure

tailor made to angling related business as

well as a focal point for careers and career

pathways into angling and the wider industry.

We also have a thriving community of

small manufacturers around our coast,

supplying many of those retailers. I have a

passion for British manufacture, and I will be

championing this through ATA as much as I

can. UK manufacturing offers the prospect

of a much lower carbon footprint as well as

I have a passion

for British

manufacture,

and I will be

championing this

through ATA as

much as I can.

quality, flexibility and competitive pricing

and I would urge all brands to look at British

manufacturers as a first choice. ATA also

remains committed to making sure that the

UK angling industry evolves in harmony with

Europe as the effects of Brexit evolve.

ATA has also been active in the recruitment

of anglers for many years, with brands like

National Fishing Month and Take A Friend

Fishing. Our task as a trade is to support

growth in the market for fishing tackle and

encourage more people in to angling from

all communities. Events like the SAC are now

actively helping ATA to do this with their own

initiatives. Engaging with local communities

through projects like the Spirit of Angling and

the School of Minnows, connecting the next

generation with the aquatic environment and

the joys of fishing, and we look forward to

working more with Ross and his team in the

future.

Pulling together the skills of stakeholders

within the industry is vital. Extending our

reach to all those who might engage in the

sport, parents who make the choices of what

pastimes they teach their children or adults

who just want to relax. Getting fishing on that

vital list of potential pastimes is key, for their

wellbeing as much as the trade.

n ANDY RACE

CHAIRMAN, ATA

79


POWERTECH MARINE ... PROUD EVENT PARTNERS OF THE SAC

WE’LL KEEP YOUR

MOTORS RUNNING

Powertech Marine have

been helping to keep

engines moving for over

60 years and as event

partners you can be safe

in the knowledge that

the team will be out on

the waters this year to

help any struggling boats

Powertech Marine are proud to be

event partners in what is sure to be

a fantastic weekend on the water

across the south coast.

It was great to be involved with the

launch event last year and to see the

spectacular flotilla of boats with all the

flags at the start of the event.

Last year Powertech were on the water

and land supporting the event for the

whole weekend and only had a couple of

minors engine issues that were resolved

in good time to enable the anglers to

continue in the competition with only

minimal time lost.

This year Powertech were honoured to

be asked to do the full rigging including

installation of Mercury 250 Pro XS and

the full Lowrance Ultimate Fishing

System to this year’s prize boat.

Powertech Marine have been trading

for 18 Years from Northney Marina,

Hayling Island servicing and repairing

outboard engines with the team offering

over 58 years experience in the outboard

engine trade. We are main dealers

for Mercury Outboards and can offer

complete refit, refurb or repower of any

ribs and motorboats.

During the Sea Angling event in June

this year we will again be out on the water

and land based supporting the fisherman

with any engines issues that may arise

over the weekend. We will be there to aid

with the smooth and safe running of the

event across the south coast. n

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

LOOK OUT FOR

THE FASTEST MAN

ON THE WATER ..

Also on the water during the

Sea Angling Classic event, will

be Powertech Marines Keith

Whittle, better known as “The

fastest Man on the water” as

Ross likes to call him.

Keith is the World Water

Speed Record Holder for the

fastest Formula 2 speed, with

an average of 132mph. He

narrowly missed death as he

flipped going across the finish

line on his final attempt.

Sam Whittle, Keith’s son, now

heads up Powertech’s race

team. This year Sam will be

competing In the Uk Formula

2 British Championships and

in 2023 will compete in the

Formula 2 world Championship.

Sam will also be attempting to

smash Keith’s speed record at

Coniston Water in November to

keep the record in the family.

n To stay up to date with all the

racing news please head to

our website

www.powertechmarine.co.uk

KIETH narrowly

missed death

as he flipped

going across

the finish line

on his final

attempt

81


FOCUS ON ... RBS MARINE

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

ULTRA MARINE

RBS Marine are an official

support partner of the

Sea Angling Classic 2022

and are delighted to

be involved in such an

exciting fishing event for

the South Coast.

n To find out more about new and used

Rodman boats, be sure to visit www.

rbsmarine.com and you can contact

info@rbsmarine.com or call 01243 512101.

RBS Marine are the importers and

distributors of a range of leisure craft,

but are probably best known in the UK

for their Fisher and cruiser models.

Spanish shipyard Rodman are renowned

for producing boats with a reputation for

their strength of build and quality of sea

keeping, along with many features that

make them great for fishing; large cockpit

space, deep walk around side decks and

built-in live baitwells.

RBS Marine staff have many years’

experience in the marine industry, and

indeed with the Rodman brand, as well as

enjoying fishing themselves, so are ideally

placed to help recreational and charter

fisher men and women alike find their

perfect boat. RBS Marine have also assisted

with supplying and rigging boats for the

Tuna tagging programme along the South

West.

Based in Birdham Pool near Chichester,

just 30-40 minutes’ drive from Portsmouth,

RBS Marine have a great local customer

base, but have also supplied boats all over

the world as far afield as Singapore and

Mauritius.

They help to run an active Rodman

Owners Club, which organises social events

and cruises each year (usually from the

Solent), as well as keeping owners up to

date with all the latest Rodman news and

events with regular e-newsletters and via a

Rodman Owners Club Facebook page.

Through the Rodman Owners Club and

their Rodman sales activities, RBS Marine

are able to continue their relationships with

Rodman owners throughout their boat

ownership (and most owners will have had

more than one Rodman in their boat owning

life!).

Through these relationships they have

been able to see the keen interest from

Rodman Owners to be a part of the Sea

Angling Classic 2022, with many wanting to

compete and some offering to take part as

media support boats. RBS Marine will be

delighted to welcome Rodman boats from

as far afield as Poole and Essex coming to

be a part of the action, as well as local boats

from Portsmouth Harbour.

Be sure to look out for Rodman boat

teams in the competition and the supporting

media boats.

There will be a range of boats

represented, from the smaller end of the

range with the Rodman 810, up to the

flagship Rodman 1250. n

83

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC


MERCURY BARRUS . . PROUD SPONSORS OF THE SAC

THE TURN OF THE C

It all began in 1917 when Ernest

Prouty Barrus set up a company in

the UK to supply Starrett precision

tools including micrometers and

measuring equipment and distribute

them throughout Europe.

Barrus entered the marine market

during the late 1920s and were pioneers

of the concept that became known as the

‘package boat’; a series of boats already fully

equipped at a range of prices to suit most

pockets.

Powerboat racing has always featured

throughout Barrus’s long history enabling

the company to showcase its engine brands

under the most extreme conditions.

Ernest Barrus established a Barrus

Powerboat Racing Team in the 1920s, and

again, in the 1970s and 1980s Mariner

outboards were promoted through

powerboat racing.

Throughout its long history, Barrus has

constantly adapted to new opportunities

and challenges and today its broad scope

across multiple sectors includes Marine,

Garden, Industrial and Vehicle.

Since its centenary celebrations in

Oxfordshire-based E. P.

Barrus is a centenarian

with a rich heritage

behind it and now plans

are underway to take

the company through

the next equally

memorable 100 years

84

ENTURY


MERCURY BARRUS . .

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

At the company’s

headquarters you

can see everything

from custombuilt

marine and

industrial engines,

inflatable boats and

outboard engines to

garden machinery

and wellington

boots

THE TURN OF THE

CENTURY

2017, Barrus has introduced new Sales Divisions,

expanded into different market sectors and

secured numerous supplier partnerships to

develop a portfolio of market-leading brands,

whilst being committed to the highest levels of

customer service.

At the company’s headquarters in Bicester, you

can see everything from custom-built marine and

industrial engines, inflatable boats and outboard

engines, garden machinery and tools, wellington

boots and gardening gloves to electric utility

vehicles.

The impressive line-up of brands includes

Mercury and Mariner outboards, Zodiac inflatable

boats, marine equipment including Talamex,

Barton, Blue Gee, Glomex, Lowrance, Simrad

and International Paints, Yanmar and John Deere

marine and industrial engines, Cub Cadet garden

machinery, Wilkinson Sword and WOLF-Garten

garden tools, Town & Country garden equipment

and clothing and HiSun UTVs and ATVs.

Barrus aims to add value at every level of its

relationship with supplier partners, dealers and

customers. From extensive, modern engine

test facilities, to its substantial engineering

development and maintenance capabilities, to

rapid shipping of spare parts, running free onsite

training and supporting its extensive dealer

networks.

Engineering excellence has always been

a strong focus with expertise in specialist

applications engineering support and the most

modern custom-engine building facilities based at

the company’s headquarters in Bicester. Proudly

‘Built-in Bicester’, Barrus designs, develops and

builds engines for customers across the UK and

overseas.

In support of the engineering side of the

business, Barrus continues to encourage young

students to take up a career in engineering,

and over the years the company has offered

apprenticeships and work experience placements

through Oxfordshire colleges, universities and

schools. n

87

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC


DARREN McKELL ... A FAMILY AFFAIR

SQUIDWARD

BOUND

Darren McKell could never have imagined that

when he bought his first boat 12 years ago, he had

just adopted a fourth member of the family

88

Where it all began...

A young Luke on the McKell’s very first

boat, Squidward I, an 18ft Maryland

Caz and I have been beach fishing

together for over 15 years but our boat

fishing journey started when we made

a cheeky bid for a fishing boat in a blind

auction some 12 years ago.

The 18ft Maryland cost us £75 for boat and

trailer and we were both amazed when the flat

tyres inflated so we could bring her home – we

had a good idea the boat was watertight as she

was full to the brim with rain water.

Over many weekends we got her ship shape

and ready for sea, all the boat needed was a

name.

With my two boys obsessed with

SpongeBob on TV, Squidward got the family

vote, something to do with the character being

a bit grumpy?

Luke started fishing with me on the boat at

age 4 year, launching out of Calshot, We Fished

in and around the Solent, our favourite spots

being the brambles bank for Cod in the winter,

Lepe and Sowley boom for bream and smoothhounds

, she served the family well, with over 7

very happy years of boating adventures and she

still holds our PB COD of 25Lb.

Caz had ventured out a couple times on the

flat sunny days and it became apparent that

we had outgrown our current vessel as we had

gained and extra crew member that wanted to

start fishing.

We made the plunge to purchase Squidward

2 after a visit to Southampton boat show, she

allowed us to expand our reach to Portsmouth

and south of the Needles and with the added

tow bar Luke learnt how to knee board later

progressing to wakeboarding.

2 years later and a strategically placed bottle

of Prosecco for Caz we purchased Squidward 3

)an Admiral Pro Fish 560) from Bates wharf at

the Poole boat show. She’s not just our fishing

boat but a part of the family, She gives us

quality family time together and an adventure

every trip form water sports, fishing and

overnight stays.

Fishing is more than a hobby to us, it takes

planning, it comes with risk and adventure but

most of all its quality time spent together with

friends and family enjoying the same passion,

and when you drop your line you never really

know what size of fish is going to take the bait.

Last year Luke and I gained our open water

PADI qualifications, which has added another

insight to the underwater fish environment we

love spending our time around.

We use Daiwa kenzaki 20-30 & 30-50 with

Fin-nor lethal 20 2 speed reels for most of our

bottom fishing they cover most of the ground

and tides that we fish. They have the power

needed for the bigger fish but also have great

bite detection.

We also like to up-tide using Daiwa

tournament rods 6-15lb with Penn Spinfisher

reels and when we are bass fishing on the backs

we like to use lethal lures on a light combo

Nomura never crack lure rods with fixed spool

Fin-nor 30

We tend to find that early morning flood

tides can be the most productive fishing times

but we also like the bigger tides when targeting

bass over the banks

We love fishing the brambles bank, east

lepe and Sowley , but if the weather permits its

out past the Needles from Freshwater to the St

Catherine point looking for features and banks

on the hunt for our next PB.

Last year Luke managed to land a 50lb Tope

which wet our appetite for shark fishing and we

took a trip out on a charter boat to learn how

and what equipment was needed catch and

release sharks safely so that one of our mission

this year.

Most of our fishing is for sport but we

do take the occasional fish for the table you

cannot beat fresh fish to eat, noting better

than catching your dinner and treating the

ingredients with respect it deserves.

Last year we fished our first fishing

competition the Sea Angling Classic, it was

a fantastic experience and a well organised

event where we met some great people and

made lots of new friends. Following on from

this event Luke has become an Ambassador

for Lowrance as they could see he had real

passion for the sport and his fishing knowledge

continues to grow.

n DARREN McKELL

Luke who’s

talking..

Luke has a growing

fan base on Instagram

and has just started a

YouTube channel @

Squidward 3 fishing

adventures.

A family affair ... Darren

and son Luke (above

and far left) both gained

their Open Water PADI

qualifications last year.

Darren’s wife Caroline

(centre) and the McKells’

latest addition to the

family, Squidward III

Matt is a lure fishing

enthusiast focusing on

freshwater predators in

the UK and Europe from

both bank and boat. A

Lowrance Ambassador

with years of experience

under his belt.

FOCUS ON ... MATT BOAST

LURE OF THE

COMPETITION

Over the years

Angling Spirit

has hosted some

fantastic events that I’ve been very

lucky to compete in.

My first event began with the 2014 Street

Fishing event in Hellevoetsluis, Holland.

That was where I got my first taste for

European-style competition fishing – it was

like a drug. I was instantly hooked. I became

addicted to the rush of catching fish against

the clock and against other top anglers from

all over Europe.

The buzz of catching multiple species

over several days, is a true test of skill for an

angler of any ability. The whole behindthe-scenes

camaraderie that is involved in

these competitions brings a totally unique

atmosphere and a real mix of emotions.

This ‘buzz’ is created by the event

organisers, the relaxing chilled-out

environment and socialising with other

excited competitors who have the same

principles and are driven by the same goals.

Since that first Street Fishing event, not

only has the World of Angling Spirit grown,

but it has allowed me and so many fellow

passionate competition anglers a platform

to grow at the same time.

I’ve always said, if you wish to raise your

own angling ability, you need to fish with

people better than yourself. These events

allow you to do just that.

In 2015, I moved on to the Kayak

Fishing Event which was again held in the

Netherlands – another exciting challenge

with a slightly different twist. I made

more great friends and learned some very

humbling lessons along the way!

As 2016 rolled in, I decided it was time

to bite the bullet and enter the main event

cometition – The World Predator Classic.

This is the jewel in the crown of boat events.

Since then, I’ve competed in the World

Predator Classic every year without fail,

gaining more and more valuable knowledge

and experience in fishing alongside and

against some of the best anglers in Europe.

This year now sees the opportunity to

fish in the first ever angling run, sea fishing

tournament – the Sea Angling Classic. This is

going to be a truly remarkable event, backed

by some of the most respected sponsors

offering a vast prize table and it’s all taking

place on my very own home shores on the

south coast.

The location chosen to host the Sea

Angling Classic could not offer a better

backdrop for such an event and provides

some of the most stunning fishing grounds

in Europe.

I was very privileged to attend the Sea

Angling Classic media launch last June,

where I was given the chance not only to

work with the sponsors and partners of the

event and experience that thrilling buzz

of the main competition, but also to be

involved in some of the more important

work that goes on behind the scenes – such

as cleaning up the beaches, rivers and lakes

that we enjoy spending our time on. This is

an obligation that Angling Spirit takes very

seriously.

Part of my involvement will be to drive

this initiative home to all participants,

sponsors, partners and the wider public

taking part in the event.

Another initiative I’m very proud to be

part of will be to encourage the younger

generation coming through at these events

to get involved and get excited about all

types of fishing – whether it’s the basic

thrill of summertime crabbing in the

harbour or casting their first line from a

boat ... whatever the motivationw, we want

to build the platform for the growth and

preservation of our sport from an early age

and instill a healthy, caring and enjoyable

past-time for all involved.

The Sea Angling Classic may have started

life as a tiny acorn, but it’s obvious to see

it’s transformation into a mighty tree – the

prize table alone is staggering! Having

experienced the success of the Street

Fishing, Kayak and World Predator Classics

in the Netherlands, there is no doubt that

during this year’s prize-giving held at the

iconic Gunwharf Quays, the Angling Spirit

team will put on a fantastic and memorable

show. I truly cannot wait.

n MATT BOAST

LOWRANCE AMBASSADOR


SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

93

94

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC


ADAM KIRBY .. BRAND AMBASSADOR LOWRANCE

MY ULTIMATE

FISHING SYSTEM

Midlife Crisis

If you’re going to have a midlife

crisis, make it a good one.

I think most of the Sea Angling Classic

competitors would agree, owning a boat is almost

entirely irrational. Certainly from an economic

perspective. But that doesn’t stop us loving them

and the wonderful experiences gifted to us each

season, being afloat, at sea.

My current love, ‘Hot Pursuit’, is an Americanmade,

25ft centre console and in many ways, she

owns me. The story of how she came to be my

pride-and-joy is worth sharing. In 2016, I was lucky

enough to be invited by Sea Angler Magazine to

fish a Tarpon tournament in Fort Myers, Florida.

Those 4 days in Florida were some of the most

enjoyable not-catching I’ve ever experienced, in

over 30 years of angling. Despite the unseasonable

lack of Tarpon present during the competition, the

experience was set to leave a lasting impression

on me. My other-half all too readily highlights how

the guy she picked up from the airport was not the

same as the one she dropped off. For clarity, that’s

not a good thing!

Florida will do that to you. Before I visited, I

genuinely believed I had done alright in life. I was

comfortable. Florida altered that perspective!

Having spoken to other anglers about their own

trips, I don’t feel like this ‘Floridian phenomenon’

is unique to me. Where my story differs perhaps,

is coming back home and insanely, trying to do

something about it. Enter stage left, Hot Pursuit.

For me at least, a boat purchase of midlife crisis

proportions!

In Florida, I was privileged to spend a couple

of days on fully-fledged centre consoles. Six-figure

sports fishing boats with all the trimmings. It was

all part of the bewildering experience. So when

I’d found Hot Pursuit and brought her home, the

next decision was what electronics to install. I

was already stretched financially, but thankfully

in this case, midlife crises don’t leave much room

for careful budgeting. I was so smitten with Hot

Pursuit that it would have broken my heart to

skimp on the electronics. So I went ‘all-in’.

If you’ve been lucky enough to see me bounce

around Gosport marina, struggling to manoeuvre

my boat into the simplest of berths on a flat calm

day, you would have already observed that I am an

angler first and a ‘boaty’ second. Therefore, when it

came to choosing which electronics brand to adopt

for my install, the decision was easy - Lowrance.

Lowrance has the pedigree in powering anglers

to catch more fish. They’ve been leading angling

innovation through electronics for over 60 years.

Lowrance has something called ‘The Ultimate

Fishing System’. It basically means a connected

system of electronics that when combined together

offer features and benefits greater than the sum of

the individual parts. Take my Lowrance Link VHF

Radio for example. It’s a very decent standalone

VHF with all the features you would expect and

a load more. But when you connect it to your

Lowrance display via an onboard network, the

display has the ability to pull through the VHF’s AIS

vessel tracking data and plot it right there on your

marine chart. Right where you’re looking and right

where it makes most sense. When I discovered this

feature it was a real shock. It hadn’t come up in my

extensive product research and was one of those

rare moments in modern life, where a product

over-delivers on expectation.

I consider the plotted AIS data on my charts

to be an excellent proxy for the more expensive

investment of a full-blown radar. Certainly a

nice-to-have failsafe in case I was ever to lose use

of my radar in poor visibility. But of course, it can’t

be considered as a replacement for the real thing.

Hence, when I was deciding which electronic items

I was going to invest in first, a radar was near the

top of list. For me, moving from an 18ft Raider

to the 25ft Pursuit was mainly about getting out

fishing more often in a greater range of weather

conditions. That’s the return I got for my money

and in the same sense, that’s what you get in a good

radar, like the Lowrance 4G Broadband Radar I

chose. You won’t need its use every time you go

fishing, but occasionally it will get you out fishing

safely, and home again, when you would have

been a fool to venture out without one. Ignoring

the obvious added security it brings when getting

caught out in fog, to me a good radar is about extra

fishing days afloat.

My favourite radar-themed benefit from

Lowrance’s Ultimate Fishing System is the

Radar Overlay, which takes the radar output and

accurately transplants it over your electronic chart,

hosted on your Lowrance plotter. Again, once

when I was

deciding which

electronic items I

was going to invest

in first, a radar was

near the top of list

that important information is in the realm of your

marine chart it just seems to make much more

sense. You understand that this small blob on the

radar is the fairway buoy and that other blob isn’t

charted and is therefore worth showing some

caution. It’s amazing what the 4G radar can pick up

if installed correctly. On a calm summer’s night I’m

glad of fair warning of even small pot-buoys.

Fish-finder, plotter, Multi-Function Display

(MFD). They all mean the same thing. It’s the heart

of the system, offering display screen, controls

and processing power for the entire network of

devices. One of the core principals of The Ultimate

Fishing System is that any Lowrance add-on can

be controlled from the MFD without the need

for separate interfaces. Lowrance offers three

different series of display aimed at ‘casual’, ‘avid’

and ‘serious’ anglers. Of the three, both the ‘Elite

FS’ and ‘HDS Live’ families offer the networking

capability to drive the various integrations we’ve

spoken about here. After my Florida experience,

I was desperate to recreate what I’d drooled over

on the professional’s boats, and having the room

on my console I opted for two 12-inch units

side-by-side. I split navigation and fish-finding

duties between the two. It’s an epic set-up, draws

admiring glances, and does everything I ever want

in a heartbeat, but it’s overkill. The point here is that

you only need a single display to run the expansive

array of options and add-ons.

Speaking of fish finding, a fish-finder is only

as good as the connected transducer. I run two

transducers on the transom of Hot Pursuit. First up

is the P66 transducer by Airmar. This traditional 2D

sonar offers a good balance of power, for deeper

water, and detail for my inshore fishing. I fish

depths between under 10 to nearly 300ft. Although

the P66 is made by a third-party, it’s how the data

is computed in the Lowrance display unit that

sets it apart. In the world of competitive angling,

Lowrance is renowned for first class 2D sonar. As

a fishing tool I’m reliant upon, I’m very happy and

I’ve never felt the need to change it since day one.

Next to the P66 I have run a couple of different

options for Structure Scan - the sonar technology

that offers photo-like imagery including Sidescan

and Downscan. Originally I ran Lowrance’s

pioneering StructureScan 3D which offers a unique

three-dimensional view of the seabed and any

fish below. It’s a fascinating view, but for me the

key strength of StructureScan 3D is the power of

its dedicated transducer. It is the most powerful

sidescan transducer I have used to date. The

reason that you probably won’t see SS3D hanging

on my transom come the Sea Angling Classic

is that power has been superseded by newer

technology. Namely, Lowrance’s Active Imaging.

By comparison, what Active Imaging lacks in raw

power it makes up for with clever processing.

I’ve graphed some beautifully accurate sidescan

images with Active Imaging since swapping out

the transducers and haven’t turned back. This is

great news if you are considering spec’ing out your

boat, as Active Imaging is a third of the price of the

3D transducer and the additional module box it

requires to run it. If you don’t need 3D images, it’s

a much simpler install because you won’t need to

install the additional module. Plus, Active Imaging

is also available as a 3-in-1 variant giving you

sidescan, downscan and traditional 2D sonar in a

single transducer. Less holes to drill and cables to

run!

Lastly on transducers, I have been trialling the

new-kid-on-the-block - Lowrance’s amazing Active

Target. The technology is best defined as live sonar.

Yes, you guessed it, live, moving images of fish

around your boat. It’s the next big leap forward in

sonar technology for pleasure and tournament

anglers. What’s more, it’s a directional transducer,

meaning you can aim it, a bit like pointing a

torch into the darkness to illuminate the detail.

It sounds like a gimmick but I find it fascinating

as a feedback tool. Watching how different fish

species react to your bait or lure as you move it.


ADAM KIRBY .. BRAND AMBASSADOR LOWRANCE

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

It’s not video footage by any means, but the tool

does have more than enough clarity to identify

different species and their behaviours. We’ve

had some great fun watching how Black Bream

react to moving baits and lures. One of the target

species for the Sea Angling Classic of course!

An addition that I’ve added along the way is

the Suzuki engine interface. This Suzuki branded

part interfaces perfectly with my HDS Live units

displaying a range of important outputs directly

from my outboard engine including, RPM,

voltage, temperature and so on. I tend not to

focus on the fuel economy reports these days!

Sob, sob. Later additions to the network, like this

interface are easy installations to the Ultimate

Fishing System. You just connect an additional

tee-piece to the existing NMEA network, attach

the new device which will be recognised by your

display, and at worst maybe run through a few

settings to setup how you would like the new data

source to be displayed on screen. It’s been that

simple at every stage. Plug and play.

If you’re still with me, I’ve saved the best two

components to last. One, a true game-changer

for angling, and the other, a misunderstood

and undervalued component that really does

improve your fishing and boating. Let’s start with

the latter.

The Lowrance Point-1 is a GPS Antenna and to

be fair, it looks a bit boring. You may ask yourself,

why would I need to shell-out more of your

hard-earned cash on a GPS antenna, when there

is one built-in to the display unit. The answer is

three-fold. Firstly, the dedicated Point-1 antenna

is more accurate than the integral device in

your display. Think of the Point-1 as a precision

instrument. Accuracy can be paramount to

reliably hitting your marks and consistently

finding fish. Secondly, as a separate device it can

rather obviously be mounted almost anywhere

on your boat. As I see it, that’s important for a

couple of reasons. More obviously you can locate

it away from obstruction, giving it a clear lineof-sight

to the satellites hurtling around in orbit.

That will improve both connection speed and

accuracy. In addition you may decide, as I did,

to think a little left-of-the-middle and if you’re

able to do so, mount the antenna as close to the

transducers, as possible. In my case, the Point-1

is mounted just in front of the splash-well, in-line

with my transducers. When you consider that

most people would automatically install such a

device on the cabin roof or console, granted, it

does look a bit weird. But taking full advantage

of yet another feature of the Ultimate Fishing

System, I want my depth and sidescan data

from the transducers to be assigned the most

accurate GPS position possible. So that when

I hit ‘waypoint’ on the display, just as that rock

pinnacle or fish appears on my sonar image, the

assigned GPS coordinates will be more accurate,

not 5, 10, or 15 feet forward, where you’ve

installed the antenna. This effect also improves

two other functions, namely StructureScan

Overlay (sidescan imagery overlaid on charts)

and Live Mapping (creating your own contour

charts using your sonar logs).

You may be thinking that the rather unsexy

Point-1 is already punching above its weight. But

it has another trick up its sleeve. It also features

a heading sensor. This means that it always

knows which way your boat is facing. The most

common question I get from Lowrance owners

is how can you stop the map from spinning

the biggest advance in boat

angling technology in recent

times? I’m going to say,

C-Map Reveal!

around when you’re sat at anchor. This is caused

by the display not knowing which way it is facing

without the boat moving forward. With a heading

sensor connected to the network the system

always knows which way the boat is facing. This

extra situational awareness catches more fish.

We’ve proved it. Especially when drift fishing and

lure fishing where an appreciation of which way

the boat is facing compared to the drift line or

boat position can pay dividends. We use this a

lot for inshore bass fishing - another Sea Angling

Classic species - where understanding exactly

where the reef high spots are, compared to our

boat position, improves our casting accuracy.

And finally, the biggest advance in boat angling

technology in recent times? I’m going to say,

C-Map Reveal!

C-Map, a sister company of Lowrance has a

relatively new addition to its already excellent

portfolio of mapping and marine chart views.

It’s called Reveal, and the technology behind it is

known as ‘shaded relief’. Think of shaded-relief

as images of the seabed, accurately positioned

on your chart plotter. While they didn’t go as far

as to ‘drain the ocean’ and take photographs, you

certainly wouldn’t know it. If you have Reveal

coverage in your chosen fishing area there’s no

more interpreting the contours of bathymetry.

The finer details are there, plain to see. And

while certain types of banks and substrate do

tend to move around over time, the majority do

not. Any kind of fixed structure like rocks, reef

and substantial banks has been proved, through

experience, to be extremely accurate in the two

seasons I’ve been using the product. Even the

plotted wreck positions don’t appear to move all

that much.

C-Map Reveal removes all the guesswork

from the areas that have coverage. The majority

of time you don’t even need to use your sonar

for anything other than determining depth. I

can anchor exactly where I want to be on a bank

without first having to motor over it and plot

the high and low points. I can just see the whole

bank right on the chart. Plus, there’s great news

if you’re a Sea Angling Classic competitor. The

competition area has full coverage for Reveal and

will certainly assist in finding suitable habitats

for all five of the target species. It’s a genuine

game-changer from my perspective and that

is why I’m going to be bold here and state that

C-Map Reveal, combined with the accuracy of

the Point-1 antenna, is our biggest advantage in

the Sea Angling Classic. There, I said it.

If you already own a newish Lowrance HDS

or Elite unit then I would strongly advise you to

consider purchasing the C-Map Reveal card. If

you don’t have a compatible unit, then I believe

the most affordable new option, is the Elite FS

7-inch display. If you don’t want to make that

kind of investment just yet, you can dip your

toe in with C-Map Reveal by subscribing to the

paid service on the Lowrance smartphone app

- available on both Apple and Android phones

and tablets - which gives you access to view the

shaded relief imagery. Just be aware that the

accuracy of your phone or tablet’s GPS is not as

accurate as a dedicated plotter, or better still, one

with the Point-1 antenna combined.

With the Lowrance phone app closing off the

list of Ultimate Fishing System features I’ll be

utilising in this year’s Sea Angling Classic, it just

leaves me to wish all competing anglers the very

best of luck. Tight lines everyone. See you out

there.

n ADAM KIRBY

LOWRANCE AMBASSADOR

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

Creating Sufix’s

Recycline

Monofilament –

The World’s First

100 % Recycled

Fishing Line


100 % recycled. 100 % recyclable. The

first of its kind. Recycline Monofilament

by Sufix is made from what others

have left behind – and judging by

the product’s popularity, the angling

community is ready to embrace the

new, sustainable direction for the sport.

Pioneering is never easy. There are no

trodden paths to follow. No giants’ shoulders

to stand on. Only unknown. Pioneering, by

definition, requires doing what none have

done before. When Sufix started developing

Recycline Monofilament, the world’s first 100

% recycled monofilament fishing line, it took

about two years until the product that had

RAPALA & DYNAMITE ... PROUD SPONSORS OF SAC

once been a sketch on the PD table was ready

to hit the shelves in the Spring of 2021.

It’s no wonder that Taneli Väisänen, Rapala

VMC’s Research and Sustainability Manager,

is quick to point out that creating products

like Recycline Monofilament is no walk in the

park.

“There are so many things to consider –

starting from the acquisition of the right raw

materials. We’re known for the high quality of

our products, and that’s something we won’t

compromise upon,” Väisänen points out.

Indeed, when designing Recycline

Monofilament, one of the critical steps was

finding the right raw materials. There are

many recycled materials already available

on the market, but most of them are limited

to textile products. And with Recycline

Monofilament, the performance had to be on

point – the product had to have the perfect

viscosity and the same reliability as other

monofilaments. After excessive research and

extrusion tests, the group found the right

candidate.

Econyl is a regenerated nylon

manufactured by the Italian synthetic

ECO

Amazing things can

fibers and polymers company Aquafil.

The company has found a way to harvest

industrial and post-consumer waste – such

as ghost nets lying in the ocean – and purify

it into a regenerated nylon. In an industryfirst

partnership, Aquafil agreed to provide

Sufix an exclusive supply of the regenerated

nylon. And from Econyl, Sufix was able to

manufacture Recycline Monofilament.

Wrapped around a spool made 100 % from

repurposed plastic, Recycline Monofilament

is packaged in fully recycled paperboard

packaging – to show the group is taking

no half measures when it comes to

sustainability.

This is a feat Väisänen calls “a truly

remarkable step.” When talking

about Recycline Monofilament,

Väisänen points out that the product

is not only a fishing line anglers can

depend on but also a token of Rapala

VMC’s commitment to the group’s

sustainability goals.

“This is something concrete.

98

WARRIORS

happen when two leading brands wage war on waste. .

Something that anglers can hold in their

hands. A high-quality product produced in an

environmentally friendly manner,” Väisänen

says.

“When it comes to sustainability, it’s so

easy to string pretty words together and tell

beautiful stories about the environment. But

what we have here is a product that is part

of the solution. A concrete action for a more

sustainable tomorrow.”

Indeed, Recycline Monofilament aligns

well with Rapala VMC’s new sustainability

strategy. Launched in 2020, the strategy

lined out the group’s ambitious target: to be

one of the leading fishing tackle company

in terms of sustainability in 2024. The bar

is set high, but for a good reason. Rapala

VMC ranks among the biggest players in the

industry, and the group is ready to leverage

its position and lead the industry towards

a more sustainable direction. At the same

time, the company is pushing itself to keep

exploring new and sustainable alternatives to

traditional materials and methods.

And, as Väisänen points out, the

group is taking other remarkable steps in

implementing the sustainability strategy. “For

example, all the Rapala hard bait production

units in Europe are running on 100 %

renewable energy! And many of our lures

– like the CountDown Elite – are lead-free

and made from responsibly sourced, FSCcertified

balsa wood,” Väisänen explains.

“For us, sustainability is an ongoing

process. We’re extending our new

sustainability strategy to business units step

by step and looking at our products with a

critical eye to see if there’s anything we can do

to make them more ecological.”

It’s products exactly like Recycline

Monofilament that make sustainable choices

easier for anglers. And now, Rapala VMC has

made recognizing those choices even simpler.

With the launch of EcoChoice, the group’s

trademark for sustainable products, Rapala

VMC is distinguishing its ecological products

– products just like Recycline Monofilament.

Because, as Väisänen so aptly points out:

“Angling is not only about the thrill of the

catch. It’s also about exploring, preserving,

and respecting the outdoors.”

As anglers, we often like to think of

ourselves as the guardians of the

waterways and coastal fisheries. After

all, our way of life is completely reliant

on nature’s wellbeing. But when it

comes to where we get our products

from – and how they are made – we

are miles behind some of the other

outdoor industries in terms of being

environmentally friendly.

That’s why the innovative team

at Rapala VMC has decided to do

something about it! 2022 will see the

launch of EcoChoice, Rapala VMC’s

very own eco-label.

The label is being headed by Rapala

VMC’s Research & Sustainability

Manager Taneli Väisänen, who’s

involved in everything sustainable in

Rapala VMC. And lately, he has been

overseeing then project that will play a

significant role in the company – and

hopefully, the angling world’s future.

“When we were working on our

company-wide sustainability strategy,

we set different goals for all our brands.

But we felt like something was missing

– something that extends across all our

brands and is, quite literally, tangible to

the angler. That got us thinking: what if

we had a corporate-wide label to help

anglers make sustainable choices?”

Taneli recounts.

That’s how EcoChoice, the fishing

tackle industry’s first-ever sustainability

label, was born. A pioneering step

for the industry, the label is Rapala

VMC’s commitment to change. Found

on the packaging of EcoChoicelabeled

products, the trademark is

designed to act as a signifier of a highquality

product manufactured with

responsible raw materials.

“EcoChoice is our promise of a better

tomorrow. And when you choose an

EcoChoice product, you’re contributing

to that tomorrow yourself. Simply put,

EcoChoice stands for a sustainable

product,” Taneli explains.

But what does ´sustainable’ exactly

Rapala & Dynamite

launch ‘Eco’

label as the

brands promote

sustainability

We plan to conduct a

thorough sustainability

check for our brands

each year, maybe even

twice a year

RAPALA & DYNAMITE ... PROUD SPONSORS OF SAC


SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

ECOWARRIORS

Amazing things can happen when two leading brands wage war on waste. .

mean? With the word getting thrown

around every so often, a definition is

in order. Or, in this case, definitions.

“Since EcoChoice is a company-wide

label, we had to define what an ‘ecological

product’ is. And then we had to do that for

other brands, as well!” Taneli tells.

“Let’s take a Rapala hard bait for an

example. A wooden bait consists of

numerous components: wood, weights,

and diving lip.

We reviewed each of those

components and explored ways of

making them more ecological. At the

end of the process, we have a hard bait

with a core made of FSC-certified balsa

wood, leadless weights, and a diving lip

made of either recycled or bio-based

plastic – in a package that is recyclable or

completely plastic-free. Only after meeting

those requirements, it can be called an

EcoChoice product.”

And then that process was repeated

for other brands – since every brand is

different. Now, Rapala VMC has laid out

the EcoChoice prerequisites for Rapala,

Dynamite Baits, and Marttiini.

The requirements set by the company

include other certificates, as well, since

EcoChoice is designed to complement, not

replace, well-established eco-certificates.

And, as the sustainability strategies for

other brands come along, so will the

EcoChoice criteria. But the requirements

won’t be set in stone. Quite the opposite.

For Dynamite its not just about the new

recyclable packing being introduced

to their ranges but also the brand’s

choice of ingredients which are all

fully certified and purchased with the

environment in mind.

The brand who’s HQ is based in

Nottingham, UK is also like their parent

company Rapala, aiming to go carbon

neutral in the next few years and have

introduced a raft of recent changes on-site

including solar power, LED lighting and

improved waste management.

“We plan to conduct a thorough

sustainability check for our brands each

year, maybe even twice a year. That also

provides us the opportunity to review

and update our EcoChoice requirements.

This, in turn, will also guide our product

development. Our current goal is to have

approximately 30 % of all our brands’

products EcoChoice-labeled – in the

future, we hope to get that number even

higher,” Taneli explains.

For Rapala VMC – and, especially for

Taneli – all this means a lot of extra work.

While it’s no secret that manufacturers

and retailers are getting more and more

eco-conscious, Taneli points out that

EcoChoice is not meant as a competitive

advantage and will not affect the prices of

the products whatsoever. Instead, it is the

company’s way of safeguarding the future

of the sport.

“Angling is one of the few hobbies

completely reliant on nature’s wellbeing.

Without healthy waters, there is no fishing.

In my opinion, EcoChoice is a

sign of goodwill from us. It’s

not market-driven; it’s our

contribution to ensuring that

the upcoming generations

can enjoy angling the way

we have,” Taneli says.

Ultimately, EcoChoice is

more than a sustainability

label for Rapala VMC –

it’s a paradigm shift for

the company, a mentality

that guides different

sustainability initiatives

across the Group.

Among these initiatives are

the EcoChoice Challenge that

encourages employees to

propose ways of making their

place of work more sustainable,

or the EcoChoice Program that

drives societal change and

contributes to the wellbeing of

waterways. Taneli points out

that initiatives like these are just

the first steps on a long journey.

“We aren’t taking any high

roads here. We still have a lot to

learn, and if there’s something

we could be doing better, feel

free to call us out! Our annual

sustainability report is published

on our website so that everyone

can see it – because, without

accountability, there’s no

progress. For us, sustainability is

a life-long journey of constant

improvement.”

EcoChoice is our

promise of a better

tomorrow. When you

choose an EcoChoice

product, you’re

contributing to that

tomorrow yourself

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

Background to

a local hero ..

Growing up by the sea in his

home town of Portsmouth,

Dan has been fishing since

the late 80s. His father, Bob

Sissons introduced him to sea

fishing and he soon became

an active, junior member of

Southsea Sea Angling Club,

where he developed his

angling career from both boat

and shore.

Most recently, Dan has

become smitten with modern

lure fishing techniques and

has an ethos to maximise the

enjoyment from all species -

big and small.

While predominantly

still a saltwater angler,

Dan’s fascination with

lure angling has seen his

skills transition over to the

freshwater competition

scene, culminating in second

place in the grand final of

the 2015 British Lure Angling

Championships, fished by

60 of the country’s best lure

anglers.

Dan has also won the

coveted Species Hunt

section of the Cornish Lure

Festival.

Dan is a contributor to the

UK’s largest sea angling

publication, Sea Angler.

102


DAN SISSONS ... A GAME OF TWO HALVES

BREAMS

CAN COME

TRUE

Forgive me for starting my

column in a magazine that

shines a light on sea angling

and the biggest sea fishing event

the UK has ever seen with a few

words on another love of mine, football.

It may come as no surprise that as a Pompey

fan I am a strong advocate of the phrase ‘going to

football has nothing to do with football’. You may

well be confused, but I’ll explain:

Going to football is about a shared experience,

meeting up with mates, a little bit of meaningless

drama that adds some excitement and offers

something to look forward to throughout the

working week and at least this, for the most part is

how I feel about it.

However, every now and again there’s a proper

game, under the lights at Fratton park a game that

has some real meaning, gets the adrenaline flowing

and dominates the days before and after.

Fishing is no different (told you I’d get to the

fishing bit), as it’s a pastime for most that gives us a

reason to beat through that working week, spend

a day on the water with friends and grab a beer

afterwards.

Fishing is often nothing to do with fishing,

indeed some of the best days afloat hold memories

that don’t involve fish. As with football it’s the

shared memories, the preparation, pure escapism.

But … now and again, a competition with some

real meaning, bragging rights and serious prizes

comes around and for me, a Pompey lad, the Sea

Angling Classic is akin to Fratton park under the

lights at the business end of the season and as

with any big game the pressure is starting to build,

because someone reading this will be crowned

champions.

Two days of full-on competition fishing is

about to begin and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

This isn’t escapism and the beers will hopefully be

consumed while celebrating a memorable win.

Having lived on this little island for over forty

years I like to think I know a little bit about the

place. Most of what I know is far too dull for a

glossy magazine though, such as Portsmouth

being the birthplace of Amanda Holden or that

Wayne Sleep was the celebrity in attendance

when the Hayling ferry was reopened. No, this

place is for fish, fishing and the love of fish and

fishing!

I can tell you where Goldsinny live if you’re

interested? I could tell you the right time of

the year to find Allis Shad or that how I have

developed a knack of knowing what state of tide

suits targeting Sea-Scorpions on lures and yes,

these are all very useful facts, but they’re only

things I have learned as a result of spending an

unhealthy amount of time wandering about the

Bream look

great, they

fight hard

and can often

be found

in shallow

water

shoreline or indeed racing around in boats in, on,

or certainly within sight of Portsmouth. These

little snippets of info make me care about the

water that surrounds and defines Portsmouth. If

more people shared this love and curiosity of the

sea then I’m sure we would see less rubbish and

general ambivalence towards the coastline.

I may be old fashioned, but I still believe that

anglers are the guardians of the water – we rely

upon it for what we do – and whilst I understand

that it’s not for everyone we, as anglers, should

make a bigger deal of what can offer a community

because if we don’t bang our own drum no one

else will do it for us.

I am so pleased that the Sea Angling Classic will

not just take place in my home town but also show

the local populous that we can play a big part in

the protection of the marine environment, the

beach clean is a very visible aspect of this.

All environmental impacts aside the winners

of SAC will be the ones that successfully manage

to locate and catch the target fish and my ‘patch’

doesn’t want for ground to find these fish. I have

heard of potential record breaking specimens

of both Tope and Smoothounds that have been

caught and released over the years and June is a

particularly good month to get that monster.

Rays will present a different challenge, as these

bottoms dwelling members of the shark family

differ from species to species and we have lots to

choose from. Spotted, Small-Eyed, Undulate,

Thornback and Blonde Rays are all available

and there are even a few more rarities. I suspect

that the Blonde rays may be on the list of a few

competitors as they’re comfortably the biggest

around of those that are likely to be caught and

here’s where the catch and release format really

pays off as I haven’t wanted to keep a Ray for

many years now-they’re just too cool!

We have had something of a population

explosion in recent years of a fish that anglers

and diners covet and that’s the Bass. Thanks to

some stringent regulations and some blind luck

we can now “walk to the Isle of Wight” on the

DAN SISSONS ... A GAME OF TWO HALVES


SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

backs of Bass as my old friend and charter

boat skipper Pete Kilshaw would phrase it. So,

if you’re not sure where the Bass are then just

follow the big yellow boat and the sound of the

squeeze-box as that’s like catnip to our silver

friends.

Last but certainly not least is by far my

favourite fish on our list this year and that’s the

Black Bream.

Sadly we have seen a very slight downturn

locally in the past few years but they will still

around in numbers even if it’s not the 4lb+

specimens that we used to see more of.

While this competition may not be the best

time to really scale the tackle down and enjoy

some wonderful fun catching Bream, I’m sure

some visiting anglers will return to spend a

few days Bream-ing as everything about them

epitomises what angling, for me, is about.

Bream look great, they fight hard and can

often be found in shallow water so tick all the

boxes for light line boat fishing and we’re lucky

to have them. I hope a little more is done to

protect their fragile breeding grounds.

I cannot divulge too much more info

for fear of giving away some key secrets,

but needless to say I am looking forward to

catching up with some friends old and new

amongst the hullabaloo that will be SAC22. I

know that Portsmouth will be a great host and

I’m confident that the fishing grounds where I

have spent the last 45 year playing in will give

up some of its secrets.

Best of luck to everyone that is taking part,

I hope you are just 1cm behind me and my

teammates!!!

n DAN SISSONS

Ever fancied having a go at fishing but don’t know where

to start? Here’s my five tips to get you going.

1

Start small

To get the basics of fishing in place target

the smaller fish that hug the coastline. There are

literally dozens of species well within reach of

the novice and experienced angler alike. Light

Rock Fishing is the perfect place to start with light

rods, small reels and you’ll only need a small bag

to carry your tackle. Anglers can dip in and out

for a few hours at easily accessible places like

piers and jetties so it’s safe for kids. Hone your

knot-tying skills and fish care while safely on dry

land and learn about tides and weather – this will

all pay off and the best part is that LRF is all about

imitation baits or ‘lures’ so you don’t need to get

involved in the smelly bait just yet!!

2

Location, Location,

Location

The sea is a big place and an hour spent in the

right place is worth ten wasted in the wrong

place, so take time to study the charts. Lowrance

and Navionics both have resources available

as apps and you can see where the water is

deep or shallow, where the structure is as well

as tidal flow. Anglers have never had so much

up-to-date information at our finger tips so take

advantage and plan ahead. Just as important is

time spent on the water to watch the

Terns and Gulls, note the ebb and

flow of the tide and affect this has

on the fish. With enough time the

conditions and the fish will start to

tell you what to do. No time with a

rod in your hand is wasted.

5

3

Tackle.

The Sea angling classic is focusing

on five species from the bigger Tope to the

small Bream and different rods, reels, line and

terminal tackle will be needed to efficiently

fish for each species. General fun fishing is no

different, so get the right tools for the job and

balance your outfit to suit what you do. Feeling

the ‘bite’ and enjoying the capture is only

achievable if your tackle is balanced correctly

and if you start off with the small species you

will learn really quickly that the more you feel

the more you catch.

4

Weather.

This seems obvious but if you’re feeling

cold and miserable you won’t fish well and

this can also be the same with fish. On warm

summer days fish will be more active and

more likely to want a moving bait or maybe

a lure to chase. A sudden cold spell will slow

the fish down and can sometimes shut them

down altogether so you may need to let your

baits soak a little longer. If you get enough

hours in different conditions you’ll instinctively

know how to best approach your chosen target

depending on the weather conditions.

Competitions

Whether it’s a few friends meeting up for a

friendly comp, a local club event on a boat or beach

or a full on tournament you will learn so much from

competing. Watching how the winners win is invaluable

information and don’t be intimidated as we have all

started at the bottom. Most anglers are happy to

share information freely and there’s a camaraderie in a

competition that can help tease out hints and tips from

even the most seasoned competition anglers.

and finally .. use your local resources to help

you out. Local tackle shops, fishing clubs, charter boats

and online groups are all great places to get new and

experienced anglers together to share information.

Most (not all!!) men and women that love our sport will

love nothing more than to talk about angling so listen

and learn. Most importantly be safe, no fish is worth a

risk. I hope to see you on the beach or boat soon. Find.

Fun. Fishing.

105

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC


OKUMA ... THE MAKAIRA SERIES

106

A TROLLING

REEL WITH THE

DURABILITY,

STRENGTH AND

POWER TO TAME

ANY FISH THAT

SWIMS IN THE

OCEAN!

MAKAIRA MULTIPLIER REEL ..

Nothing shows up the weaknesses in any

reel like Big Game fishing, and the four

cornerstones of any weakness lie in Design,

Drive, Drag and Durability.

Okuma embraced and addressed these

four cornerstones and it’s multi-national design

team, in cooperation with Tiburon Engineering,

set out to reinvent the offshore reel, and the

two-speed Makaira series is the result.

A trolling reel with the durability, strength

and power to tame any fish that swims in the

ocean. Okuma’s flagship reel!

TOURNAMENT DRAG ..

The Makaira’s drag really is something behold.

The TDC or “Tournament Drag Cam” is

designed with a more gradual ramp in the cam

system that is intended for anglers fishing light

line and toumament IGFA line classes.

The standard cam that is installed in the

Makaira reels is engineered to be compatible

with braided line and offers aggressive drag

ramps in order to output heavy drag ratings.

Makaira’s are engineered to output extreme

drag pressure, but this is not required by all

anglers.

REACH FOR

THE MAX

Okuma had one goal in

mind when designing the

Makaira Series and that was

to build every component to

withstand the pressures of

harsh environments

These reels have been designed to offer

customization and with the TDC cam system,

Okuma is offering anglers a reel that is versatile

for a wide range of fishing applications,

allowing a more gradual increase in drag

settings. The drag system was specifically

engineered to be mounted in the right side of

the spool in order to bring all the mechanical

workings closer together to maximize

alignment and durability.

The Makaira 2 (gold) version is available in

a variety of sizes from 16,000 up to a monster

130,000 and with topless or crossbar frame

options.

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC


OKUMA ... THE MAKAIRA SERIES

REACH FOR

THE MAX

A Reel for life ..

Like it’s sister multiplier version, Makaira

spinning reels are derived from the Okuma

4D Concept which focuses on Design,

Drive, Drag and Durability. Constructed

from the finest materials available, these

reels truly are the toughest and most

durable reels an angler can own. A Ferrari

of the reel world!

Whilst Makairas are developed to

pursue big game fish like Giant Trevally,

trophy-sized tuna or large sharks they are

still light and responsive enough to tame

smaller species like big rays, congers and

hounds too making them a great allrounder!

REACH FOR THE MAX ..

The Makairas feature a forged stainless

steel, machined MaxGear.

While most reels in this category feature

bronze, aluminium or machine-cut stainless

steel gears, Okuma’s Makaira reels feature

the only machine-cut forged stainless steel

main gear. The brand ported the main gear

and incorporated other design elements

to keep it light weight enough to fish all

day. The reel also features a unique high

output drag that can achieve extreme max

pressures over 65-lbs, and this can be

easily adjusted to suit the species you are

after!

OCEAN PROOF ..

Engineered to withstand the most brutal

conditions the ocean can offer Okuma

accomplished this, by equipping the

Makaira series with 23 different oilretaining

o-rings and gaskets. Their

engineers made this reel impervious to

the elements, and by making it water

tight, all the internal mechanisms are

sealed and protected from salt. The

result is the best-of-the-best when it

comes to big game fishing reels.

Makaira spinning reels are available

in left and right-handed versions in

10,000, 20,000 and 30,000 sizes. If

you want a reel that will last you a

lifetime ask at your local Okuma

stockist for availability.

n Visit Okumafishing.com

MAKAIRA SPINNING REEL FEATURES ..

n Forged aluminum, machine cut

body/sideplate

n Forged aluminum, machine cut

Cyclonc Flow rotor

n Forged stainless steel main gear

for ultimate power and strength

n Precision machine cut 17-4 grade

stainless steel pinion gear

n Oversized 17-4 grade stainless

steel spool shaft reduces flex

n Hydro Sealed Body and DFD

system for maximum protection

108

n Carbonite high output drag with

Cal’s drag grease on full DFD

n Customized pre-set drag system,

works like a lever drag reel

n 9HPB + 1RB corrosion resistant

stainless steel bearings

n Dual anti-reverse system for

maximum strength and reliability

n Quick-Set stainless steel German

anti-reverse roller bearing

n CRC: Corrosion-resistant coating

process

n Machined aluminum, 2-tone

anodized spool with LCS lip

n Machined aluminum screw-in

handle arm for added strength

n Right and Left handles are

designed differently: Order by Rt/Lt

n Heavy duty, solid aluminum bail

wire with manual trip function

n Rotor brake system works in

conjunction with manual bail trip

n Machined aluminum handle knob:

Custom options available

THE RESULT

IS THE BEST-OF-

THE-BEST WHEN

IT COMES TO BIG

GAME FISHING

REELS


SEAKEEPER .. PROUD SPONSOR OF THE SAC

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

STEADY AS

SHE GOES

Seakeeper eliminates up to 95% of

boat roll, changing your experience

on the water ... once you feel it,

you’ll never boat without it

The Sea Angling Classic is the first

of its kind in Europe, and Seakeeper

is excited to be the official stabilizer

partner for the tournament. In

competitive fishing, you often go

out in less than ideal sea conditions.

Many of our most passionate

customers are anglers who rely on

Seakeeper to keep them stable even in

the roughest conditions. As we always

say, Seakeeper helps you fight the fish,

not the roll.

What does the Seakeeper do?

The Seakeeper is designed to eliminate

up to 95% of boat roll on vessels 23 feet

and up. It requires modest electrical

power, has no outside appendages, and

can be installed virtually anywhere on

board.

Since coming to market in 2008,

Seakeeper has revolutionized

recreational boating by making

it more accessible and enjoyable

for everyone. The company now

supports nearly 20,000 customers

on the water worldwide.

How Does Seakeeper Work?

Inside a vacuum-enclosed sphere, a steel

flywheel spins at speeds of up to 9,750

rpm. When the boat rolls, the Seakeeper

tilts fore and aft (precesses), producing

a powerful gyroscopic force to port and

starboard that counteracts the boat roll.

Does Seakeeper Work on Your

Existing Boat?

In most cases, the answer is YES, you can

put a Seakeeper on your boat! With our

global dealer network, there are expert

installers nearby that are equipped with

the knowledge and skill to refit almost

any boat with a Seakeeper. Nearly 25% of

our sales are refits, and we’ve completed

more than 3,000 individual refits already.

So, there’s a good chance we’ve

already refit your boat make/model.

With many builders now taking

Seakeeper into account when designing

their new models, refitting is getting

easier every day.

Can you option a new boat

with a Seakeeper?

Purchasing a Seakeeper for your new

boat is also a great option. Seakeeper

is partnered with nearly every major

boat manufacturer globally, who offer

Seakeeper as either standard or optional

equipment for new boats.

111

DIVE DEEP FOR THE

TREASURE

YOU SEEK

MERMAID GIN

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

Rooted in the natural landscape

of a unique island, the Isle of

Wight Distillery creates premium,

hand-crafted spirits, working in

connection with nature.

The distillery’s signature spirit, Mermaid

Gin, delivers a smooth yet complex blend of

fresh organic lemon zest and peppery grains

of paradise, with a hint of sea air from locally

foraged, fragrant rock samphire. This coastal

botanical, wild-foraged from the island’s cliffs,

is known locally as ‘mermaid’s kiss’.

Being plastic-free, the distillery proactively

strives to protect the environment, supporting

seagrass meadow restoration projects locally

and overseas. Ingredients are ethically

sourced or wild-foraged, with the Mermaid

and HMS Navy Strength ranges inspired by the

ocean and island’s natural elements.

We are delighted to be involved with the

Sea Angling Classic, with our maritime heritage

and our dedication to protecting our coastline

by restoring seagrass around our island home.

We will be actively supporting the run up

to the event as well as being involved in the

competition in June.

With our support we will be providing

a selection of prizes for individual winners

including a visit to the Isle of Wight Distillery,

the home of Mermaid Gin on the Isle of Wight

which will include a tasting of our signature

spirits, plus a choice of delicious food from

our Mermaid Bar, all hosted by Malcolm, our

Sales Director. For individual categories we will

also be supplying Mermaid Gin for the lucky

winners.

SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC


JAMES MASDEN... PENN PRO TEAM MEMBER

Putting Penn

through it’s paces

Why do I use PENN?

As a saltwater angler I choose

PENN because they are high

performing products which have been designed and

tested by some of the best anglers in the world.

In fact, every product in the PENN range has gone

through a vigorous testing process which allows

constant improvements in each generation of their

fishing equipment. The PENN products I use are not

only built for salt water purposes, they have also been

designed for catching big fish, which means they will

not let me down when I hook into something special.

What are my favourite products?

Seeing as I’m such a big fan of PENN products it is

difficult to pinpoint an exact favourite.

Personally I love all the new products which have

been improved and updated. What I will say, I like the

fact that many of the products in the PENN range are

so strong and versatile.

Take the new Penn Slammer IV for example; you

could see me bass fishing from the beach with this

reel one day and then battling with a tope from a boat

the next.

PENN have also just released a new range of

luggage which is also worth a mention. Within

the new luggage range you will find a very useful

carry-all that is big enough to fit in everything

needed for a day’s fishing on the boat. The carry-all

has a reinforced base, they are waterproof and have

saltwater resistant zips. I also love the new PENN

Waterproof Rollup bag, ideal for all of your more

delicate equipment like cameras and mobile phones.

How does PENN help me?

Strong and reliable are two key words which spring to

mind when I am fishing with PENN.

Seeing as I am a very keen saltwater angler, who

goes fishing all of the time, ultimately I need fishing

equipment that won’t let me down. A lot of hours

on the water means I really do put all of my fishing

equipment through its paces and in the past I’ve

found saltwater can quickly erode inferior products. I

think fishing reels take the brunt of the abuse caused

by saltwater and PENN reels have been designed to

cope with this very well. In my mind, the saltwater

sealed ball-bearings and carbon fibre drag systems

found in PENN reels are second to none. Add to that

PENN is now using CNC gearing technology which

has added even more strength and precision to their

reels. At the end of the day, I need fishing equipment

which is fit for purpose, strong enough to handle

whatever the sea throws at me and that is why I

choose PENN.

I need equipment which is strong enough

all about James ..

As a Pro Team Member at Penn

Fishing, James concentrates all of his

time into saltwater fishing and has a

keen eye for the correct tackle choices.

His main stomping ground is the Bristol

Channel where specimen hunting is a

firm favourite, however, he also travels

around the United Kingdom as a keen

match angler, which when combined

gives him a very diverse range of sea

angling skills.

The highlight of his angling career so

far was fishing for England in the World

Pairs at the 2019 World Angling Games

in South Africa where he came home

with the bronze medal.

Boat and shore, James enjoys and has

experience in many different forms of

sea fishing – from lighter beach work to

much heavier disciplines over

rough ground.

to handle whatever the sea throws at me and that is why I choose PENN

115

FISHING 13... PROUD EVENT PARTNERS OF THE SAC

The US are famous

for their innovation

and quality of

products when it

comes to predator

fishing. One of the

latest brands to arrive

on UK and European

shores from across

the pond is the super

trendy 13 Fishing

Featuring some featurepacked

and stylish baitcaster

reels and a variety of fast

action lure rods that have

been earning plaudits from

those who have already

discovered them, the brand

caters for both freshwater

and saltwater anglers alike.

13 Fishing offers a variety of

choice from hi-end reels like

the groundbreaking Concept

Z SLD baitcaster with is SLIDE

cast control system to more

affordable options such as the

origin with its smooth operation

and handy features. For rods

NEW KIDS ON TH

there are so many choices of

lengths and casting weights

across the models which cover

everything from the hi-end lure

angler to the middle market

and those who just want an

affordable but good-looking,

nice actioned rod.

For saltwater lure anglers the

Concept TX, Inception Z and

Origin TX reels are designed to

survive the rigours of sea fishing

whether that be using on a

boat or for LRF’ing. These cool

looking green coloured reels are

super-durable and packed with

innovation.

However, showcasing the

company’s unique flair for

engineering gone wild, 13

Fishing’s best-selling Concept

Z reel is the one that has really

rocked the industry and raised

the bar for innovation.

”The Concept Z SLD

showcases the level of bold

innovation that our team is

bringing to the sport,” says Matt

Baldwin, 13 Fishing’s Director of

Product Development. “In the

Gen 1 design, we challenged

the idea that reels need

ball bearings to deliver elite

performance. We wanted to

take that innovation to the next

level.”


SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

E BLOCK

And that is exactly what

13 Fishing did. Adds Baldwin:

“The Concept Z SLD features

a 20lb drag system with

six-fold durability when

compared to carbon fibre.

We also developed a new

100% corrosion-proof cast iron

carbon material to create a

super-lightweight chassis.”

For saltwater fans the

company also cater with rod

ranges. All three ranges Muse,

Defy and Rely include saltwater

spinning models, they are easy

to identify by the letter ‘S’ next

to their name.

The Defy for example,

is the perfect example of a

dynamic combination of casting

performance and fighting ability

rely on the reactive Japanese

24T blank equipped with Fuji

Fazlite guides.

With a very wide range of

lengths and actions that will

provide Sea bass anglers

the ultimate in this long

casting technique. Untamed

performance for all midsized

saltwater species give you the

option of soft or hardbaits.

If you are on the market for

some new lure gear this kit is

well worth a look. Prepare to

be wowed.

117

REUBEN HEATON.. TOTAL WEIGHING SOLUTIONS

Both weights and lengths are at the

mercy of time and must be recorded

within the correct time frame

Reuben Heaton has been the official

weights and measures sponsor for

Angling Spirit events for more than

twenty-five years now and when

it comes to competition fishing in

particular, we know that it’s all about

the length and weight.

Weighing and measuring fish is what

Reuben Heaton is best known for. From

the humblest of pocket measures and

spring balances to high performance match

scales and officially calibrated competition

measures, from highly accurate Specimen

Hunter analogue dial scale to the latest in

digital technology with its 7000 and 9000

series digital scales. The Reuben Heaton

brand is synonymous with weighing and

measuring products that provide the

reliability and performance to handle a

personal best catch or weigh in at world class

events and perform under pressure when

thousands of pounds can rest on a few grams

or centimetres.

With most leading events now introducing

bass tournament style rules on fish catches,

runaway marks no longer steal the show. The

chance of success is now a much wider one

and most competitors have that opportunity

rather than the few who have found better

locations. With this change in event format,

it has become ever more likely that overall

weights and measurements will be close right

to the final whistle.

Reuben Heaton provides many topclass

events with highly accurate calibrated

fish measures that perform the same role

as its legendary scales in terms of length

measurement. Whereas coarse anglers talk

in kilo’s or pounds, sea anglers converse

in meters and centimetres, or maybe feet

and inches if you are older or hail from the

US. Events are won and lost on length and,

because of the species involved and the

angling styles employed, catches in such

events often result in high numbers of smaller

fish being caught.

During such events, the recording of

high multiples of catches down to the last

centimetre or even less, puts forward its own

logistical and physical challenges especially

when measurements are being taken by

competitors in different surroundings and

those results have to be transferred by phone

app to officials. Like the scales, the measures

must perform well under use and, like the

scales, Reuben Heaton made fish measures

are gaining a similar reputation for going the

distance, quite literally.

One thing that you probably didn’t know

however is that Reuben Heaton is very often

the official timing sponsor for many local,

national and international events. We know all

too well that every gram or centimetre counts

when it comes to competition results, what

we tend not to consider as a first thought

though is that both weight and length count

for nothing without the correct timing.

Both weights and lengths are at the mercy

of time and must be recorded within the

correct time frame. Even when we hook into

that fish of a lifetime seconds before the final

whistle, the clock is ticking to make sure

that fish is landed and recorded, weight or

length-wise, within the correct time frame.

Expanding on the traditional more visible

role of weighing and measuring sponsor to

include timing as well, has made the Reuben

Heaton brand the definitive all-round weights

and measures provider.

The company first became involved in

timing of events at the inaugural British Carp

Angling championships (BCAC) over 20 years

ago. Having developed a clock design based

one of its more traditional aluminium match

scales some years previously, the company

inherited the role of time keeper for the BCAC

IT’S A

WEIGHTING

GAME

AS PROVIDERS OF

ACCURATE FISH

MEASURES, Angling

Spirit has been relying

on REUBEN HEATON FOR

OVER 25 YEARS


SEA ANGLING

CLASSIC

quite accidentally when it was approached to

fulfil the role of official scales for both the BCAC

and subsequent inaugural World Carp Classic.

Fast forward to today and the latest

incarnation of the Reuben Heaton clock is now

available through retailers alongside the scales

and calibrated measures. Based on the body

work and interior design of Reuben Heaton’s

highly successful 4000 Series analogue scale,

the latest scale clocks come in Classic and

Specimen Hunter formats, the latter mimicking

our most successful specialist scale the

Specimen Hunter know the world over.

Unlike earlier models, the 2022 clocks

come compete with external hook and handle

features as per the actual scale and are the

perfect product to suit any man cave, anglers’

cabin, or club house. But enough of the sales

pitch, the new 2022 scales clocks will be in

action keeping time at the 2022 Sea Angling

Classic event. The official clock sets ticking

away at event headquarters, will be the ones

that ultimately determine who found the time

to win and who was slow off the mark.

n ANDY RACE

DIRECTOR, REUBEN HEATON

it has become ever

more likely that

overall weights

and measurements

will be close

right to the final

whistle

119

WORLD OF

ANGLING SPIRIT


FOCUS ON . . OLIVIER PORTRAT

Captured.. Olivier with a pike in Laponia, northernmost

Sweden (above) and a more relaxed shot taken in a

remote base-camp, Mongolia (right)

Olivier Portrat’s

biography reads

like something

from the pages of a

David Livingstone

memoir. He has led

expeditions to 45 countries including

a year spent on the Nile, four years on

the Ebro in Spain, testing the waters

in Patagonia, Morocco, Kazakhstan,

Iran and let’s not forget to mention the

Amazon. All this, to satisfy his passion for

recreational fishing and his commitment

to animal welfare, nature conservation

and the preservation of the way of life of

indigenous peoples, such as the nomads

in Mongolia.

For over 30 years, he has documented

these worldly experiences through

photography, the written word and TV

production, both as protagonist and director.

This love of angling and photography go

hand in hand and has helped to fund his

obsession – nobody has published as many

photos on recreational fishing as Olivier

has – over 600 shots in some of the most wellknown

angling and non-angling publications

including National Geographic, FHM, Men’s

Health and, surprisingly, Penthouse.

Born in Saarbrucken, Germany, Olivier

studied law at the University of Saarland

and went on to become an IT consultant,

translator (he speaks more than three

languages) and journalist.

It was during 1989 Portrat began putting

his fishing, journalistic and photography

skills to the test – not only in Europe, but

worldwide and by 1992 made the decision to

leave the IT world behind him and make his

living through documenting his recreational

angling experiences through Angling

magazines, books and film productions

… needless to say, this has been hugely

successful.

He now spends six to eight months a

year following his passion and sharing

his discovery of new venues, new fishing

techniques and new standards in both

freshwater and sea predator angling.

Olivier is a true believer in sport fishing

working in harmony with nature – and

vehemently fights for water and species

protection. He also supports numerous

initiatives that aim to preserve the habitat

of the people who live and work on the

banks of the waters. On his last expedition

to Mongolia, he documented the appalling

exploitation of nature and portrayed the

changing lifestyle of the nomads there, which

is largely endangered by the upcoming

exploitation of the huge natural resources

that have been discovered in the past years.

It’s no surprise therefore, that in 2019

Olivier was elected CEO of EFTTA (European

Fishing Tackle & Trade Association) and in

this capacity he represents the interests of the

European angling industry at the European

Commission and the European Parliament

in Brussels.

In this interview with The World of Angling

Spirit, Olivier explains his role as EFTTA

CEO and his hopes on securing the future

of angling in the best possible way. One can

only be certain sport fishing couldn’t be in

safer hands.

CALL OF

THE WILD

CEO OF EFTTA IS A MAN ON A MISSION

Olivier is a true

believer in sport

fishing working

in harmony with

nature – and

vehemently

fights for water

and species

protection.

121

WORLD OF

ANGLING SPIRIT

CALL OF THE WILD

OLIVIER PORTRAT

Q

Olivier, you have been travelling all over

the world in quest of great sport-angling in

the past 30 years. You made your living by

publishing articles, photos, books, calendars

on the subject of recreational angling. Nobody

has published more photos worldwide on this

topic than you, you are the father of over 600

cover-shots from all over the world. How does it

come that you now invest your time and energy

for EFTTA (European Fishing Tackle & Trade

Association) in Brussels?”

A

I always tried to promote angling in the best

possible way. On my photos, you do not

see any blood or dead fish. I always wanted

recreational angling to be considered as an activity

that is modern and up to date. If we do not manage

to do that, recreational angling will disappear

rather soon.

In Brussels, I now have the opportunity

to promote that at a decisive European level.

Together, with our colleagues from EAA (European

Anglers Alliance), we do the lobbying work for

us anglers. Lobbyists are usually people that – in

exchange for money – promote the interests of

thirds, not their own interests. If you are mean, you

can qualify this as prostitution.

With me, things are somewhat different, as

the people I talk to in Brussels quickly notice that

I really believe in what I’m saying. That gives us

precious credibility. This is why the industry of

recreational angling has chosen me to represent

their interests in Brussels.”

Q

Would you please explain to our readers

what EFTTA actually represents and

which (also political) functions it holds?

The meaning and effect of the pan-European

functionality of an association probably seems

very far off for the individual angler.

A

EFTTA represents the interests of the

European angling industry. The main focus

of this work is to cooperate with the EU

(Commission & European Parliament) in order

to secure the long-term future of angling in the

best possible way. This is important because the

future of the angling industry has never been so

threatened as it is today. These dangers are of

political, economic and ecological nature.

If the EU were to make appointments with

private individuals, it would be suffocated in a

confusing flood of appointments. Therefore,

the EU is calling for interest groups to organize

themselves into an association.

This will provide a clearer overview of the

Life through a lens.. Olivier has photographed the wierd and

the wonderful for over 30 years in over 45 countries

situation. The positive aspect is that we anglers

can also be heard in this way. But the same

applies to our opponents. By listening to both

sides, European decision-makers can get their

own picture of the situation and thus make wellfounded

decisions on this basis.

Without our own association, we anglers

would not be heard in Brussels. An association

such as EFTTA is therefore essential for a sensible

continuity of angling within the EU.

In addition, EFTTA’s role is also to promote

recreational angling in general. Therefore the

EFTTA-Board is proud to have Ross Honey as a

member: the angling events that Ross organizes

here in Europe are amazing and up-top-date,

they give angling a new & modern image.

Moreover, Ross always makes efforts to

integrate the youth in his events. I wish we could

have more “events” like this in Europe …”



I want recreational

angling to be considered

as an activity that is

modern and up to date.

If we do not manage to

do that, recreational

angling will disappear

rather soon

Q

What is your assessment of the ecological

situation of our planet and therefore the

inevitably of the future situation for us sport

fishermen, who are all dependent on ecology?

So what do you think is a future-oriented,

contemporary angling, if we want to include

factors like climate change or environmental and

habitat destruction in this vision?

A

The ecological situation of our planet is

unfortunately disastrous. For 150 years we

have been systematically overexploiting and

raping nature – and now we are paying the price

in the form of rapidly advancing climate change,

among other things.

On the part of EFTTA, we in Brussels are

fighting for free migration routes in our rivers and

are vehemently resisting additional waterway

construction, while at the same time promoting

the dismantling of power plants. But in the

context of the nuclear phase-out and the search

for “sustainable“ energies, thousands of new

hydroelectric power projects are in the planning

phase! For us at EFTTA, any hydroelectric power

associated with damming is an ecological disaster

and anything but sustainable.

Massive, mostly agricultural caused insect losses

make it difficult for many fish species to thrive.

Invasive species, some of which are extremely

protected (cormorants, otters!), make the situation

even more difficult – unfortunately there are

countless construction sites here too.

I try to make myself heard by the decisionmakers

in Brussels by always pointing out that we

anglers have a vested interest in healthy biotopes,

as only then can our angling sport be crowned with

success. We anglers are nature conservationists and

not nature users!”

123

WORLD OF

ANGLING SPIRIT



CALL OF THE WILD

OLIVIER PORTRAT

Q

The fishing industry itself seems to be

developing rapidly, despite the crisis it

has been called. It is estimated that the

European fishing sector has a turnover of at

least 20-25 billion euros a year (sea fishing

alone generates 10.5 billion euros in turnover

and 100,000 jobs within the EU – see the

study by Kieran Hyder), and in the USA this

figure could be quadrupled again. How can

we make our hobby sustainable and naturefriendly?“

A

This is in our very own interest, today

more than ever before, because the EU

has declared war on plastic waste. We at

EFTTA welcome this “war“ – it is unfortunately

necessary. Whoever expresses a different

opinion, I would ask them to ask their children

about this issue and the answers regularly that

such a “war” is essential. The youth of today are

aware of this problem, often more so than the

older generations ...

Whenever possible, I urge the industry

behind the angling business to be more

ecological and “greener“ on its own initiative.

Currently, research is underway to find out what

percentage of the plastic waste in the European

oceans we fishermen are responsible for.

Unfortunately, these investigations are currently

based on the number of pieces and not on

the weight of the plastic found. If a 300 kilo

synthetic fishing net is found on a beach (which

professional fishermen often deliberately

dispose of in the sea, because it is cheaper than

any professional disposal!), then this amounts

to as much in the statistics as a few centimeters

of angling line! This is of course extremely unfair

towards us anglers, that‘s what I am fighting

against in Brussels.

Would the plastic waste that we anglers

dispose of - against our will! – be rated by weight

when fishing, we would hardly appear in these

statistics as waste producers at all. A plastic

bottle contains far more plastic than what the

average angler loses in his life in fishing line

over getting snagged. No angler is out to lose

his equipment, because he has to pay a lot of

money for it!

The EU Commission is currently working

on a list of banned disposable plastics – the

first edition became valid in June 2021. During

winter 2019/20, plastic fishing line was suddenly

on this list! It is important to know that not only

nylon lines are made of plastic, but also braided

lines are made of plastic-polymers. In short, if

the plastic fishing line remains on this list and

the list becomes legally binding after a vote in

the European Parliament & Council, then the

Animal fights! Olivier wrestles with a crocodile on Rio Xingu

use of modern fishing line would suddenly be

banned throughout the EU, to which we anglers

have no sensible alternative! That would be the

end of fishing and for about 300.000 jobs in the

EU!

We have therefore made representations to

the Commission and have convinced them to

take plastic fishing line off this list of banned

products. In return we promised that we will

gladly give up plastic fishing lines as soon as we

have a reasonable alternative (which does not

exist yet!). This is only a stage win as the plastic

line may be back on the banned list at some

point – it is EFTTA‘s job to stay on top of it and

stay on the ball.

By underlining that the amount of plastic

lures (Hard- & Softbait!) lost by anglers is

insignificant compared with the quanties of

plastic discarded in our waters, we avoided until

now to see plastic lures on that list. Also other

substances are in the scope of the commission –

for example lead, but also additives for boilies &

groundbait.

I am a little less concerned about these

issues as there are very environmentally friendly

alternatives – for example soft plastic baits

without plastisols and without other toxic

substances (Phtalates, Bisphemols and so on…).

As mentioned at the beginning, I am pushing

“my” industry to become “greener” on its own

initiative, even before any laws require us to

do so. The echo is very positive – the proof is in

the many environmentally friendly soft plastic

baits that are now on the market, and many

manufacturers now offer alternatives to lead.”

Q

A

“What are the other topics that will keep

you busy the next years?”

Oh, there are various “construction sites”

for us, but these are the two I regard as the

most important ones:

Firstly, the so-called “CFP” is the “Common

Fisheries Policy” of the European Union. This

policy is there to find a fair and equitable way to

share the resource “fish” that we have along our

European coasts.

For the moment, the only stakeholders

that are being listened to in this regard are

the commercial fishers and the aquaculture

industry. We from EFTTA have invested a lot of

time and efforts into convincing the European

Commission that in this regard, we recreational

anglers should also be respected at equal

footing with our commercial and aquaculture

colleagues.

Things develop in the right direction for

us and I guess that we are on a good way to

be treated as an equal stakeholder within the

future “CFP”.

Secondly, in frame of the current EU-

Programs (Natura 2000, Biodiversity 2030) it is

planned that 30% of the EU become “Protected

Areas”. When I started my work in Brussels in

2019, we were regarded an “extractive activity”

and it was therefore not foreseen that angling

will be allowed within these future protected

areas. That means that if we do not manage to

convince the Commission that we are not an

extractive activity, we would potentially lose

30% of our angling waters!

This is why I kept underlining at every

meeting with the Commission and at every

event we organized and organize in the

European Parliament (RecFishForum) that we

are not an extractive activity! On the opposite of

hunters, we are free to release our catch! That is

a very modern aspect of angling that deserves

to be underlined!

Nothing has been decided, but due to catch

& release we are not regarded as an extractive

activity anymore and it looks good that we

anglers will be welcomed to fish within these

future protected areas. To me that is great

news: we will soon have a quality of angling

there that we never had before. Just 2 or 3 years

after the establishment and implementation

of these protected areas most fish stocks will

recover significantly offering us better angling

opportunities than ever before. Angling tourism

will thrive, but also all the activities that go

along with it: guiding services, boat rentals,

accommodation of anglers and much more. It

looks as if our industry will not be shrinking, but

thriving in the future!”

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC

WORLD CARP CLASSIC 2022

126

PLUS! FISH’N CANADA’S ANGELO VIOLA ON HOW HE TOOK ON TH

1998

WORLD CARP CLASSIC

2022

RECORD

BREAKERS!

THEY SAY

LIFE BEGINS

30!

AT

30!

WCC history was made

last year as proud Poles

Artur Butynski, Adam

Zawistowski and Robert

Jakimiuk not only set a new

record for the competition

but were the first to catch

a carp over 30kg

SEE PAGE: 154

E FISH LORDS . . PLUS! WCC FULL COMPETITOR’S LIST 2022

If it was

SO easy. .

everyone

would be

doing it


STEVE HOWARD .. A BACKGROUND TO THE WCC

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC

Such is its personal importance to me, I

would dearly love to be able to claim that

I took part in the inaugural World Carp

Classic at Lac De Madine, but, in 1998, I

had other commitments that prevented

me from attending. That’s life, I guess, but

nonetheless, I followed the event with

great interest.

I finally managed my first trip to fish at

Madine in 2000, but not in the competition. I

felt that I really needed to “cut my teeth” on a

large inland sea before venturing into fishing it

in a competition, up against some of the finest

anglers on the carp scene.

On paper, with almost 20 years carp angling

under my belt at that time, I possibly should

have had enough belief in myself. Although I

had belief in my watercraft skills, I knew that

the nature of competition angling turns that on

its head.

I was no newcomer to competition angling,

however, although my previous experience was

largely gained by way of beach and boat sea

angling. In 1968, at the age of 16, I qualified for

the heats of the Southern TV deep sea angling

championship, and represented my Angling

Club, finishing 18th out of 140 competitors

(each of whom were club champions). A

couple of years later I went on a run of 7

consecutive annual club championship wins,

to further represent the club in the Southern

TV events. I was completely hooked on

competition angling by that time, and made it

to the Southern TV final in 1980.

In 1981, I took up carp angling more

seriously and, although I was no stranger to

freshwater angling, or carp, becoming more

proficient in catching big carp presented a

whole new learning curve for me.

I finally entered the carping calendars

biggest event in 2001 on the first edition of

the WCC’s appearance at Lac de Amance.

Arriving at the lake and seeing bivvy city for the

very first time, walking shoulder to shoulder

with some of the sport’s true legends, I was

completely blown away by the experience and

the electrifying atmosphere being generated

was jaw dropping!

As I was to discover, the excitement of that

experience was not a one-off… in the early

days of the event, It was often referred to as the

“Madine buzz” but, the fact is, it happens every

single year no matter where the event is held! I

lack the words to adequately express the almost

overwhelming emotions and excitement that

taking part in the event breeds in everyone!

Lago Di Bolsena... Ardy Veltkamp dressed as a gladiator for the incredible parade through the town’s ancient pilgrim’s way!

Lac de Madine is the spiritual home of the

WCC, of that there is no doubt, but, the event

and those participating in it carry that very

same ambience to every venue that I have

taken part in. I consider myself extremely

fortunate to have taken part in the event on

so many occasions. From Madine to Amance,

to Lac D’orient and Lago Di Bolsena in Italy, I

have accrued 15 appearances, and have been

fortunate enough to go up onto the stage to

collect prizes on several occasions. I am proud

to say that I have been a section winner at Lac

D’orient, twice, and Lago Di Bolsena and they

came alongside one or two other prizes along

the way.

By now, everyone recognises that Ross

Honey absolutely adores flag parades…

and boy have we enjoyed waving them!

When representing your country in a huge

international event such as the WCC, there

is nothing that raises your awareness of its

importance than parading your national flag.

As spectacular as the many WCC parades

have been (and many there have been!) the

procession at Lago Di Bolsena was simply

incredible! Who else but Ross could pull

together such a spectacle?

My good friends Ardy Veltkamp and

Frank Warwick were respectively dressed as

a gladiator and Roman legionnaire for the

occasion, with Ardy in particular looking

every bit the part whilst astride the original

Chariot (used in the Benn Hur film) as it was

spectacularly drawn by two feisty, snorting

white stallions through the cobbled streets of

the ancient pilgrim’s way!

Ross is a visionary and a creative

mastermind. With his enthusiasm and a

penchant for creating memorable moments,

he knows no bounds. “If you can think it, it can

be done” is his motto, I’m sure!

Beyond that, though, when all is said and

done, Ross is unquestionably a philanthropist.

His input over the years to create a legacy

wherever he can that benefits others, is simply

astonishing. Ross has created environmental

clean-up campaigns and more, to involve local

communities in whatever way he can. Most

impressive of all, Ross is very keen to encourage

and involve the next generation of youngsters

into angling, by creating events, funding

foundations and supporting charities.

The incredible evolution of the WCC has

been nothing less than remarkable and a joy to

see, but Ross will never consider it “job done”,

and we should all know by now that the next

rung is just one more step in the evolutionary

ladder of the event.

There are very few people throughout the

entire history of angling who have contributed

in a more succinct and meaningful way than

Ross.

Wholeheartedly, I thank Ross without

reservation for the truly classic events that he

stages!

n STEVE HOWARD

It was often

referred to as

the “Madine buzz”

but, the fact is,

it happens every

single year no

matter where the

event is held!

129

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC

LAC DE MADINE . .WCC HOST VENUE 2022

MAGNIFICANT

MADINE

As the spiritual home of the World Carp

Classic, Lac de Madine is up there as one

of the favourites with carp anglers .. here’s

a brief overview of this beautiful lake

This beautiful lake located at the border

between Meurthe-et-Moselle and

Meuse, sits within the Grand Est – a vast

new region in France.

Visitors are attracted to the area by the

natural, unspoilt beauty of its surroundings

and anglers are drawn by the fabulous fishing

as this giant lake holds some fantasic carp.

The geographical location of the Grand Est

itself, which borders Belgium, Luxembourg,

Germany, and Switzerland, makes an

interesting cultural melting pot which can be

clearly seen in its architecture and tasted in its

gastronomy.

One of Madine’s noticeable landmarks

is the Butte de Monstec, which sits on the

highest point of Montsec, Meuse, overlooking

the lake. The memorial, commemorates the

achievements of US soldiers who fought in

the region during the latter part of World War

I. As you’re immersed in Madine’s

unspoilt landscape, it’s easy to

forget the savage history of the area

and the 6,500 killed in action during

the conflict, but the magnificant

structure of the memorial that

seemingly keeps watch from atop is

a stark reminder of the events that

took place here just over a century

ago.

If you’re curious to explore

a little further afield, you don’t

have to go far to experience

some amazing sights. Just over

30km north of Lac de Madine is

Metz Cathedral – a beautiful and

majestic gothic structure built with

yellow Jaumont limestone and studded with

fantastic stained-glass windows that dates

from the 13th century.

Head south to Colmar and you’ll discover

La Petite Venise, a town with many charming

Still waters run deep ... (inset picture) the Butte de Monstec war

memorial; the view down the steps from the memorial to the magnificant

water (above); Swans are common visitors to the lake as are beautiful

fish; Metz Cathedral (far right) and La Petite Venise in Colmar (right).

hotels, restaurants and pastry shops and one

of the best preserved old medieval towns in

France. Apart from the canal connection, this

picturesque district doesn’t resemble Venice at

all, but it’s truly lovely in its own right – whether

explored on foot or rowboat.

But back to the fishing bit ... as every past

participant who has fished on Lac de Madine

knows, the lake holds some fantastic monster

carp and in fact, now holds the World Carp

Classic biggest fish record three times over.

The first, a 28.9 kg carp caught by German

angler Axel Wacker, was back in 2009. 10 years

later in 2018, it was Austrians Jasmine Schuster

and René Jauker who took the title with their

monster of a 28.9kg. These remarkable catches

have now been exceeded by the 2021 WCC

Champions from Poland with an incredible

30.40kg mirror.

As stunning as Lac de Madine is on the

surface, you’ll be amazed at what lies beneath

this huge lake’s hidden depths. n

131

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC


SHIMANO .. PROUD SPONSORS OF WCC

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133


DARYL HODGES .. WELCOME TO MADINE

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC

WISHING YOU ALL A

DYNAMITE EVENT

As 2022 unfolds it

appears to be the start

of normality in terms of

events and covid – let’s

hope so!

One thing is for sure

we have two great events

from Angling Spirit to

look forward to this

year and on behalf of

all the sponsors I’d like

to extend a very warm

welcome whether you

are fishing the WCC this

Autumn or the new exciting Sea Angling

Classic in June.

The SAC looks set to be a superb

competition as hundreds of boats and

anglers take to the water, battling for the

main prize of a fantastic fishing boat along

with bags of top fishing tackle!

With a number of different species to

target, knowing where to go and how to

catch won’t be easy – I participated in the

‘trial’ event last year and can honestly say

watching some of the top boat anglers and

how hard they had to work to catch fish

like tope and rays in all conditions was an

eye opener. One thing is for sure whoever

wins the event will have deserved it,

especially if the weather doesn’t play ball!

When I heard Ross was organising

an event for sea anglers - we just had

to be involved! Across three of our

major brands - Okuma, Rapala and 13

Fishing, we offer an array of sea angling

products and this is a great opportunity

to get closer to saltwater anglers and

understand how we can work closer

together. It’s certainly an event we are

looking forward to very much.

Carp fishing continues to be as popular

as ever and its testimony to Ross and his

team that the WCC continues as a sell-out

event – now in its 24th year, and once

again we are back on the banks of the

mighty Madine. For Dynamite and Carp

Spirit it’s a great arena to show and put to

the test some of our latest products – this

year the new Dynamite Belachan range

and Tuna and Shrimp extract liquids will

be of great interest to some. Carp Spirit

has a great new line up of reliable alarms

– Blax and HD4 added to the range,

which some of our team members will be

hoping see plenty of action!

The new Magnum 100 bivvy shelter

is really something else – quick to erect

and solid as a rock – very capable of

combatting those strong winds that

Madine is famous for!

As always the WCC is a great

opportunity for us and all the other

brands to meet you and chat about

everything carp - and anything and

everything else related (or non-related!)

and I look forward to seeing you all this

Autumn.

Finally, just to say good luck and tight

lines to everyone involved in either of this

year events. Looking forward to seeing

who this year’s champions are!

Best regards

Daryl

n DARYL HODGES

Brand Marketing and

Export Sales Manager

135

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC

UP FOR GRABS . . 2022 WCC PRIZE TABLE

1998

WORLD CARP CLASSIC

2022

WORLD CARP CLASSIC

PRIZE TABLE

MINIMUM PRIZE TABLE

PLUS..BE AN ANGLING

World Carp Classic

2021 Champions

n Title: “Champion of the 2021 World Carp

Classic”. Trophies and a £15,000* cheque,

n Plus! Unique golden Reuben Heaton scales

n Plus! Sponsors’ prizes from .. Shimano

Tribal; Lowrance; Bear Creeks; Nikel Carp

Specialist; Dynamite/Carpspirit; Meus; PB

Products; Cap River and Jochym Marine

n Plus! A year of international PR and

Marketing as the World Carp Classic

Champions. Invitations to guest appearances at

international anglings shows.


n Trophies and a £3000* cheque

n Plus! Sponsors’ prizes from..

Shimano Tribal; Lowrance; Dynamite/

Carpspirit; Bear Creeks and more.


n Trophies and a £2000* cheque

n Plus! Sponsors’ prizes from .. Shimano

Tribal; Lowrance; Bear Xreeks; Nikel Carp

Specialist; Dynamite/Carpspirit; Meus; PB

Products; Cap River and Jochym Marine

7 Section Winners

n Trophies and £2,000 in sponsors products

* For Dynamite prizes please follow the link to get details and T&C’s – link

will be available later in the year * Cash prize based on pro-rata entry basis

2022 EVENT

ITINERARY

EVENT

GOODIES FOR

EVERYONE!

Each participant will

recieve an event

commemorative itemand

Welcome Bag prizes

provided by sponsors

Dynamite

Baits

‘No Fish Prize’

Any anglers unfortunate

enough to ‘blank’ during the

week will have a chance to

be drawn at random to win

£250 RRP* of Dynamite Baits

from their full product range

Competitors.

Web draw 3 weeks

post-event.

Friday 23rd September

n 10:00: Bivvy City at Lac de Madine

opens its doors to welcome WCC18.

(By sports hall at 55210 Heudicourt Sous

Les Cotes)

n 15:00 – 19:00: On-site Participants

Registration

Saturday 24th

September


Registration

n 18:30 onwards: Pre event

welcome party with catering and look

back through the years with WCC family

and friends

OF £70,000!

LEGEND FOR A YEAR!

Sunday 25th September


Registration

n 16:00: Official Official Picture followed

by official Flag Parade

n 17:15: Official Opening Ceremony

n 17:30: Official Peg Draw

Monday 26th September

n 07:00: Anglers invited to go to their

swim

n 14:00: Start of the competition – 114

hours non stop (from WCC17 defending

champions’ swim)

n 20:00: Broadcast of daily event update

Team Event CATEGORY

First Place

Team Event Trophies Plus! Holiday at the

Lake De Der Resort from Carp Connections.

Second Place



Third Place



WCC22 Biggest Fish

Biggest Fish Trophy

Plus!

Dynamite

products up

to the retail

value of

£500 RRP*

Saturday 1st October

n 08:00: End of competition

n 14:00: Closing Ceremony followed by

Prize Giving.

1998

WORLD CARP CLASSIC

2022

137

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC


WCC QUALIFYING EVENTS .. SOUTH AFRICA

THE DAM

BUSTERS

Nailbiting stuff at the South African WCC

Qualifiers, as It all came down to the last day

between Molli & Wors and Team Fishing

WORLD CARP CLASSIC

QUALIFIERS

1998

WORLD CARP CLASSIC

2022

The World Carp Classic is one of

the premier Carp Fishing events in

the Carp Fishing World that takes

place every year in Europe where

almost every Carp Angling Country is

represented.

In this tournament only the three biggest

fish count which makes it very exciting and

gives any team the opportunity to showcase

their ability to single out only the biggest

specimens in the lake. South Africa has a rich

history of competing against the world in this

prestigious tournament but have had to sit

on the sidelines for the past two years during

the Covid pandemic.

Even Though we were not able to

compete in France last year, we have had

the privilege of hosting our local World

Carp Classic South African Qualifier event

at Roodekoppies Dam. The winner of the

World Carp Classic SA Qualifier tournament

secures his place in Team SA and wins a paid

trip to France to compete against the rest of

the world.

This year’s opening ceremony was

certainly one to remember not only because

of the anticipation of the competing teams

who finally get a shot at the title but also

because of the great number of sponsors that

were involved in this year’s event. After the

opening ceremony came the ever important

Peg draws which determined where each

team will be spending the next 6 days on the

bank. Like any venue there were certain pegs

and areas that were favoured above others.

One of these areas was peg 1 right against

the dam wall which was drawn by Team Fish

who also happened to be one of the main

sponsors of this years event. Other good

SOUTH AFRICA

Roodekoppies Dam

pegs were the pegs on the ends of each zone

that had a small inlet or other structures

and margins to fish to. But those who know

Roodekoppies Dam knew that the big ones

could be found anywhere in open water as

well so it was anyone’s game to win.

Day 1 started with the boat inspections

where the marshals needed to sign off each

boat that was used in the tournament.

Boats needed to be equipped with all the

necessary safety equipment and be cleared to

go onto the water. This was shortly followed

by a boundary marker session where teams

were able to mark their swims on the water

using h-blocks and other markers so that

everyone knew in which direction they were

able to fish to.

As the starting hooter blew teams were

eager to get bait into the water. Most of the

teams opted for a heavy feed approach and

we saw hundreds of kilos of freshly cooked

bait go onto the spots in the first hours of

the tournament. Team Fish on the dam

wall were the first to log a qualifying fish of

over 10kg and put their team into a good

positive position from early on. Any fish

under 10kg would not count as a weigher in

this year’s tournament which meant that the

anglers needed to work hard for the larger

specimens. The action continued on Peg 4

where Team FTA had managed to climb into

a school of big fish landing multiple double

ups. Team FTA lead the field on day 1 and

A massive 15kg bumped Molli and

Wors into 2nd and Hannes van der Merwe

was once again giving his everything

1998

WORLD CARP CLASSIC

2022

Out of Africa ...

Dirk Booysen from

FTA managed to land

a massive 13.8kg

common which was the

biggest fish at that stage

of the tournament. (far

left); Then it was team

Specimen Junkies with a

14.5kg (middle) narrowly

topping FMS’s 14.4kg

(left). On the final day,

Hannes van der Merwe

(above) caught a massive

fish of 15kg putting his

team into 2nd

139

POLAND

NEKIELKA LAKE

SOUTH AFRICA

ROODEKOPPIES DAM

Last minute decisions turn the Polish

Mivardi Cup result on its head

The Nekielka Lake once again

hosted teams fighting for a trip to

France for the World Carp Classic.

On May 26-30, Polish qualifying

rounds for this prestigious competition

– which were also an integral part of the

Mivardi Cup – took place.

During these few days, 22 teams

struggled with the weather and the

whims of the carp. We all know very

well what this year’s spring was like

(we didn’t have one!). As it happens, the

weather during the competition turned

from bad to even worse.

At night, the air temperature dropped

to 5 ° C, so the water cooled down

significantly. You can only imagine what

influence this had on carp feeding.

The fish were taking very

chimerically. In the first 2 days,

the mats landed carps no larger

than 12 kg. It was only on the

Friday evening that we had our

first twenty, on Peg no 6.

Saturday morning brought

a beautiful specimen for the

table – 24.20 kg. The whole

day was a concerto of the

Krawczyk /Chlasta team, who

were constantly increasing

their result. However, the

difference between the top

teams was minimal at all

times. The carp showed their

presence only in the central

part of the lake and did not

appear in the vicinity of the

reeds at all, so only less than

half of the teams had a chance to come

into contact with the fish.

On Saturday evening, it seemed that

the classification would not change, but

as a last gasp attempt, the team from

Peg 16 joined the fight. Rafał Wlodarczyk

moved one of the sets to a completely

new place during the final hours and

in the middle of the night, just an hour

apart, hauled two 20+ carps , including

the largest fish of the competition – 24,5

kg. It was a real “night of miracles” that

turned the classification upside down.

There was no doubt who the winners

were. Rafal Wlodarczyk and Bartlomiej

Spala went ahead of the second team

by 5.7 kg. So, they will be heading off to

France in October to Lake Madine and

take part in WCC

looked to be unstoppable. Jurassic Carp on Peg 6

were also getting into the action and soon landed

a stunning 12kg common. Specimen Junkies who

were right on the other side of the bank started

landing bigger fish and were sitting in 3rd overall as

we headed into the first evening.

Day 2 was a warm sunny day packed with action.

Most of that action came from peg 4 where Team

FTA were tearing up the field catching fish every

hour.

Dirk Booysen from FTA managed to land a

massive 13.8kg common which was the biggest

fish at that stage of the tournament. But his title

lasted only a few minutes. Specimen Junkies on

the far side of the bank were locked into a school of

bigger fish and they managed to get a fish of 14.5kg

on day 2. This fish had a beautiful round potbelly

shape and kept the title of biggest fish for the next

2 days. Meanwhile on peg 3 Team Fish had started

to catch a few bigger fish as well including a 14.4kg

common and were climbing towards the top.

On Day 3 the weather had changed completely.

After a rainy night we entered a cold and wet spell

for the remainder of the tournament. And in some

spots the bigger fish seemed to come out of their

hiding spots.

Peg 2 which had Team Fishtec all the way from

Durban landed a nice 13kg fish. Leslie Barnard

using incredible fish finding skills with the

Lowrance fish finders to locate the bigger fish in

the Dam wall section. After the mornings action

we headed over to the other side of the bank

where Team Masterclass from Limpopo were also

constantly landing good fish on peg 2. At midday

the fish had moved more towards the middle

section of the bank. Teams like Chunky Monkey

and Rooispan were getting in on the action as well.

Day 4 started with a bang. Louis Brits and his team

from Rustenburg Team Specimen Tackle were

getting the odd bite when suddenly out of the blue

Louis had a screaming take on a rod that has been

lying dormant for more than 12 hours.

Louis jumped on his dingy to go get the fish and

what played out was a moment I will never forget.

Louis spent 25 minutes on the boat battling with

this fish as we looked on from the bank.

One could see that this was a better

fish and as it slipped into the net it was

confirmed purely because of the big

celebration that Louis had on the boat from

afar. The fish pulled the scales at 14.8kg

and brought tears to the teams eyes as they

realised that they had a chance of winning if

they could keep this up.

Later that day we saw some bigger fish

arrive at Peg 9 Team Fishing Game and Peg 10

which belonged to previous champions Molli

and Wors.

We knew that Hannes van der Merwe could

easily pull out something special at the last

minute as he usually does. Both these teams

had 13kg fish and were climbing the leaderboard

slowly but surely. Later that afternoon we had

a call from Peg 17 who had landed only their

2nd fish of the tournament but it was a monster.

Fishing Myself Single had landed a stunning 14.4kg


WCC QUALIFYING EVENTS .. SOUTH AFRICA & POLAND

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC

A family affair ... Darren

and son Luke (above

and far left) both gained

their Open Water PADI

qualifications last year.

Darren’s wife Caroline

(centre) and the McKells’

latest addition to the

family, Squidward III

common which was to me the most beautiful

fish of the competition. That evening it was

Dries Bezuidenhout on peg 1 that landed

13.7kg for Team Fish which put them into the

lead.

Day 5 started cold and misty on the bank. Big

fish weather was upon us. The underdog team

Molli and Wors had a sleepless night and had

managed to land a new biggest fish during the

night.

A massive fish of 15kg bumped them into

2nd place overall and Hannes van der Merwe

was once again giving his everything. Chunky

Monkeys also landed a monster 13.5kg that

morning caught by the oldest angler at the

tournament oom Pierre Kemp.

Team Fishing Game on Peg 12 had also been

lucky with a few decent fish and managed to

land a 14.3kg common just before sunset which

pushed them into 3rd overall ahead of Team

Specimen Tackle.

The final morning was a nail biter as Molli &

Wors had once again pushed right through the

night to try get a bigger fish.

Just before the final hooter they managed

to get a huge fish that looked like it could push

13kg and all they needed to win was a 12.9kg

fish. Unfortunately the fish pulled the scales

at 12.6kg and and that semented the win for

Team Fish on peg 1 with Molli and Wors on

peg 13 in 2nd and Team Fishing Game in 3rd

place overall.

The zone winners were Team FTA in the

Cold Factor Zone, Chunky Monkeys in Brits

GWM Haval Zone and Specimen Junkies in the

Ridgemonkey zone.

Big congratulations to all the teams that

competed and fished their hearts out. Stay

tuned to the WCCSA Facebook page for the

highlights video to be released end of April.

And follow the page to see how Team SA

takes on the World at the World Carp Classic

2022 in September. n

The final

morning was

a nail biter as

Molli & Wors

pushed right

through the

night to try get

a bigger fish

WORLD CARP CLASSIC

QUALIFIERS

141

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC


WCC QUALIFYING EVENTS .. NETHERLANDS & DENMARK

FAT LADY?

IN THE NET!

PROOF THAT IT AIN’T OVER TILL IT’S OVER

WORLD CARP CLASSIC

QUALIFIERS

1998

WORLD CARP CLASSIC

2022

NETHERLANDS

RESORT DU DER

Ever since the first ever World Carp

Classic qualificaton was organised

twelve years ago by Carp Connections

in Amsterdam, these sub events to

win one of the last available tickets for

the sold out World Carp Classic finals

have improved enormously.

Last year’s Dutch Qualifier ‘21 at the

French Fishing Resort Du Der, delivered

us an experienced team, Rob Tijs and Roy

Beekmans.

A member of the Dutch team drew a peg

on the PENN section – one of the four lakes

at the Carp Connections’ Resort Du Der –

and after sudying the lakes, decided to keep

this first draw.

On Day two, their first BIG 3 carp they

caught a stunning 55lb. A healthy mirror

and in perfect condition. What a joy ... a fish

of this size will be hard to beat. But, they

needed two more to get themselves in the

World finals.

It took them two days to catch the next

worthy fish to ajust to their BIG 3 total. A

lovely 41 lb. common caught by Captain Tijs

gave this team even more confidence, so

lines were tightned and hooks sharpened!

Then the peg went quiet. Or, perhaps

it was because all attention was now on

another team at the JRC section on Peg One.

Several 40’s passed in front of the media

team which pushed Rob and Roy away

from first position. It was obvious that on

the last night a good fish was needed – even

bigger than their first mirror.

Another team at BERKLEY section were

on the fish and came closer. To win the

event and secure their ticket for Madine, an

even better fish as their 55lb. was needed.

Impossible ? No, the PENN section has

plenty of big carp of which several are

sixties, so as they say, it’s not over till the fat

lady is in the net !

At the JRC

section, the

team on Peg 1

had started to

celebrate. They

were sure their

BIG 3 score

should be

enough to win

After a long night with hardly any sleep and

no fish, Beekmans and Tijs started counting

the last minutes of the event. With plenty of

experience they knew how to stay sharp until

the very last second..

At the JRC section, the team on Peg 1 had

started to celebrate. They were sure their BIG

3 score should be enough to win and after

watching all the marshalls, including organiser

Hans Sissingh, race to their cars and drive

from the Resort’s clubhouse towards their peg,

they were convinced the trophy was theirs.

However both marshalls and Sissingh passed

Peg 1 and moved on to the PENN section...

Tijs had never been so proud of his buddy

– Beekmans had just caught another good

fish, which at first glance, should bring them

to victory.

The 57lb. mirror took the team straight to

a BIG3 score of just 70 kg. , enough to win the

event and collect their prizes.

Rob and Tijs couldn’t have been happier

with their prize, their honour and their dream

of netting the rarely available tickets for the

WCC21 finals, was a dream come true. Bring

on Grand Est France, at Lac de Madine! n

DENMARK

Sorø Lake

Heavy Carpers are

heading for the Classic

Tough pre-qualifier, but great action in the finals. The

Danish qualifier really was exciting.

In June 2021 the final of the official qualifier took

place in the middle of Sealand at Sorø Lake – one of

the best venues in Denmark.

14 teams from all over came to win the ticket for

the World Carp Classic and become the official Danish

national team.

There was only one team that had caught fish in

the pre-qualifier, in Lake Tuel, which gave them a

head start on points and a great chance of winning

with only having to catch one fish in the finals.

However, there was immediately two other

teams that could put themselves in the lead with

two fish of 10.2kg and 9.5kg respectively already

on Friday night. Team Heavy Carpers, consisting

of Morten Rasmussen and Paul Bräsel were able

to catch another carp on Saturday morning, which

threw them into the lead. On Saturday afternoon, the

lead changed again, with Team Spyline catching a

beautiful common carp of 8.5 kg.

On Saturday evening, Team Heavy Carpers were

again in the lead after they had caught a common of

10.0kg. The winning team from the pre-qualifier still

hadn´t caught any fish, which would not change until

the end on Sunday noon.

During that night, several of the teams caught fish.

Team Arvinger was able to present the largest carp

at 16.4 kg. Even though they caught one more later

on, this was not enough to catch up with the leading

team, which was now seriously ‘on the fish’ in their peg.

With only four minutes until the end at 12 am, Paul

Bräsel from Team Heavy Carpers was able to land

another to confirm their victory, with six carp on the

mat.

Six out of 14 teams caught some great carp and got

points in the finals. With a total weight difference of

8.7 kg, divided into 2 and 3 fish respectively, it ended

with a victory for the local team HEAVY CARPERS,

Paul Bräsel and Morten Rasmussen, who ended with

a total weight of 31.0kg. The team was delighted with

the result and couldn’t wait to compete at the WCC in

October.

Later, at the World Carp Classic, Paul Bräsel and

Morten Rasmussen ended up with an impressive 13th

position – what a great success for the team and for

Denmark.

143

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC

WCC PARTICIPANTS LIST 2022

AUSTRA

Captain Vice Captain 3rd Angler

WCC22-037 Florian Fuchs Christoph Haas Alexander Grabner

WCC22-053 Christian Mauerhofer Florian Mauerhofer Bernhard Putz

WCC22-064 Armin Eibl Florian Probst

WCC22-068 Bernhard Klug Dominik Kreiner

WCC22-069 Markus de Buigne Andreas Papesch Stefan Strasser

WCC22-071 PP

WCC22-074 Stefan Eisenberger Gernot Hofer Alfons Brezina

WCC22-085 Franz Weis Patrick Weis Benjamin Faustmann

BELGIUM


WCC22-058 Tom Mertens Bart Van De Poel

WCC22-072 Patrick Toubeau De Ridder

WCC22-075 Frederic Van Christian Gilbart Laurent Mortellet

Rysseghem

WCC22-079 Joel Wauthia Mickael Croughs Michel Maes

WCC22-102 Bruno Gailly Justin Vanschepdael Arnaud Schockaert

BULGARIA


WCC22-007 Pencho Zlatev Peyo Peev

CANADA


WCC22-105 Andrew Walker Jarryd Monahan Fred

CZECH REPUBLIC


WCC22-024 Karel Nikl Jan Dadak Jakub Kumsta

Nikl Carp Specialist Nikl Carp Specialist

WCC22-025 Karel Nikel Jr

Nikl Carp Specialist Nikl Carp Specialist

WCC22-038 Tomas Slavik Petr Korbicka

WCC22-051 Miroslav Sima Jiri Hanel Roman Vanek

WCC22-052 Radek Bis Jaroslav Vesely Karel Racak

WCC22-063 Jaroslav Randus Roman Hub Petr Spalek

WCC22-016

DENMARK


Qualifier Denmark

ENGLAND


WCC22-008 James Pither Bruce Larg Matt Eden

WCC22-040 Colin Gray Dan Moorcroft

WCC22-043 Paul Sharman Paul Butler Stephen Payton

WCC22-044 Lee Jackson Stephane Gentile Nicolas Fagot

WCC22-047 Bryan Houghton Lee Merritt Judith Houghton

WCC22-054 David Mark Pendegrass Craig Outram

WCC22-060 Mark Bines David Bacon

FRANCE


WCC22-002 Daniel Peter Alexandre Braiek Thierry Fricker

WCC22-027 Cedric Giacon Sebastien Henrotte

Bear Creeks

WCC22-030 Michel Rothe

Cap River

WCC22-066 Jerzy Zadara Jarek Dabrowski

WCC22-073 Thierry Payet Jacek Wojciuch

GEORGIA


WCC22-010 Zviadi Pitskhelauri Daniels Cebotovs

GERMANY


WCC22-049 Ronny Luft Christian Albrecht

WCC22-059 Thomas Muller Stephen Freeland Florian Halder

WCC22-083 Stefan Oberhauser

WCC22-092H Christian Reese Boris Reese Julian Schneider

HUNGARY


WCC22-048 Gyula Somogyi AnnaMaria KolloGooch

IRELAND


WCC22-057 Daren Buck Dan Hopgood Oli Griffiths


WCC PARTICIPANTS LIST 2022

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC

ITALY


WCC22-031 Silvio Bussoni Paolo Meneghelli

WCC22-100 Manuel li greci Diego Marani

KENYA


WCC22-097 Rob Tough Tom Duncan Dunlop

WCC22-076

LATVIA


Aivars Rudzinskis

LITHUANIA


WCC22-039 Audrius Karpavicius Mindaugas Lenikas

Wild Carp Care

MOLDOVA


WCC22-096 Nicolae Buliga Maria Paslerova

WCC22-061

MONACO


Christophe Senechal Jonathan Rothe

NETHERLANDS


WCC22-015 Michael Smith Wouter van den berg

WCC22-018 Qualifier Netherlands21

Carp Connections

WCC22-019 Qualifier Netherlands22

Carp Connections

WCC22-022 Hans Sissingh Richard Storm Melchior Sissingh

Carp Connections Carp Connections

WCC22-023 Maarten Gommers Daan Uijen Randy vd Haterd

Carp Connections Carp Connections

WCC22-045 Michel van Bokkem Gert-jan vd Wildenberg

WCC22-046 Gerwin Kempers Pieter Hoekstra

WCC22-050 Rob Tijs Roy Beekmans

WCC22-055 Paul van Lipzig Ralf van Herpen Joey Derix

WCC22-081H Maurice van de Loo Jaimy Vorstenbosch

WCC22-086 Jacob Bakker

POLAND


WCC22-093 Bartosz Celny

WCC22-094 Daniel Plaga Bartosz Trabka

WCC22-104 Marek Krawczyk Michal Kaleta Jaroslaw Soloch

WCC22-098 Przemek Sydor Marek Grodowski

WCC22-099H Bogdan Dobaczewski Przemyslaw Jedroszyk Andrzej Sochocki

PORTUGAL


WCC22-078 Bruno Pratas Sorinel Cirdei

SCOTLAND


WCC22-082 Rod Bird Mark Barton Mark Gooch

SLOVAKIA


WCC22-056 David Darnadi Peter Darnadi Richard Holecek

WCC22-028 Jochym

Jochym Marine

WCC22-091 Peter Laczko Jan Bernat

SOUTH AFRICA


WCC22-011 Charles Horlick Hennie Steyn Riaan Opperman

WCC22-012 Arno Potgieter Divan Potgieter

WCC22-013 Arno van Rooyen Andries Bezuidenhout Immanuel Janse

van Rensburg

WCC22-014 Shaun Bamford Pieter Nel Frans Claassens

WCC22-021 Geoffrey Marais Franco Marais Jaco Cornelius

WCC22-029 Hannes van der Merwe Mollie van der Merwe Andries Smit

WCC22-095 Pieter de Bruto Stef de Bruto Emildo Sada

SPAIN


WCC22-009 Ramon Sola Sola Joan Josep Castro Sala

Varots Baits

WCC22-041 Alvaro Hernandez David Coto Cabrera Francisco de Borja

Dominguez

Varots Baits

WCC22-090 Jose Manuel Gallardo Ruben Gomez Omella

WCC22-080 Pavlo Matviienko

POLAND


WCC22-001 Artur Butynski Adam Zawistowski Robert Jakimiuk

30,4+BB

WCC22-003 Mariusz Posmyk Jerzy Czogalla Lukasz Skrzypiec

WCC22-004 Krzysztof Charmuszko Tomasz Kwasniak Karol Olejnik

30,4+BB

WCC22-006 Aleksander Sokolowski Tomasz Sadlak AK

WCC22-017 Sebastian Tuszynski Krzysztof Lazienkiewicz

WCC22-020 Qualifier Poland

WCC22-042 Krzysztof Mroz Leszek Rutecki

WCC22-062 Jaroslaw Gulej Robert Budzinski

WCC22-067 Marcin Mrowinski Mariusz Bajor

WCC22-070 Marcin Kulig Kamil Gora

WCC22-080

UKRAINE


Pavlo Matviienko

USA


WCC22-005 Mark Metzger Bence Matisz

1998

WORLD CARP CLASSIC

2022

145

SHIMANO .. PROUD SPONSORS OF WCC

TRIBAL

INSTINCT

At the time of its launch Tribal

was a game changer. Carp fishing

had grown massively throughout

the previous decade, but larger

companies had failed to capture the

imagination and support of the carp

fishing fraternity.

In fact, for a time it appeared that being

a large company was most definitely

a disadvantage - although Shimano

dominated the carp fishing reel market in

the form of the Baitrunner.

Yet on one fateful night, the stars

would align for the late Jan Porter, one

of Shimano’s most respected and long

serving ambassadors. Jan had always

been a visionary. He made his mark in

match fishing and the ‘Man In Red’ fished

at the very highest international level. In

the ‘90’s he had turned his attention to

carp fishing, drawn by the ethos, beauty

and almost spiritual nature carp fishing

delivered.

Fishing one evening during an

international football match, he couldn’t

help but notice how many of the anglers

on the bank of the large water had begun

to gather in groups, listening to the

commentary and cheering every goal.

Fishing rivalries were dismissed, as anglers

young and old banded together to support

their national team. Before darkness fell

new friendships had been made and more

importantly Jan had seen the future, and

its name was Tribal.

That was the night the Shimano Tribal

concept and brand was conceived. The

perfect solution to what seemed an

impossible riddle. A brand that met the

demographic head on and perfectly

captured the identity of carp anglers new

and old. Fortunately two other influential

Shimano employees agreed that the Tribal

concept had potential and within 6 months

the new brand was ready.

Launched in March 2002,

this year sees Shimano Tribal

celebrate its 20th birthday.

The brand was the brainchild

of visionary Jan Porter who had

a hidden talent for knowing

what carp anglers want


WORLD

CARP CLASSIC

With a range of high quality clothing and

luggage, Shimano were the first company to

launch a high definition camouflage under

the Tribal banner.

Back in 2001 it was a daring move and

one that was met with a certain amount of

resistance by the tackle trade. But it captured

the imagination of carp anglers and the huge

demand quickly broke down any barriers

and reticence. Carp fishing apparel changed

forever.

The almost instant success put Shimano

Tribal on the map, as a truly dedicated carp

brand, and a market leader. The phenomenon

quickly spread across Europe, leading to the

launch of additional products, including rods

in 2004 and the formation of Team Tribal.

But it nearly didn’t happen, as Gerard

Bakkenes remembers. “I had only been

with Shimano for one year when Tribal

was conceived. As the soft goods product

manager it was my responsibility to source,

develop and deliver the new Tribal clothing

and luggage, my job literally depended

on it succeeding. At the time the Shimano

European MD wasn’t convinced it would work,

and gave it just one year to succeed! Now,

20 years later Shimano Tribal is part of carp

fishing history and folklore. Not bad for an

overnight success!”

Unfortunately Jan passed away in 2016,

but his memory and vision continues through

Shimano Tribal. The other member the fateful

Tribal trio was Shimano UK MD Craig Brew,

who left the company a few years ago, but

still remains good friends with many of the

Shimano staff. n

147

YOU GOTTA

HAVE FAITH!

If there is a fishing muse, then the most

powerful came to me. She made me

understand fish, love them and have a

wonderful relationship with the water

and the nature around the waters.

Since my boyhood, I have been wandering

around ponds, rivers and lakes. With a rod, or

just for a walk. Even today, when I have to go out

with my daughter for a while, we almost always

go somewhere where I see the water surface and

I can observe fish.

As no-one in my family ever caught fish, I

had to learn all the fishing skills myself. I did

very well and quickly. As a kid, I used to catch

more fish than old fishermen did.

More than once it happened to me that

the home matadors got up, left their top spots

and sat down where they had seen me catch

carp before. I was still a teenager at the time, I

couldn’t do anything about it and sat down at

the nearest place to them.

Although I was very angry with them at first,

while I kept on fishing throughout the day and

they didn’t do anything, it made me kind of

pleased.

As a kid, I was constantly looking for fishing

competitions and wanted to try to compete

in anything fishing. At that time, almost forty

years ago, when we lived in a totalitarian regime

under heavy communism, there weren’t many

fishing competitions.

Once a year, a fishing competition took

place in our city of Kolín by the river Elbe, which

was attended by two hundred fishermen. As I

have always looked forward to this event and

always excelled in these competitions, I began

looking for even bigger and more prestigious

tournaments.

IT’S A RISKY BUSINESS . .

When I was specialising on big carp fishing, I

don’t even think the idea of the WWC had even

crossed Ross Honey’s mind. I reckon while I was

immersed in this sport, Ross was at that stage

in life where testosterone levels were at their

highest and therefore he was definitely engaged

in other “activities”.

I’m joking, of course, but it’s now been an

incredible 21 years since the day the first World

Carp Classic event took place.


KAREL NIKL . .DREAMING IS BELIEVING

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC

Hold on to your dream ... Karel and WCC trophy in 2016

When I first heard about the WCC, I was

keen to take part and test my fishing skills

again.

I didn’t succeed until 2005, when the World

Carp Classic was held on Lac De Amance and

it was the beginning of my professional fishing

career. In 2001, I decided to make a big life

decision and change my profession.

Until then, I was in the construction

business and industrial chemistry. My friend

and I shared a successful a business, but as the

company developed rapidly and I was making

a nice living, I started to think about whether

to start another business that was more

challenging.

I had a family, small children and a decent

income. When you have a family, it is much

harder to leave that security. However, almost

20 years later, I know now I made the right

decision and although starting out on a new

fishing career was not easy, I was finally able to

do what what I really loved and fullfilled me.

At first, no one knew who I was and I didn’t

have much money so I started slowly on my

own. I mixed my first boilies with my hands in

the bathtub in my mom’s block of flats!

How different things are today – I now

employ nineteen people, we have a beautiful

retail store, separate warehouses, an amazing

factory and we run a wholesale, export and

import business. On top of this, my success

in the fishing industry won me second place

in the prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year

competition at the national level across the

business spectrum.

THE WCC JOURNEY . .

I didn’t catch any carp at my first WCC on Lake

Amance. Only one small fence. You could say I

lost, but I don’t see it that way.

I don’t see the WCC as just a competition.

It’s a big occasion for me where I can attend

the beautiful opening ceremony, enjoy all

these carp personalities in one place and the

atmosphere is just amazing.

149

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC


KAREL NIKL . .DREAMING IS BELIEVING

YOU GOTTA

HAVE FAITH. .

I have always enjoyed participating in the

event, of course I want to win, but it’s enough

for me to be there and enjoy the moments as

they unfold. I really enjoy meeting new carp

anglers, especially in the early days where I’d

gain a lot of useful information not only about

the area where the events were held at the time,

but also about other venues around the world.

This later made my fishing trips to foreign lakes

easier.

THE WCC EXPERIENCES . .

Fishing itself at the WCC is another matter

– it involves so many different types of

emotions and brings so many different fishing

experiences ... I remember one experience in

particular:

It was at Lac de Madine in 2017 with partners

Jan Dadák and Jakub Erhart. At the time, we

were fishing in exactly half of the island in an

unpopular part, where no-one had ever caught

carp in the history of the WCC. Our team rewrote

history at this point as we started pulling

carp here, but less than a day before the end of

the competition, we lacked one carp over 20 kg

to get on the top of league.

At four in the afternoon we had the muchanticipated

shot, we quickly threw on our vests,

jumped into the boat and rolled onto the water.

After a while, my colleague Jakub and I stood

over the place where the line was heading to

the bottom in a basin – not an ideal situation

at all. We knew that on the other side of the

line, somewhere behind the bundle, could be

the carp we needed, so for a good 15 minutes

we used a rescue anchor and tried to catch the

bundle, or our main line.

After an increasing amount of time and

many exhausted attempts, I chose the last

option. We drove about thirty meters from the

problem area so that we did not have the line at

a right angle above the bundle.

We could only go to two sides and try to get

the line out. I asked Jakub which side we were

going to? Right or left ?!

The answer was on the right, so we set off,

with a slightly taut line, made a big arc and

suddenly, the line relaxed... “Shit, it’s cut,” I tell

Jakub.

“But wait, wouldn’t it? Dude, it’s not ripped

off, there’s a fish! “

And then the rodeo started – the fish had

incredible strength. After another fifteen

minutes of power fighting, we lost hope that

it was a carp. I began to think we were leading

catfish. The force was enormous and the fish

I reached out to him and

just as it looks like I’d be able to

pick him up, the landing net handle

fell out of my hand!

Champions of Champions ... The fish that clinched it (above). We didn’t win the tournament that year thanks to Tim

Paisley’s team (top left) who stole the lead on the final night. And the only carp I caught at my very first WCC (below)

kept to the bottom and typically for catfish,

bubbles began to appear on the surface.

After a few more minutes, the fish finally

began to lose strength, and I slowly pulled it

to the surface. I had the rod bent into a proper

bow and the tip of the front eye often went

below the surface during further lunges of the

fish. I stood at the stern of the boat, waiting

to see the head of the catfish. I slowly wound

other pieces of shock line into the reel. Little by

little, the fish swam up.

I pierced the water with my eyes when

I finally saw the fish and suddenly realised

it was the body of a giant mirror carp. “You

cow, it’s carp, carp, carp,” I shouted across the

lake. At that moment, I shook like a dry leaf

on a branch. Adrenaline flew on a scale of five

hundred out of a hundred. I was so insanely

nervous as I was well aware of what a large

enough carp could bring us.

I’d keep glancing at the carp’s mouth to

check that the hook fits. I begged the carp not

to be cut. When the carp finally lay down, all

that remained was to pick it up. The last few

inches separated the carp from the landing net.

I reached out to him and just as it looks

like I’d be able to pick him up, the landing net

handle fell out of my hand!

What went through my body and brain

can’t be described – it was like an electric

shock. Luckily, I quickly caught the landing net

Feel the tension ... moments before the net slipped out of my hands!

again and the carp was successfully picked up.

Ugh, it was a mixture of pure relief and pure

enthusiasm all at the same time. I can’t really

explain the emotions of joy we felt.

The carp weighed over 23 kg and at that

moment catapulted us into first place. Lots

of people wished us victory as the WCC was

so close, but we still had a whole night on the

banks to go and a lot of great fishermen to

contend with.

In recent years, the winner is decided on

the last night and the same was true then. Our

dream of holding the WCC Cup for the second

time was cut short by Lee Jackson, Tim Paisley

and Benji Petutshnig-Fisherlauser. Lee caught

another carp over 25 kg on the final night,

trampling our dreams deep into the ground.

WHAT THE WCC HAS GIVEN ME . .

Firstly, it’s the great times spent with the perfect

team, without which you have no chance at

all at a competition of this size. Secondly, is the

relationships you build at such a competition

– meeting new people and fellow carp anglers.

If I knew English better, I know I would reach

out to many more people – especially carp

personalities. You can ask them almost

anything. They’re really obliging people and

always happy to answer or take pictures with

you.

Finally, it is that the WCC has pushed me

and improved my fishing skills. Especially at

the start. I always take away something new,

whether it’s trick, a gimmick, or simply learning

something I didn’t know. Thanks to WCC,

I‘ve discovered new, beautiful lakes that I had

never fished before. Bolsena in Italy, stands

out from all of them. That was a completely

new experience and a place, under normal

circumstances, would never have experienced.

Team spirit

... 2016 WCC

I’m still learning, dreaming and believing!

Being the best is a natural trait of most

people. Of course, when I went to the very WCC

event, I had a great desire to win, but I had to

wait over ten years to do it. It wasn’t like that,

but I had a desire, a dream and enough faith.

There’s a lot of factors that must come

together for victory at the WCC – excellent

teammates, lucky draw, weather, neighbours,

your own fishing experience and much more.

However, there’s one more thing ... you have

to believe. I am a person who believes in the

power of positive thought and possible dreams.

When you see your dreams within the reach,

they can become a reality, but it takes humility,

faith, willingness to learn and a lot of work.

For me, the fact that fishing is my life and

I became a WCC Champion is proof enough.

Other dreams that I have wished for have

come true in my life and I believe that this will

continue.

One such dream is to win the WCC for the

second time or to become the Champion of

Champions for the second time. That’s why I’m

still learning, dreaming and I believing.

n KAREL NIKL

Champions Karel,

Jan Dadák and

Jakub Kumsta

(above)

151

PROUD SPONSORS OF THE WCC


DYNAMITE BAITS

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC

GIVE YOUR

BEST A

BOOST

Just over a three years ago Dynamite

made the decision to bring all their

particle cooking operations in-house

in order to allow more flexibility over

product development and quality

control.

The move meant the Nottingham based

company became the only UK based bait

brand that create and cook all of their own

preservative free particles in the tin or jar and

on site and one of only a handful who do it in

Europe.

“Having all the kit on site has allowed

us to experiment with a number of exciting

bait concepts” says Dynamite Product

Development Manager, Mark Baker. “In 2021

we brought out three new meats which have

been specifically made for fishing - Robin Red,

Marine Halibut and Meatcorn. They all contain

real pieces of Robin Red, Marine Halibut and of

course sweetcorn. No one else has ever done

anything like this and they have proved to be a

huge success“ he added.

Dynamite’s particles are renowned for their

quality with products like Frenzied Tigers,

Hemp & Snails and Maize used by hundreds of

the World’s top anglers including the likes of

Terry Hearn. But the company haven’t rested

on their past successes.

This year they have further added to the list

of innovative particle creations and decided

to introduce four new varieties of boosted nut

hookbaits.

Like all their Frenzied range, Black Tigers,

Peanuts, Naked Tigers and Jumbo Tigers

are preservative free and cooked in the jar

they come in using a environmentally friendly

process which involves recycled water being

heated to create steam. Mark Baker said:

“We’re really excited about these nuts. They

come in their own boosted syrup and can

easily be hair rigged just like a normal tiger. The

baits, which come in handy 500ml jars have

already accounted for several monster fish and

PB’s. They are designed to stand out but with a

natural edge” added Mark.

Watch this space for more fantastic

creations from the Dynamite team. n

153

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC

WORLD CARP CLASSIC CHAMPIONS

1998

WORLD CARP CLASSIC

2022

RECORD

BREAKERS

2021 CHAMPIONS MAKE WCC HISTORY

154

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC



RECORD

BREAKERS

2021 CHAMPS MAKE WCC HISTORY

Taking part in such a prestigious competition as

the World Carp Classic is a great experience and

honour for everyone. So many years of tradition,

great lakes hiding big carp and a competition

with the best carp anglers from all over the

world, only makes you dream to be there!

However, it is also a sport. Participation itself is

of course important, but everyone wants to prove

themselves and simply ... catch some carp. It’s easy to

say, but anyone who has ever taken part in any fishing

competition knows that it is not that easy.

We have no control over drawing. Our experience,

knowledge and skills are often brutally smashed at the

very beginning. You need some luck – and we had it

this year.

Peg 40 offers a lot of opportunities and when you

look at previous years, it always gave some results, but

never on the podium. After drawing, our first thoughts

were generally that we should just catch some carp,

but then we thought that caught fish wouldn’t be big

enough to count in the final table.

Lac de Madine is a huge lake, but the bay where we

were fishing gave us some confidence. It looked similar

to our well-known lakes where we grew up and have

been fishing for many years. So picking the right spots

The difference on the scoreboard was very small. So

1998

WORLD CARP CLASSIC

2022

what if we played a great game, it could all be lost in the last minute

157

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC



RECORD

BREAKERS

2021 CHAMPS MAKE WCC HISTORY

and placing our setups was not difficult and we

believed that these were the best spots.

Our confidence was put to the test, because

for the first two days we didn’t get any bites.

Our neighbors on the side already had two

small carp, and we unfortunately had nothing.

We started to consider changing the location

of our setups, we became nervous and we felt

perhaps we had made the wron decision. After

a discussion we decided to leave things as they

were.

This belief in that decision and choosing to

stick to our tactics brought us three fish, with the

biggest weighing 26 kg. And unexpectedly, we

were in the lead on the scoreboard. For the first

time, we realized that we stood a chance in this

tournament, not a win yet, but we’d come back

with a very good result.

Up until the last day of the competition, we

kept to our game plan. We didn’t have many fish

– only five in total – but almost all of them were

big, exceeding the magical 20 kg. Unfortunately,

we had lost the current Big Fish prize and our

colleagues from Poland were getting dangerously

close to us, catching a very large number of carp.

As the last night of the competition

approached, we had no bite at all, but there

was still just enough belief in ourselves that we

could do it. Here was the chance of a lifetime,

an opportunity we may never get again and this

raises a big question mark. We felt that there

was nothing more we could do, that we had no

control over the future and that nothing was

dependant on us anymore, we could only wait

and hope ... and stick to our strategy to the end.

We hadn’t slept for two days, we were terribly

tired, uncertain and there was only a few hours

left to the end of the competition. Could we

make it? Or, would we lose the lead in the last

hours? The difference on the scoreboard was

very small. So what if we played a great game, it

could all be lost in the last minute - after all, it’s

only the winners that people remember. And

then...

The sound of the alarm triggers our

emergency mode. We are doing everything

mechanically, our acts and moves learned on

the water over the years allow us not to make

any stupid mistakes. Quickly we move close to

the fish and we see a carp ... but this carp was so

big that we already knew – we had just won the

World Carp Classic 2021!

To win this competition is unbelievably hard,

but, it is possible. A bit of luck in the draw, wellchosen

tactics and a good team is our recipe for

success. We would love everyone to experience

this joy of success. The joy that is indescribable. It

can be shared by each of you! The next chance is

in a few months - see you at WCC2022! n

The final

morning was

a nail biter as

Molli & Wors

pushed right

through the

night to try get

a bigger fish

My adventures with big carp at Lac de

Madine started in 2020. It was then, for the

first time, I took part in the WCC and saw this

beautiful lake.

During this event, my partner was Jacek

Kuzmicki and the fact that we didn’t have a third

member with us, made fishing very difficult.

Madine is a big and unpredictable water. Strong

winds give a better chance to meet with a big carp,

but technically they make fishing very difficult. It

is quite a struggle to fish alone from an inflatable

boat in such conditions. The WCC tournament

requires teams of three members. One has to be

on the bank, two others can be in the boat and do

everything on the water.

We only caught one carp in the last hours of the

competition. It might have been out only fish, but

due to its size it brought us a lot of joy.

As the wind was so strong on the lake, we

couldn’t swim and change setups or look for new

spots too often. A bit against our will, nature forced

us to keep the setups in one place for a long time.

And it worked to some extent, giving us a carp

weighing 28.4kg. That happened to be the fifth

largest carp ever caught in a World Carp Classic

tournament.

We arrived at the WCC2021 as a team of three

members. The weather conditions were very good

which meant we could spend time on the water

without any restrictions – we could do anything.

But we made a different decision ... as long as

there is no bite, we won’t change boilies, there’ll

be no more baiting and we won’t swim. Of course,

this is not always a recipe for the success. It’s

just one tactic among a whole range of different

possibilities. So, keeping to this strategy we got five

carp on our four different rods. Some of them over

20kg. Including my fish, which for a long time was

the biggest fish of the competition – 26kg.

Only two rods failed to produce results.

However, we decided to move one of them – which

was against our game plan – in the last days of the

competition. We changed boilies for new ones and

added more bait to our swim. The last rod was left

without any changes, which meant that it was put

there on Monday and stayed there until Saturday.

Now take a guess ... which which rod was used to

catch the huge, mystical 30+ carp?

Yes, yes - you are not wrong. This carp was

caught on that rod that had not been touched for

almost a week!

It was a dream fish, giving us victory in the few

hours before the end of the competition and giving

me the title of being the first angler ever to catch

the magic carp over 30kg in the whole history of

WCC!

By the way, it is important to know that in

this competition the crucial point is the team.

Teamwork contributes to every individual success.

I would like to say a big thank you to Adam

Zawistowski and Robert Jakimiuk! n

READ ABOUT ARTUR’S RECORD BREAKING EXPERIENCE IN DETAIL ON PAGES 160 & 161 159

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC


WCC RECORD BREAKER

Q

Congratulations. The victory in the WCC

is an incredible success, the more so

because you set a new record for the

competition of 78.4 kg and you were the first

to catch a carp over 30 kg. What attitude did

you go to the competition with?

A

Artur Butynski: Of course, like everyone

else, we were going to win this competition.

But let’s face it, you say that, because

believing is a bit like letting go of a lottery ticket.

We were focused on work, on the fact that

there was a chance, but even from the moment

of the draw, we drew stand 40 and, because we

had no experience at this lake, we had no idea if

it was a good, weak, better or worse place. I was

there for the second time, Adam Zawistowski

for the third time, and Robert Jakimiuk for the

first time. We were told it was a good position.

However, there was no euphoria. We were

more happy that it was an extreme position,

we had free space and didn’t have to jostle

with anyone. This is how it looked at the very

beginning.

Q

A

Przemysław Mroczek, managed to

peg down Artur Butynski, who caught the first

carp over 30 kg in the history of this legendary

competition, to get the lowdown on how it

feels to break the WCC Big Fish Record

When you first went out to investigate the

water, did anything tell you that there might

be a fish there?

Q

A

What was the sounding like, what was the

bottom covered with?

Looking at Google satellite maps we could

see that there was a very wide strip of weed

at the shore and then theoretically the

weeds ended and it was very nice to the other

shore. When we set off, it turned out that it didn’t

look that great. In front of us, at a third of the

distance, i.e. about 100 meters, there was grass

and nothing to look for, but then the dense weed

ended, and the bottom was overgrown, but such

squares begin. There was no clear space there, so

you just had to look for those plant-free places.

Q

A

Did you put sets in these squares And how

was it with take-ups?

We found cut-offs from dense vegetation, let

the underwater camera in and if it was even

a little empty, we selected these places. We

were fishined in these ponds.

At the beginning we stood next to the fishing

rods, because we were sure that there would

be a bite soon, but we had no bites on Monday,

Tuesday and half of Wednesday. I mean, the bites

were there, but they were just bites. After all, we

were fishing among the plants, and there were a

lot of swans, the area was white with swans.

Fortunately, the birds did not bother us, but the

braids ran over the vegetation and when we went

out in the evening, we saw two catfish near the

surface – one carp of 5 kg, so various fish were

rummaging around there. The probability that

any of these fish would hit the braided line was

very high. We had a couple of so-called “strikes”,

which we thought were real strikes, but when we

reached the sets, it turned out that they were false

strikes. So our faces fell a bit because we had no

fish until Wednesday.

The neighbours on the left, from Monaco,

already had two fish, admittedly small, 8-10 kg,

but they had fish. We were theoretically in a better

position, but we din’t get those fish.

The only drawback of this site was that the

water was not really visible, because the

space between the reeds was very long,

muddy and relatively narrow. In fact we saw

the water only 2 meters wide. Whether there were

any floats or fish walking, we couldn’t see it. Plus

the wind and so on – even listening ito see if you

were getting off something was not possible.

Nothing could be figured out in this regard.

I have to admit that we were really hoping for

fish. We felt that we would catch here, but more

likely there would be a lot of the so-called small

fish, i.e. within 15 kg, but that doesn’t win you the

competition.

FIGHTING FOR

We are Poles, we fight for ourselves, for Polish carp anglers, for

POLE

the history of Polish carp fishing

n Interview courtesy of Karp Max

161

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC

FOCUS ON:

ARTUR BUTYNSKI

Q

A

But just then, on the Wednesday,

everything changed. Tell us about it.

On the Wednesday, around 2 p.m, we

decided to focus on one specific area

directly in front of us, where we weren’t

really expecting a catch. But there is a bite, so

we swim, we have a carp, it’s almost 20 kg and

we’re filled with joy ... we have a fish! We return

back to weigh, enjoy the monet and then two

hours later, there’s another bite from a different

rod. This carp is smaller, around 13kg. We now

have two fish, which is great, but another few

painful hours pass and around one o’clock, if I

remember correctly, we get another bite – this

one is a 26 kg carp. At this point, it dawns on us

...crap .. we may actually have a chance in this

competition. We exchanged the smallest fish

for probably a 21 kg and it turns out that we are

the first.

Q

A

Weren’t you afraid that in order to keep

this lead, you would have to increase this

result?

Ross Honey came over. He said: it’s

beautiful, but ... if you’re going to catch

another carp, at least make it a 25kg, then it

will be GREAT.”.

Indeed, anything is possible. Other teams were

choking the fish, so it turned out that our result

was good, but not a foregone conclusion. W

Unfortunately, the German team, who were

fishing near Krzysiek Charmuszko’s position,

caught a 26,2kg, so we lost the Big Fish, a

moment longer and we would also lose the

overall lead.

Later, we exchanged another carp, but

gained little. You know, at the very beginning you

downplay these grams, those half a kilos, 400

grams, they don’t seem to matter, but very often

it turns out to be exactly what matters. We’re

talking about 50 or 60 kg and suddenly that one

kilogram more or less is essential. It was OK, the

extra kilo helped, but the bites stopped and we

lost contact with the fish for 24 hours.

By the last night, I think we lost faith in that

there would be any more fish for us. We would

be lucky enough that no-one overtook us.

Q

A

And then? ...

And then ... we were sitting in the tent,

the mood was OK, but the stress was

overpowering. You could say that we even

prayed a little ... and that’s saying something!

It’s 1:30 am, Saturday. We are awake and

terribly tired, but we got a bite. First thought?

Maybe just a swan that got tangled in the line.

Although we were learning to distinguish these

false bites, due to the characteristics of the

bottom, vegetation etc, these typical bounces

were absent.

There was a beep - beep and that’s about

it. So before we grabbed the rod, we looked at

the tip, how it was bending, then we jumped into

the pontoon. Our first words: “please let it be a

fish and let it not be a small carp”. As per usual,

we had 3-4 stops to unhitch the plants before

we sailed. By the way, it should also be noted

that if someone wants to go into such waters

with a rod longer than 3 meters, they’ll have

enormous problems. It must be a short rod for

easy handling.

We reach the fish and it’s standing there

among the weeds – these carps didn’t run far

away at all, because they had nowhere to go. It’s

head was covered by a seaweed cap, but when

we shone the headlamps towards it, we could

see that something big and shiny. The only way

to describe it was a monster.

We had no idea how big this fish was. We

returned to the shore, we weighed and right

then, we knew we had won the World Carp

Classic! This carp weighed 32kg! Of course, this

was just our instant weights told us.

And so it began. I must aplogise to our

neighbours from Monaco, because if they were

asleep, our screams had to have woken them

up! The joy was amazing. A marshall behind us

near the camp, approached, and his small weight

showed 31 kg. Initially we went with this amount,

but as other judges came, more and more

people were gathering minute by minute. more,

official weights were brought and as it turned out,

this carp was officially 30.40 kg!

Q

A

I’m sure that the film crew and organizers

showed up soon after that?

Yes, everything happened lightning fast.

Crowds were gathering, even the French

television team appeared immediately. But

where was Ross?

Well, apparently, Ross had been at a concert,

so decided to take an early night to rest before

the final day’s big events. He was then woken

up by a call from one of the judges, but didn’t


WCC RECORD BREAKER

Q

A

So, in the morning at 9am was it finish the

fishing and start the champagne?

Before 9:00 am we already knew we had

won. It turned out that even this 30kg carp

would not be needed for this. The Posmyk

team, as we used to call them, who were the

second Polish team with Mariusz Posmyk and

the rest of the boys, approached us at the

last moment and the decider was less than

a kilogram. There was a lot of nailbiting and

emotion right up to the last minute, but the 30kg

sorted that. We were so tired that probably each

of us wanted this competition to end – we simply

didn’t have the strength anymore.

Q

A

And there was the official ending ahead

of you.

Yes, the end, but before that, there was also

the ‘jump into the water’ photo opportunity

ritual.

Our hearts wanted us to jump in and out

shouting ‘hurray!’, but you have to remember

that it was October, the lake temperature is not

known for being easy to bathe in. Of course, we

jumped in and we would have screamed when

we surfaced, but our body’s reaction to the

temperature meant we couldn’t utter a single

word! The film crew, who were in warm clothes

and galoshes, wanted these great shots and

there we were, up to our waists in freezing water

– every second was mercilessly prolonged. But

may only such discomforts happen in life.

Q

A

How did you perceive this year’s WCC and

its atmosphere?

It’s hard for me to compare to previous

years, because we were new. But there

is such a feeling of gravity about this

really believe what they were saying. As he

later told us, he heard it was a big fish, so he

replied, “Okay, okay, but don’t wake me up for

any reason. There has already been a big fish

today!”.

Only after a while did it sink in that this big fish

was over 30 kg, which in the history of WCC, no

one had ever caught. He soon turned up. We

didn’t mind the wait ... we enjoyed the waiting

game. Then came the official photos and the

filming.

As for this catch of mine, it means so much to

me and that is from the heart. I’m not sure how

the the other guys would feel, but if I was asked

to choose between this carp and winning the

championship, I would choose this carp.

Breaking through the 30kg was so magical..

Perhaps next year, no one will remember us

because there will be new champions, but we

will not give up the title without a fight, I promise

you that. Catching a 30kg carp may never

happen again.

Q

A

A bit of tactics matters - how and what

did you use for attracting?

Of course there was a plan. We agreed

before we left that we would not take

any grains, pellets or tiger nuts with us.

Absolutely none.

We only had marbles. So we only lured with

balls and we didn’t even cut them. Robert was

making these 22mm balls and we only used

about 5 tablespoons for one set. It wasn’t

much. We had balls in two colours, yellow and

brown and we made sure that when luring

with brown balls, we used a yellow ball on the

hair and vice versa. And that’s basically the

whole secret of attraction. No PVA or anything,

because we put each bait out exactly on the

same mark, in the right place. The depths were

also small, so there was no need to combine, It

was very easy to fish this way.

ROSS was

woken up by a

call from one

of the judges,

but didn’t

really believe

what they were

saying

163

FOCUS ON:

ARTUR BUTYNSKI

event. We treat this competition as a world

championship, official or unofficial, but it is the

most important competition of the season.

This competition is a celebration. It’s

emotional. The significance of this event

makes you just want to be there. And after

winning, for a short moment, you’re in the

spotlight.

Q

It’s pretty amazing that for the second

time in a row, the Poles have won the

WCC and another Polish team is in 2nd

place. This is a very big deal for Polish carp

angling.

A

That’s right. It is noticeable that Poles are

very visible at these competitions. You

can see that the boys arrive pumped

up. This is a celebration for Poles, for Polish

teams. We stick together, it was evident from

the very beginning. We are strong, cool nation

and we stand out with cool people. We are

emotional and perhaps these emotions

do not always go in the right direction, but

generally I feel that we live it. Certainly, teams

from other countries have more subdued

emotions. There are a lot of Polish teams, but

it’s hard to get into this competition.

We are Poles, we fight for ourselves, for

Polish carp anglers, for the history of Polish

carp fishing, this is how we perceive it and we

ask others to perceive it that way.

For example, the fact that we started from

the German side does not boter us, we don’t

feel like we’re making some terrible faux pas.

I live in Germany and this is important

because it is said that getting to WCC

from another country is easy. Not true.

Certain conditions must be met. I met

these conditions because I am registered

in Germany. After all, I had to present the

relevant documents from the German side to

be able to compete in this competition. A little

discomfort, but no tragedy.

There were no national anthems at the

closing ceremony – perhaps due to the

pandemic – but I recall Ross Honey saying

during the closing ceremony that it was the

Poles living in Germany that had won. I went

on stage with the German flag, because it is

no dishonour for me. I should even say thank

you that I had the opportunity to win under

these colours. On the other hand, Robert

and Adam left with the Polish flag, which of

course, is closer to our hearts, but I respect

the German flag and every other flag, for

every other nationality, for every other person.

Q

I remember years ago, when you took

part in the WCC qualifiers organized

by Karp Max, on the penultimate day

without a bite, you joked that you probably

need to change your hobby. Maybe start

collecting stamps. Lucky you didn’t.

A

I am glad that I have such a hobby.

Because people with different financial

status, with different education, with


WCC RECORD BREAKER

It was back in 2018 when the last record

was broken at the World Carp Classic.

Austrians, Jasmine Schuster and René

Jauker caught the biggest fish in WCC

history since Axel Whacker’s monster of a

28.9kg 10 years previous.

It all began on the Big Island, having drawn

Peg 50 on Madine. Normally, this would be

a favoured spot, but the hot summer days

of that year had created weeds, weeds and

more weeds.

The pair lucked out on the first night with a

19,30kg mirror and another fish at 14.40kg,

but the next 2 days passed without any

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC

different levels of intelligence, with different

professions all meet by the water. People

who you would normally miss on the street,

meet on the water.

The love of catching these carp and this

passion, binds us so much that we have a

common language. And it does not matter

whether it is a Pole, a German or a Spaniard.

Whether he is dressed more or less tastefully.

It does not count. I am glad that we are in

Europe, that we are Europeans and that we

are united by the same passion. I’m proud

to be a carp angler and no hate or frustrated

people can break that.

29.8kg OF PURE GOLD ..

action. It wasn’t until 9pm on the final day that

there was a Eureka moment ... the fish that

made history ... a carp exceeding 29+ on the

scales! After an official weighing, a final result

was announced ... 29,80kg!

René believes they had a little luck on there

side: “Pete Castle dropped in to take some

‘memory shots’, one of which he captioned

‘A Big Kiss for a Big fish’ ... well, if that wasn’t a

premonition!”

However, two years on and the record’s

been broken again by Team Poland with

their 30.40kg. We wonder just how big the

next fish will have to be to beat that!

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC


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The owner started the fishing

business in 1995 and designed the

first bait boat in 2005. Since then, five

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They are currently sold

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We are now developing the

BearCreeks brand across Europe and

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BearCreeks is proud to be one of

the main sponsors for the biggest

fishing event, the World Carp Classic

and this season we are extremely

excited to introduce our latest system,

the NAVISON, which has been

specially designed for this year’s WCC

competition.

The NAVISON system operates

with an app, making our product

innovative, modern, and allows you to

operate the boat easily with integrated

joysticks and get full information

about the status of the bait boat as

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Launched by BearCreeks,

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With the system installed in a bait

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The NAVISON Bait boat can be

connected to the NAVISON app

which supports map display, detects

route planning, enables setting of

the fishing spots, releases baits and

hooks, alarms when the voltage of

boat´s battery is low among many

other functions.

The Sonar system can also locate

fish in your fishing spot, detect its

size and show the bottom surface on

your screen. Additionally, the system

can detect depth, temperature, and

weather conditions.

How amazing Is that?

n For more information about

BearCreeks and the Navison system,

please go to www.bearcreeks.com

166

PROUD SPONSORS OF THE WORLD CARP CLASSIC

ONE ROD

ONE RULE

ONE BIG

BATTLE

IT’S TAKEN ANGELO OVER 21 YEARS

TO CHANGE THE THINKING BEHIND

CANADA’S CARP FISHING INDUSTRY.

BUT THANKFULLY IT LOOKS LIKE ..

FISH’N CANADA’S ANGELO VIOLA

THINGS ARE A CHANGIN’

Some of my fondest memories of

growing up as a river rat along the

banks of the Oshawa Creek include

chasing giant carp through the

shallow rapids just south of the Mill

Street dam.

Although I didn’t realize it back then,

I believe carp may have actually played

a major role in steering me towards a

career in the fishing industry.

Now here we are some 60 years

later, and Carp are once again playing

a major role in my life. Only this time

I’m not chasing them through the

sparkling rapids of a creek, I’m trying

to shepherd them through the dark

murky water of bureaucracy.

You see, up until a few years ago,

Carp fishing was completely ignored

by the Canadian angling community.

In my opinion, this is largely because

Carp have never been considered a

gamefish in this country, constantly

getting outshined by the Walleye, Bass,

and Pike that grace the top of our

country’s gamefish list.

Originally introduced to Canada

in the late 1800s as a food source for

railway workers, the Common Carp

were quick to expand its range. Today,

it’s estimated that the common carp

makes up 45% of the marine bio-mass

by weight in the Great Lakes and their

tributaries.


WORLD

CARP CLASSIC

all about Angelo ..

Angelo is one of Canada’s most

recognised and respected

outdoor enthusiasts. His passion

of the outdoors and skills as

creative director/producer

have served him well, crafting a

broadcasting career in television

and radio that spans over 30

years.

Co-host of The Fish’n Canada

Show, his ability to share

moments with his audience

landed him the ‘best jobs in the

world’ award. In 2010 he was

inducted into the Canadian

Angler Hall of Fame making

him a true fishing legend.

169


FISH’N CANADA’S ANGELO VIOLA

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC

ANGELO

VIOLA

FISH ‘N SHOW CANADA

Despite this, Carp fishing in Canada is still limited

to a very select group of anglers. Most of them of

European background where Carp are revered and

Carp fishing is the biggest show in town.

In fact, today as much as 75% of the total angling

efforts, in both continental Europe and the UK, are

focused solely on Carp. Whereas here in Canada, as of

2012, Carp fishing represents less than 2%.

All of this to say, “things are a changin.”

In 2005, a few carp enthusiasts started lobbying

both provincial and federal governments to rewrite

a fishing regulation that affected the number of rods

permitted to be used while carp fishing - one rod per

angler when fishing from shore.

The goal was to bring Canada in line with other

Carp fishing in Canada

is still limited to a very

select group of anglers.

Most of them of European

background where Carp are

revered and Carp fishing is

the biggest show in town

established carp fisheries which frequently allow 2 or

3 rods per angler.

Heading this endeavour were avid carp angler

Len Perdic, then Director with Ontario Tourism Jim

Grayston, and then president of Shimano Canada

Tom Brook. They worked feverishly wading through

the bureaucratic cesspool in hopes of getting

carp their much-needed gamefish status but,

unfortunately, were met with disinterest at best and

total disdain at worst. Every door they knocked on

yielded the same result.

And, of course, there was yours truly, Angelo

Viola and my Fish’n Canada co-host Peter Bowman.

We believed then, as we still do today, that without

gamefish status it was going to be difficult, if not

impossible, to alter the “one-rod rule”.

After years of meetings and presentations, some

progress was finally seen in mid-2018, when, for the

first time, an acting Premier finally took the time to

listen to our pleas.

Shortly after, Premier Doug Ford took it upon

himself, along with his Minister of Natural Resources

John Yakabuski, to parliament and ask for the required

federal changes to be made. After almost 3 more years

of lobbying, on Feb. 23rd, 2021 the announcement

was finally made on the Fish’n Canada live webcast.

The new 3-rod carp regulation will significantly

impact the economic and social fabric of this

province. In the short term, the fishing tackle industry

will see an immediate boost in sales of rods, reels, rod

holders, terminal tackle, baits etc. while the tourism

sector will be the benefactor of longer-term results, as

Canada’s carp fishing will finally be showcased on the

global stage by hosting global competitions such as

the World Cup Classic.

I had the pleasure of meeting Ross Honey,

president and founder of the WCC in 2012 and we

have since been in constant discussions planning for

the day when we could host a WCC event in Canada

now that we have overcome our greatest obstacle.

I believe the media attention garnered from

this policy change will shine some light on this

tremendously valuable and underutilized fishery

and, with a little help from our European friends, carp

fishing in Canada could grow to rival even our bass,

walleye, and pike fisheries.

n ANGELO VIOLA

171

all about Coen ..

“I started pole fishing as a

young boy, but after a couple

of years I switched to carp

fishing after I saw some of

them swimming in the lake

next to my house!

Since then, a new passion

was born. Now a couple of

years later I’m traveling a lot

through Europe and have been

at some amazing locations. I

have been a marshall at the

WCC for a couple of years

now, but this year will be

representing Team Lowrance

which I’m so excited for! As

a Lowrance ambassador I

have years of experience with

their electronics, which are a

great help in my current type

of fishing. We have a strong

team of extremely competent

anglers, fingers crossed for

some big catches!”

REMOTE C

COEN URSEM: How I prepare for the WCC

172


LOWRANCE . . PROUd SPONSORS OF THE WCC

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC

ONTROL

using my Lowrance equipment

Once again, it’s time for the World Carp Classic,

but how do I prepare for a competition like this

without knowing which swim I will be fishing?

First of all, I like to know as much as I can about

the lake. Because it is such a big lake, it can be

difficult know everything about it, but with the help

of my Lowrance units it can be a lot easier to do and

combining it with the C-Map Genesis chart, I can

even do it from home.

With the C-Map Genesis I simply start my unit,

head to the Madine and see all the depths of the

whole lake and with that information I can make a

plan about how to fish.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve been on Lac de

Madine many times. During those trips I’ve fished on

many different parts of the lake and on every part the

echosounder has found some really interesting spots

and marked them as well. Once marked, they appear

immediately on my chart – this helps a lot during a

competition like the World Carp Classic as it means

you know almost all of the swims and that saves a lot

of time during the first day of the competition.

After the peg draw, we can start our echosounders,

go to our swim and make a plan using the chart

without even being on the water, so on the first

day, we know exactly what to expect when we go

on the water. This worked really well the last time I

participated in the World Carp Classic. We had our

rods out in 2 hours after the start of the competition,

with the first fish caught on the first night and we

ended the tournament with a really good result!

How do I use my electronics?

When I’m looking for interesting features in the lake

I use three different types of views. First of all, there’s

the side scan option: with this option I can see a big

area around my boat so I can be sure I dont miss

any interesting spots or features. The second view, I

use downscan: this function I can see a very detailed

image of the area right under my boat. And the third

option I use the original sonar. The main use for my

sonar is to see how hard the bottom is under my

boat. On my unit I can combine all three options in

one screen ehich gives a clear view what is under and

around my boat.

Besides these settings, I always use a chart

of C-Map Genesis where most of the lakes and

watersystems are shown over the world. And if it is

not shown, the combination of the Lowrance units

and the C-map chart will make a bathymetric map

automaticaly.

n COEN URSEM

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC


MEUSE .. PROUD SPONSOR OF THE WCC

Meuse is a polish company specialising

in producing fishing baits and

groundbaits since 2008.

Working closely with experienced anglers,

we are always listening to our customers’

suggestions and having our own testing

team, allows us to take a very practical

approach to improving our product range.

We now produce over 100 different, highquality

baits including our new Challenge

Boilie Series and Spectrum ‘Natural Seeds’ –

both of which we recommend to demanding

anglers.

The Challenge Series:

A product line created for the greatest

challenges. Competitions, waters with a lot

of fishing pressure and wherever you want

to outsmart the biggest carp.

Challenge products are formulated with

the finest ingredients based on Pre-Digested,

Lt-94, GLM, ground shrimp meal, spice

blends and dried ground fruit for faster

metabolism and better digestibility. The

varied action of the groundbait balls allows

you to choose and adjust the baiting tactics

even better in different fisheries.

Challenge hard boilies are perfect for

a throwing stick, have been created for

extremely long and accurate casts. Their

hardness and top class attractors make them

resist small fish while having a strong impact

on the fishery. Amino acids, fast absorbing

ingredients and betaine HCL stimulate

feeding, while premium animal and plant

proteins keep the fish wanting more.

Challenge soft boilies perfect for bait boats

and spombs are the result of many seasons

of refining the mix. Fast-acting with a thick

coating, they provide instant and extremely

intense attraction for fish, even from very

distant parts of the fishery. Components

accelerating metabolism and nutritional

richness contained in the ball is a guarantee

of frequent and express takes.

Red killer cray

Perfectly balanced. Ingredients such

as crayfish flour, krill flour, predigested,

with the addition of ground hemp

and oilcake create the perfect ball to

use on any water. An ideal product

for carp anglers looking for a classic

high protein boilie. Recommended

as a treat in areas with abundant

crustaceans and mollusks. Perfect for

long sessions.

Lemon shock

The ball contains ground citrus fruit peel

containing bioflavonoids and a considerable

amount of vitamin C. These compounds

regulate metabolic processes, detoxify the

body and positively affect the overall health of

fish. The content of whey protein concentrates,

ideally balances the nutritional composition

of carp. The carp, choosing the best food for

themselves, often return to the baited spot

increasing their chances for a big catch. Balls

recommended in spring and summer.

White worm

These balls are a protein bomb. White

worm meal, liver meal, krill flour , lt94 flour,

comprehensively supplement carp diet

with essential amino acids. The addition

of hemoglobin is an added benefit of

an easily digestible protein with high

biological value. High-protein product

works very well in waters with poor

biocenosis Balls recommended especially

in spring and late autumn.

174

UP FOR A

CHALLENGE?

PERFECT BAIT FOR THE DEMANDING ANGLER

King Spice

Eleven natural selected spices containing

natural aromas and capsaicin compounds,

which remarkably enhances food intake

by carp . The addition of ground shrimps

together with natural flavours, which are

released, attract and keep fish in the fishery.

Balls especially recommended for difficult

overfished waters at any time of the year.

Sweet dream

A ball based on animal meal including

whey protein concentrate, natural

ingredients containing B group vitamins

(contained in ground chokeberry fruit

and wild rose), which affect the proper

metabolism. The content of nut meal,

containing a considerable amount of

protein, carbohydrates and healthy

fats and fiber, supports the intensity

of feeding and digestion of food. The

sweet taste of the boilies works very well

in places where big silver carps occur.

Balls recommended especially for the

summer period.

Short and very,

very sweet

The spectrum series unique

boilies with added proteins

especially recommended for

short-term fishing.

The use of our coating

technology allowed us to

cover our boilies with an extra

coating meaning we were

able to incorporate a double

helping of attractors in and

on our boilies. The added

taste and smell significantly

increases the area of influence

hence attracting fish from the

far corners of the fishery. This

year we are offering new boilies

from the Spectrum Series,

“natural seeds”, with up to 80%

of the grains. We recommend

hemp boilies, corn boilies, and

crushed tiger nut boilies.

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC

YOUR GUIDE TO LAC DE MADINE 2022

1998

WORLD CARP CLASSIC

2022

176


YOUR GUIDE TO LAC DE MADINE 2022

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC

CAUGHT IN A MOMENT. . 2020 - 2022

CATCHING

THE SPIRIT

The last few years have been uncertain times

for many of us, but one thing’s for sure .. when you

catch the carp bug, you can’t stop the itch!

178

Madine is my favourite

by a country mile. The place

invariably beats me up, but to a far

lesser extent than all the other

WCC venues I’ve fished

Tim Paisley, writer, journalist and an all round big personality

Lac de Madine is the spiritual home of the

WCC and those participating in it carry that

very same ambience to every venue

Steve Howard, avid carp angler and journalist

CAUGHT IN A MOMENT. . 2020 - 2022

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC

The love of

catching these

carp and this

passion, binds us

so much that we

have a common

language. And it

does not matter

whether it is a

Pole, a German or a

Spaniard.

Artur Butynski, WCC Champion and Record

Breaking Biggest Fish, 2022

181

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC


CARP SPIRIT ..

SETTING THE

RIGHT TONE

Alarm specialists, Carp Spirit have created an incredible

bite-alarm range with the new 2022/23 product offering

Long time World Carp Classic

sponsors Carp Spirit have been

busy giving their existing Bite Alarm

range a very impressive make over.

For the 2022/23 season the brand

is introducing four new models and

corresponding sets that cover a variety

of features and price points for anglers

of levels and budgets.

The new introductions include key

additions to the ever-popular HD sub

brand via HD2 and HD4 models, and

the expansion of the highly popular

BLAX sub brand via the BLAX and BLAX

V-XR models. The HD4 and BLAX VX-R

versions include both alarm heads and

receivers, whilst the HD2 and BLAX sets

are alarm heads only. All versions are

feature packed and offer exceptional

value for money.

Alan Yates, Carp Spirit Product

Development Manager explains, “the

reception to the new Carp Spirit Bite

alarms has been incredibly positive;

setting them up to be one of the hottest

product launches of the 2022/23

season. With sleek modern looks,

feature packed and competitive RRP’s,

demand is expected to be high.

All of the models introduced use

the latest electrical circuits boards that

are simple to programme and use. An

extremely nice feature for the BLAX-

VX-R and HD4 models in particular is the

memory recall function that remembers

your previous settings from the last time

you used the alarm; eliminating the need

to reprogramme for every new session”.

Dynamite and Carp Spirit angler

Steve Coe explained “the BLAX VX-R

Alarms are now my go to alarms for

all my fishing. The performance and

features included with this model

are exceptional. The fact that you get

something that performs and looks as

good as it does, for an unbelievable

price, is a huge selling point that will

appeal to a lot of anglers. I would

certainly recommend this model to

anybody”.

n For further information please

visit www.carpspirt.com (include

Facebook/Instagram / Youtube

logo).

182

BLAX

The alarm is designed to be entry level that is

feature packed and outstanding value.

Key features: 4 volume settings, 4 tone settings,

20 second latching LED, nightlight mode, low

battery warning, 2.5mm power out socket,

stainless steel screw. Available as a set of 3 (red,

yellow, green) or as a single alarm (blue). Single

Alarm RRP £14.99! (set of 3 £42.99).

HD4 – High quality multi-function

alarm and receiver set

Key Features: 4 colour LED (red, yellow, green,

blue), 15 second latching time, 30 second ‘mute’

feature, detachable snag ears, 4 level volume,

4 tone and 4 sensitivity settings, drop back

differentiation, nightlight mode, low battery

warning. Available as a set of 3 or 4 (protection

case included). Set of 3 RRP £159.99).

BLAX V-XR:

Incredible value alarm.

Alarm and Receiver Set

(set of 3 £79.99).

Key features: Hi-Viz blue

LED’s, 4 volume settings,

4 tone settings, 20 second

latching LED, nightlight

mode, low battery warning,

2.5mm power out socket,

150m range, stainless steel

screw. Available as a set

of 3 or 4 (protection case

included).

HD2

Entry level alarm within the HD range. RRP

£19.95 per single alarm.

Key Features: 4 colour LED (red, yellow, green,

blue), 15 second latching time, 30 second

‘mute’ feature, detachable snag ears, 4 level

volume, tone and sensitivity settings, drop back

differentiation. nightlight mode, low battery

warning.

WORLD CARP CLASSIC

ROLL OF HONOUR ‘22

1998 Champion:

Paul Raymant, England. Weight: 127.15lbs

Best Lady:

Cathy Bell, England. Weight: 30.3lbs

Biggest Fish:

John Craven, England. Weight: 49.5lbs

2000 Champions:

Paul Harrison & Paul Watts, England.

Weight: 81.3kgs

Team Event: Team Cobra/GB Baits, England.

Weight: 114.3 kgs

2001 Champions:

T Stunnenburg & R.Bredenbeek, Netherlands

Weight: 164.4kgs

Team Event: Fishermans World, Netherlands

Weight: 258.9kgs

Biggest Fish: Sam Oakley & Barry Mann

England. Weight: 21kgs

2003 Champions:

Mark Gardner & Jo Gardner, England

Weight: 67.35kgs

Biggest fish: Hans Sissingh and P Vermeulen

Netherlands. Weight: 1.6kgs

2004 Champions:

Mick Hinson and Tony Kirrage, England

Weight: 85.35kgs

Team Event: Birch Syndicat Carp Team, Wales

Weight: 20.85kgs

Biggest fish: Brian

Warwick & Michael Perry,

Wales

2005 Champions:

Keith Turner & Clive Hicks, England

Weight: 35.5kgs

Team Event: GB Baits, England. Weight:

31.6kgs

Biggest fish: Mavis Unwin, England.

Weight:17.4 kgs

2006 Champions:

Mariusz Chiach & Jarowslaw Plochoki, Poland

Weight:80.85Kgs

Team Event: SBS, England. Weight: 23.5kgs

Biggest fish: Eddie Matthews & richard Bradley,

England. Weight: 23.5kgs

2007 Champions:

Jean Pierre Becker & Yves Hauk, France

Weight: 22.1kgs

Team Event: Carpworld, England

Biggest Fish: Jean Pierre Becker.

Weight: 22.1kgs

2008 Champions:

Andrew Judd & Peter truckle, England

Weight: 140.4kgs

Team Event: Carpworld, England.

Weight:89.6kgs

Biggest Fish: Pascal Gallon, Luxembourg.

Weight: 23.7kgs

2009 Champions:

Rob Tough & Tom Duncan Dunlop, England

Team Event: Carpworld, England

Biggest Fish: Axel Wacker, Germany.

Weight: 28.9kgs

1998

WORLD CA


WCC ROLL OF HONOUR 2022

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC

2010 Champions:

George Czonka & John Roberts, England

Weight: 216.2kgs

Team Event: Team Renmar Latvia.

Weight: 167.7kgs

Biggest Fish: Mikulas Elek & Pavel Snevajs

Weight: 27.4kgs

2011 Champions:

Jens Gassen and Thomas Muller Germany

Weight: 337.6kgs

Team Event:Team Deutschland, Germany.

Weight: 409kgs

Biggest fish: Aivars Rudzinskis & Varis Lazo,

Latvia. Weight: 25.3kgs

2012 Champions:

Peter Micula and Norbert Pongracz, Romania

Weight: 329.9kgs

Team Event: Thomas Vanek & Peter Hofierk,

Cz Republic; Andrea Campanini & Filippo

Mongrandi, Italy; Stuart Downing & Rob Nunn

Weight: 382.8kgs

Biggest fish: Peter Micula & Norbert Pongracz,

Romania. Weight:22.5kg

2013 Champions:

Bianca Venema & Lizette Beunders, Netherlands.

Weight: 366.5kgs

Team Event: Andre Pieters & Craig Wood,

Bianca Venema & Lizette Beunders, Netherlands.

Wim Hanegraaf Dave Kesseler

Weight: 366.5kgs

Biggest fish: Krzysztof Mroz, Poland.

Weight: 22.6kgs

2014 Champions:

Andrzej Walczak, Gabriel Starzec & Krzysztof

Chamusko, Poland. Weight: 166.2kg

Team Event: Carp R Us, Poland and Czech

Republic. Weight: 181.8kg

Biggest fish: Brit Terry Houghton of Spomb.

This is the WCC record common carp caught to

date. Weight: 23.9 Kgs

2015 Champions:

Larysa Switlyk, Hans Sissingh Mattie Curfs.

Weight: 61.6 kgs USA/ Netherlands

(3 biggest fish)

Team Event: Team Carp Connections

Weight: 61,6kgs

Biggest fish: Viktor Lehrner, Austria.

Weight: 26.2kgs

2016 Champions:

Karel Nikl, Jan Dadak and Jakub Kumsta, Czech

Republic. Weight: 58.6kg

Team Event: Karel Nikl, Jan Dadak and

Jakub Kumsta, Czech Republic Weight: 94.1kg

Biggest fish: Jacek Wojciuch, Poland

Weight: 21.6kg

2017 Champions:

Tim Paisley, Lee Jackson and Benji Petutshnig,

England. Weight: 72.2kg

Team Event: Karel Nikl, Jan Dadak and

Jakub Kumsta, Czech Republic

Weight: 74.6kg

Biggest fish: Lee Jackson, England.

Weight: 25.5kg

2018 Champions:

Marius Koekemoer, Jacques Niehaus and

Thomas Thibaud, New Zealand. Weight: 69kg

Biggest fish: Rene Jauker, Austria.

Weight: 29.8kg

2019 Champions:

Aleksei Tretiakov and Evgeny Kiselev, Russia.

Weight: 67.9kg

Biggest fish: Dawid Wysocki, Poland.

Weight: 29.8kg

2020 Champions:

Dariusz Lesznar, Andrzej Krawczyk and Lukasz

Cybulski, Poland. Weight: 73.7kg

Biggest fish: Robert Rizman, Czech Republic.

Weight: 29.3kg

2021 Champions:

Artur Butynski, Adam Zawistowski and Robert

Jakimiuk, Germany. Weight: 78.4kg

Biggest fish: Artur Butynski, Germany.

Weight: 30.4kg

RP CLASSIC 2022

185

REUBEN HEATON.. TOTAL WEIGHING SOLUTIONS

During the 157 years of its existence,

the firm of Reuben Heaton has forged

an enviable reputation for quality and

performance within the angling trade

and been responsible for many landmark

designs and patents in angling some of

which are still in evidence many years

later.

By constantly developing and refining those

products to meet with the changing needs

of anglers, Reuben Heaton continues to set

the benchmarks by which other products are

judged.

As business owner I have a responsibility to

maintain the high profile of the Heaton name

and I am always on the lookout for ways to

achieve this goal both for the Reuben Heaton

brands and more recently the other brands

that Reuben Heaton represents. Major angling

events worldwide like the World Carp Classic

(WCC), have always played a vital role in raising

awareness of our brands and given us a platform

to demonstrate our products to customers.

As a consequence of supporting numerous

world class competitions Reuben Heaton scales

are now used worldwide for many national and

international events as well as being accepted

by governing bodies such as the IGFA for world

records.

During the 30 years or so that [Ross Honey,

Angling Spirit] has been developing angling

events such as the WCC, he has forged a

reputation for innovation and refinement that

WEIGHT

186

OF EXPERIENCE

has resulted in the formation of benchmark

events by which other European and World

events are judged. Having been involved in the

running of these events right from the very first

World Carp Classic in 1998, I have witnessed first

hand the constant development and refinement

needed to maintain the position of market leader,

and along the way Reuben Heaton has been

responsible for the weighing and measuring of

numerous catches that have secured victory for

top class anglers.

From that original template has come other

major events including the World Trout Open, the

World Catfish Classic, the World Predator Classic

and now the Sea Angling Classic. Each individual

event has been further developed in its own right

to fill the niche of its respective angling discipline

and the latest running of each event reflects


WORLD

CARP CLASSIC

recent trends in each sector building on what has

gone before.

Reuben Heaton are proud to be sponsors of,

yet another WCC event in 2022 that will not only

offer an opportunity to demonstrate our wider

product portfolio to the UK and Europe but also

offer us worldwide media coverage.

Modern angling event requirements for

recording captures have now gone beyond

simple weigh slings. Conservation, catch and

release and data recording are now the core

elements that need to be engineered into the

products used in this process. The Total Weighing

Solutions (TWS) project launched by Reuben

Heaton in 2016, focuses on developing not only

future scales models, but also a complementary

range of integrated weighing systems and

accessories tailor-made for the weighing,

measuring, and recording process during fish

capture. TWS works with consultants, agents, and

fieldworkers from both the environmental and

angling arenas to develop future-proof weighing

and measuring products to cope with the

external factors affecting the capture process.

With an increase in catch and release

programmes around the world, safe effective

weighing products are a must. The TWS project

works in with organisations and events such as

the WCC worldwide to deWvelop safe handling

processes that can be adopted as standard

procedures for major events.

Reuben Heaton scales are instrumental in the

weighing in process for many events worldwide.

Live coverage of events means that pressure for

efficient and safe weighing processes is greater

than ever. In addition many modern fisheries

now impose weight restrictions on individual

keep net weights. TWS will target these situations

and develop solutions to suit.

This WCC event is definitely not for the

faint hearted. Previous events have proved

that the WCC is a challenge to both angler

and equipment. The Reuben Heaton brand,

synonymous with high quality fishing tackle for

over 165 years, has been supplying performance

weigh scales, weighing, and measuring

equipment to angling competitions for over

ninety years and we are proud once more to be a

sponsor of the World Predator Classic.

n ANDY RACE


CAP RIVER . . PROUD SPONSOR OF WCC

LE MÉLANGE

Nous avons participé à notre première

WCC en 2017, sans expérience

dans cette compétition, nous

finirons la semaine sans le moindre

poisson. L’année suivante, nous

étions largement mieux préparés,

techniques d’amorçage, choix

d’appâts et placement des cannes

aurons été minutieusement réfléchis.

La bouillette Banane Kiwi aura été

choisi, sa composition très riche en

spiruline et en krill en fait un appât

très proche de l’alimentation naturel

des carpes de Madine. Une wafters

Banane Kiwi avec quelques poignées

de bouillettes suffirons à déclencher 13

départs sur la semaine et nous placera

7ème du classement final et premier du

secteur Karpela.

Les années qui ont suivies, nous

avons gardés les mêmes techniques,

la Banane Kiwi ne nous quitte plus et

depuis, les poissons répondent présents.

En 2021, ce n’est pas moins de 2 équipes

Cap River qui se placerons dans le

TOP 5 de la WCC avec la magnifique

troisième place du podium et une belle

cinquième place (premier de secteur).

Cap River est fier cette année encore

d’être sponsor de cette magnifique

compétition qui rassemble les plus

grands noms de la pêche de la carpe

en lac de plus de 40 Pays. Nous

remercions Ross et Marie-Anne

qui malgré les difficultés sanitaires,

s’efforcent de maintenir la compétition,

merci également à tous les Marshal’s et

personnes sans qui tout cela ne serait

pas possible.

A très bientôt pour la WORLD CARP

CLASSIC XXIV.

L’équipe Cap River

PARFAIT

Cap River est une marque fabrication. L’entreprise est en mesure de

d’appâts dont le siège est tracer l’ensemble des lots fabriqués afin de

basé dans le Grand Est de la vous garantir jour après jour une sécurité

France, en Moselle (57).

d’utilisation optimale. La méthode HACCP

(système qui identifie, évalue et maîtrise les

Entreprise aux ambitions grandissantes et

dangers significatifs au regard de la sécurité

prônant l’innovation, Cap River jouit d’une

des aliments) est également appliquée au

expertise commune d’une équipe de pêcheurs

processus de fabrication, visant ainsi à garantir

aguerris et d’un aromaticien de métier. La

la sécurité des denrées commercialisées.

technicité des compositions et la complexité

Autant dire que le niveau d’exigence est très

des arômes mis au point permet à cette firme

haut et vous vous en doutez, la qualité est donc

de proposer des produits de très grande

forcément au rendez-vous.

qualité.

La société a fait un choix fort en proposant

Des ambitions grandissantes et des

une gamme relativement restreinte mais

exigences de haut standing

surtout ultra qualitative. La volonté affichée

Le moins que l’on puisse dire, c’est que la

est clairement de se placer dans le marché des

firme se donne les moyens de réussir. Outre

appâts haut de gamme. Déclinés en 4 familles

les infrastructures et la ligne de production

(les carnées, les fruitées, les crémeuses et

qui permet déjà de produire jusqu’à 500kg

les épicées), chaque pêcheur y trouvera son

d’appâts par heure, la grande particularité

bonheur.

de cette firme réside dans l’élaboration et

la création d’arômes uniques qui viennent

compléter les différentes recettes. Le mot Le produit phare:

d’ordre est l’authenticité. Pour le sucré comme

pour le salé, l’aromaticien va tenter de se les bouillettes

rapprocher le plus fidèlement possible du goût

Les compositions sont d’une très grande

et des odeurs naturelles. CAP RIVER fait partie

richesse et on s’aperçoit dès le premier

des rares marques françaises d’appâts pour la

coup d’œil de l’aspect qualitatif des

pêche à la carpe à bénéficier d’un aromaticien

appâts. D’une texture friable très naturelle,

dédié.

les bouillettes Cap River sont composées

Le respect des standards agroalimentaires

d’ingrédients de grande qualité dans

est également au cœur du processus de

l’optique d’être facilement assimilées par

les carpes et surtout d’être appétant sur le

long terme.

Les gammes

actuellement disponibles:

n Les carnées: Monster-

Crab…l’indétrônable! Gold

Crayfish (écrevisse)

n Les fruitées: Pêche Poivre,

Banane, Kiwi

n Les épicées: Indian Spice

et Ail Foie

www.capriver.fr

Laissez parler

votre imagination!

Les liquides DROPA sont

riches en marqueurs naturels

et sont conçus sur les bases

d’un complexe d’acides

aminés super attractif chez

les carpes. Véritables bombes

d’attraction, Ils sont parfaits

pour renforcer l’instantanéité

de vos pop-ups, wafters,

pellets, stick mix… Du fait

de leur composition, aucun

surdosage n’est possible avec

ce produit. Laissez parler

votre imagination!

Les Booster . .

Les boosters sont riches

en attractants, épais et

collants, ils peuvent être

utilisés de diverses façons.

Que ce soit pour des

trempages prolongés,

des nappages, renforcer

l’attraction d’un spod mix…

l’attraction est garantie.

Leur composition permet

une attraction horizontale

et verticale sur toutes les

couches d’eau

Les pop-ups neutre DROPOP. .

ont été conçu pour être utilisées avec les

boosters liquides « Dropa ». Disposant d’une

flottaison à toute épreuve, même les plus

petits diamètres peuvent être eschés sur

les montages flottants les plus exigeants.

Disponible dans 8 couleurs (jaune, rose, blanc,

orange, violet, bleu, vert et noir) et 4 diamètres

(10mm, 14mm, 18mm, dumbell 15x18mm). 189

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC


PB PRODUCTS . . PROUD SPONSORS OF THE WCC

GIVING IT OUR

PERSONAL

BEST

PB

Early days ... The original PB Products packaging

Products is a Dutch Carp Brand started

in 1995 by two Carp Fishermen named

Piet Vogel and Bertus Wagenaar, hence the

brand name ‘PB”.

Within a short period a third angler named

Henk van Berkel was added as an owner and all

three produced rigs. Three fishermen, sitting at a

table, making rigs to sell to Amsterdam retailers –

that’s how it all started.

Back then, almost no advanced and specialist

rigs were available on the market so the PB

Products rigs were unique, high standard,

knotted with high quality components. To

promote the brand, PB Products created a team

of talented and well-known Dutch anglers

like John Caeyers and Hans Wowijs. These two

fishermen are still fishing and for PB Products

today and still promoting their products.

It was not long before other retailers in the

Netherlands and even Belgium were looking for

PB products. To cope with the volume of sales,

distribution, development and production for

the growing market, toward the end of the 90’s

Ultimate Hengelsport became the distributor of

PB Products.

Now the brand was able to reach more

retailers and even more countries and other

products, beside rigs, were now being developed.

Ultimate product manager, Marcel Uljé, gave Piet

Vogel a reliable manufacturer for lines and the PB

Products team created unique and high quality

hooklinks and mainlines like Jelly Wire, Gator

Braid and Control Mono which are still in the

PB Products range – these were really innovative

items at that time!

This collaboration between Piet Vogel and

Marcel Uljé made it possible to create items. For

example, the Blue Spirit rods and the PB Products

rig wallets which are collectors’ items nowadays.

PB Products soon became known for their

reliable and high-quality products, which created

a greater demand and the market share grew

quickly. This meant that the guys at PB Products

needed to invest more and more in their

development and stock. Piet, Bertus and Henk

found a new investor and soon PB Products was

capable of developing its sales and distribution

further. More staff were hired and the company

successfully progressed. This also gave the PB

guys more time to concentrate on fishing and

development

In 2007, an important innovation regarding

fish safety and responsible carp fishing was

added to the PB range – a leadclip that was

“Fish Safe”, as the Dutch called it. The Hit & Run

System.

The way this leadclip differed, was that the

rig was NOT knotted to mainline or leader and

should the mainline snap, nothing would remain

with the fish. Not the lead, the clip, the leader or

mainline.

Even is the mainline is meters and meters

long. This system was as safe as Helicopter or

Chod systems because the swivel of the rig was

like these systems, not knotted to leader as well.

Important is that these systems, also chod and

helicopter systems, are only safe when Lead

is NOT DROPPED. When lead is dropped, no

system is safe anymore.

A fish safe/friendly system was created and

really changed the mindset of carp systems.

Because of the big success of the Hit & Run

Leadclip a Hit & Run Inline Lead system was

developed and introduced in 2010. Even

leadcore was safe to use from that moment on.

The Benelux fishermen started to see the

advantages of the PB Products Hit & Run System

and the company went on till 2012.

In 2012 Dutch Tackle Company B.V. , owned

by Martijn Tijssen and Marcel Uljé, took over

PB Products. As the angling trade became

more professional, so did DTC. They helped PB

Products become more professional in retail

presentations, fast and correct distribution and

as a result, the brand grew throughout Europe

and beyond. Giant Ardy Veltkamp was added to

the team. This international known angler and

participant of the WCC created openings for the

brand in Eastern Europe as well.

In 2014 PB Products became a Section sponsor

of the WCC. This event would help PB Products

get to know more about international angling.

New contacts during this event were made, and

some of these contacts are still selling the PB

Products in other countries than Benelux. The

WCC participants come from all over the world

and many also work in the trade. This created

opportunities for PB Products to get more sales in

other countries.

We can say that the connections we share now

in the UK and even the USA, were made during

the WCC.

After a while a DTC UK department was set up

by Jonathon Greenall and the brand continues

to grow in the UK. Products like Jelly Wire and

Control mono are doing really well here as they

are both products that fit the UK fishing “style”.

The next step is to let anglers see how the Hit &

Run system is a big advantage for the future of

carp fishing. Not only because the fish are more

protected when something goes wrong but also to

show animal activists we take care of our fish!

n For contact PB Products Europe: info@

pbproducts.nl for contact PB Products UK:

sales@pbproductsuk.co.uk

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WORLD CARP CLASSIC JUNIOR EVENT

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC

HERE COME THE

YOUNG GUNS

Part of the Angling Spirit vision is

For the first time, In 2015, the to make the whole world of fishing

World Carp Classic Junior, the available to all ages, genders, races and

abilities. Working over the last 17 years

world championship in carp with the Angling Spirit ethos of fairplay,

fishing, was held at Lake Katlov

sustainable angling, and best practice

catch and release, we will all have a

in the Czech Republic. This gave heritage of fishing to fall back upon

in our moments of need for the great

junior teams from around the outdoors.

world the chance to experience Ross Honey, Angling Spirit and their

stable of World Angling Classics are working

a competition environment and towards that legacy – international angling

events enjoyed by all anglers and their

prepare to become our future families.

WCC Champions

For many years, perhaps unbeknown to

most of the angling fraternity, Ross has been

a tireless worker helping those less fortunate

than ourselves. In 2015 he broke his silence

and created an ambitious charity event that

brought together the separate strands of the

Angling Spirit ethos, and wove them into one

fabulous new event, The World Carp Classic

Junior competition.

This event not only showcases the young

talent that is up and coming across the

carp fishing community, it brings together

age groups, creating small families within

the one giant WCC family. It educates,

encourages and inspires the younger

generation to carry the mantle of angling

and the spirit of angling.

Not only that, it also succeeded in the

stated intention of giving something back

to those less fortunate. In its first year, the

event raised over £40,000 for the Children’s

Hospital and its leukaemia sufferers who

were from the same county as the venue, the

Czech Republic.

What has been noticeable throughout

these junior tournaments is the sheer

unbending determination of these young

competitors.

You witness teams from all over the world,

all aged 18 and under – some as young as

10, coping with deadlines, dramas, trials

and tribulations, highs and lows for three

gruelling days and it’s obvious they are loving

every minute of it.

That’s the spirit of angling.

193

WORLD

CARP CLASSIC



TALKING ‘BOUT OUR

GENERATION

My love affair with fishing began over half

a century ago, a small boy cast his first line

into the crystal clear waters of a lake, fed by a

sparkling chalk stream, water so clear you could

see caddis flies creeping across the bottom in

their sandy shucks.

The Darent valley in Kent, England, where

I lived and fished, was, in the late 1960’s and

early 1970’s, a hotbed of carp fishing and its

development, populated by now legendary anglers,

who were only too ready to share their passion and

knowledge.

Writing this, I guess I should be ashamed to

admit that, as a species, the carp never caught my

imagination. Unlike the pike. But for many of my

generation it most certainly did, gradually growing

into the biggest sector of freshwater angling in the

UK, and I have no doubt across a lot of Europe.

Some 50 years later it is still as popular as its ever

been with more and more specialist, and in many

cases, expert anglers plying their craft on waters big

and small right across the globe.

They say that a week in politics is a long time,

but it seems that 20 years in carp fishing is tiny by

comparison.

This time has flown by, gone before you know

it. What is happening in carp fishing, and in

particular, the World Carp Classic, is the creation

of a legacy to hand on to our children as they grow

up to become world class carp anglers in their own

right. I’ve been lucky enough to work with Ross

Honey for over 25 years, and anyone who knows

him knows this legacy isn’t just a pipe dream.

During our friendship, the world has entered the

digital age where the necessity is always for instant

results. In this world, long-term strategic thinking is

a bit of a rarity, but it’s something that’s embedded

in all of the World Classic events, whatever species

they cover.

Ross Honey, founder of the WCC event, has

always had an eye on the future, and from day

one, has built in policies to ensure that there are

always new and young anglers to come forward

and compete for the crown. “Since I began the

tournament, I knew that we would have to look

Chris Leibbrandt,

angling trade veteran

and journalist looks at

the legacy of the World

Carp Classic and how

it is working to ensure

that the next generation

of carp anglers is as

successful, if not more

so, than the current one

WCC Junior event ... not a patronising event that is easy,

but a full-on three day, 72 hour contest with some of the best

young anglers in Europe and beyond.

long-term at the future of the event, to ensure that

we attract the young anglers with enquiring minds

and innovative thinking,” said Ross. “Without

the next generation of anglers to carry the fishing

torch, we are always going to be vulnerable to

forces outside of angling that look to restrict our

fabulous sport. I want to make sure it will never be

a case of ‘use or lose it’. That’s why I always planned

an academy and also a junior event where our

children and young adults, under expert guidance,

can show us how it’s done. This isn’t about being a

token event, or being patronising: these kids have

got real talent and I’m really pleased to say that

we’re helping to create an angling future for them.”

Ask any long standing trade professional about

recruitment of young people into angling and

they’ll tell you there isn’t enough of it. Most of us

are worried, not just about the use of computers,

tablets and mobile devices, but also the

environment and how to ensure that as anglers, we

don’t lose our access to fisheries to environmental

groups, bird watchers and pressure groups like

PETA.

One way we can do that is to create an interest

in the great sport of angling at an early age, many

parents don’t have a lot of spare time, so fishing,

the outdoors and its benefits being taught to

young people is essential. Angling Spirit have had

this in hand for many years with the inclusion of

local schools, colleges, including specialist fishery

colleges, as well as some university students being

directly involved in teaching and giving lectures.

I always planned an academy and also a junior event where our

children and young adults, under expert guidance, can show us how it’s done

195

Ukraine Juniors

take the Trophy at

Wraysbury

The third World Carp Classic Junior Tournament

took place in October 2017, on the South Lake at

Wraysbury in London, which is one of the most

famous British bodies of water at 28 hectares

(280,000 square metres).

The series of competitions were held between

nine teams coming from six countries – England,

Wales, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland and the

Ukraine.

The South Lake is famous for its surprisingly

dence population of scaly and syprinus carps,

ranging from 5 to13kg in size. There are also the

giant ones of 15- 19 kg that are normally the older

carps, but they could not be seen this time. About

eight giant older carps were registered in the area

this year.

This year’s winner, Andrii Dobrovoska, said:

“Wraysbury is a naturally aspirated body of water

and it is here that the English National Team has

their regular trainings. In fact, it is one of the lakes

that brought Modern Carp Fishing to life.

“We felt very priviledged to be here – the

experience, the carp fishing, the atmosphere it was

just great. Everything was organised really well and

there was such a friendly spirit within the carp fishing

camp. I’ve made lots of new friends amongst the

competitors.

“I’ve learnt so many things about the peculiar

ways of carp fishing in this area that I didn’t know

about previously. And I was so happy to see the

famous carp anglers such as WCC 2009 Champion

Rob Tough and the inventor of the Spomb along

with lots of others. Actually, I never dreamt I would

see them in real life. This is an experience I will never

forget.”

The first two days went in favour of English

pair, and then followed a neverending pause that

lasted about 18 hours. On the 2nd day of the WCC

Junior-2017 event, Andrii finally landed and came

first in the Big Fish nomination, then their 2nd fish at

5.5kg was registered. This carp duo made Ukraine

the leading team and brought them in to first

position, which they held on to until the end.

After taking the WCCJ Trophy, Andrii said: “I

am really happy about my personal results and of

course, very proud for our Ukrainian team winning in

WCC Junior-2017 Competition. I think that winning

this event has brought me not only the gold, but

also showed the top anglers in carp fishing that I’m

serious abou this sport. It’s definitely a promising

new step in my career and without a doubt, it has

brought sense to my life”.

196

Leading by example.. The event also offers the opportunity to

younger, inquisitive anglers to learn all about fishing, respect for

nature and encourages families to get their kids outside to fish

TALKING ‘BOUT OUR

GENERATION

Some are volunteers on hand to experience angling

in action, either as advisors, work parties or bailiff

and stewarding assistants.

The schools that benefit start with the youngest

of angling audiences, the four, five and six year

olds getting involved in picture and drawing

competitions, and the phenomenal parades that

set the World Classic events aside from the rest. The

fanfare and general razzmatazz always involves

the local communities and businesses, many of

whom benefit widely from the influx of angling

personalties and TV angling stars who come to

compete and report on the events. All of these

experiences will be embedded and remembered,

used to fire their enthusiasm for angling and the

outdoors.

Angling Spirit is also embracing the latest

phenomenon in angling, street fishing, currently

focussed on predator fishing, but it could just as

easily evolve into a carp fishing sector. Street fishing

is all about reclaiming our urban environment

and making use of the resources that are on our

doorstep. In many cases these waters are hidden

gems within metres of city centres, but contain

huge fish that have been ignored and left alone to

thrive. Enterprising anglers get out in their spare

minutes to re-engage with the waterways of cities

and towns, often with surprising results, a good

friend, Oli Taylor, said to me recently: “You should

do an article about street fishing, call it ‘The Rise

of the Lunchtime Angler’.” He’s right, I do! It will

come as no surprise to find out that street events

are on the agenda with both World Carp and World

Predator Classic events, and it’s not beyond the

realms of possibility that we’ll see a World Street

Fishing Classic in the next few years.

So, let’s talk about the World Carp Classic

Junior event created to encourage the

beginner-level carp anglers?

This is not a patronising event that is easy, but a

full-on 3 day, 72 hour contest with some of the best

young anglers in Europe and beyond.

Since its inception in 2015, this has been, and

is, a serious event and that is reflected by the world

Teaching the

contestants about

fish behaviour,

feeding patterns

as well as other

technicalities are

all part and parcel

of the learning

experience



WORLD

CARP CLASSIC

class sponsors who queue up to support and be a

part of the event.

The competition has been held at Lake Katlov in

the Czech Republic, on Wraysbury in London and

the magnificent Lago di Scandarello, Italy in 2018,

a venue that is famous for its population of superb

common carp.

Lago di Scandarello is a reservoir in the Province

of Rieti, Lazio, created in 1924 by damming the

Scandarello river. The lake is 3 km long and its

surface area is 1 sq. km, a manageable 247 acres.

With depths of up to 41 m (135 ft) there’s plenty

of water for the carp to grow big. The lake is set

amongst beautiful hills over 850m above sea level.

Countries are represented with teams

comprising of two competing anglers, an adult

team captain and a guardian. The participants can

really get to grips with the experience of a ‘proper’

carp competition, not only learning about tough

competition, concentration and possibly most

importantly, determination. Although a gruelling

contest, they have their mentors on hand to guide,

advise and encourage. There can be a varying

skill level amongst the competitors, and the

mentors and team captains can help to improve

rigs, presentations and casting. Teaching the

contestants about fish behaviour, feeding patterns

as well as other technicalities like barometric

pressure, weather fronts and temperatures are all

part and parcel of the learning experience.

Another preconception is that it isn’t a tough

competition, this is certainly not the case, with

close results being the norm, sometimes with

the outcome in doubt right up until the final

whistle. Unlike the main World Carp Classic event,

the English teams have certainly not been the

dominant nation, and unless you are a bit psychic,

it is difficult to say who the favourites for the

trophy will be. This will be because of the spread

of the carp ‘cult’ across the world, beginning

with its infiltration into the low countries, the

Netherlands and Belgium, it has steadily spread

as more and more anglers realise the fabulous

sporting qualities of the magnificent fish from the

European continent.

One wonders if this spread will start in the USA

where younger anglers might carry the carping

torch into their waters, many of them containing

magnificent looking, big common carp, grown fat

on neglect. The potential is there, with 49 out of 50

states having a carp population, perhaps the tide

will turn and the USA’s ‘trash fish’ will become a

mainstream sporting quarry. Who knows?

One thing we do know is that the future of

competitive carp angling, being held in the best of

angling spirits, the spirit of fair play, collaboration

and multi-national friendship is in very good

hands with the World Carp Classic Junior event.

The competitors will, before we know it, be fully

fledged contestants in the main event, and carry

the torch forward for the next 20 years.

n CHRIS LEBRANDT

Meus Czech

+420 774 198 007

www.meuscz.cz

meuscz@yahoo.com

www.meusbaits.nl

www.meus.net.pl

www.meuscz.cz

www.jj-fishing.com

www.meus.sk

www.meusbaits.hu

WORLD

PREDATOR

CLASSIC


WORLD

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After years of

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AT & MERCURY 150 PRO XS ENGINE: PAGES 210-211 201

WORLD

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202

Q

Lieber Marc, lieber Thomas seit einigen

Jahren ist die WPC Top Ten ohne euch

nicht mehr zu denken und letztes Jahr

hat es endlich geklappt und ihr konntet den

Sieg mit nach Hause nehmen. Wie hat es

sich angefühlt nach so langer Zeit diesen

Meilenstein zu erreichen?

A

Das fühlte sich natürlich super gut an,

nachdem wir es bei der vorherigen WPC am

letzten Tag noch vergeigt hatten. Eigentlich

sind wir beide als recht gute Barschangler

bekannt, konnten aber nicht einen einzigen

Barsch präsentieren und sind dadurch in

der Wertung von Platz 1 auf Platz 6 oder 7

abgerutscht…..

Die WPC hat schon einen sehr hohen

Stellenwert und diesen Wettbewerb einmal zu

gewinnen, ist sicher von uns beiden ein Traum

gewesen, der sich dann zu unserer großen Freude

auch erfüllt hat.

Q

Denkt mal zurück an eure erste

Teilnahme bei der WPC, wie sehr habt ihr

euch und eure Angelei verändert?

Zuallererst fällt mir ein, dass wir bei

der ersten WPC an Tag 2 den Motor

A

geschrottet hatten. Ich bin damals auf eine

Unterwasser-Buhne gebrettert, mit ca. 50km/h.

Das Unterwasserteil samt Propeller war

komplett hin, ab dem Zeitpunkt hatten Marc und

ich nur noch den E-Motor für die restlichen 1,5

Tage. Am Ende waren wir mit Platz 14 gar nicht

mal so schlecht.

Q

A

Was hat sich verändert?

Da wir auch nach 2014 immer am Ball

geblieben sind, haben wir natürlich an

Erfahrung gewinnen können und unsere

Angelei ist sicher auch variabler geworden.

Das fühlte sich

natürlich super

gut an, nachdem

wir es bei der

vorherigen WPC

am letzten Tag

noch vergeigt

hatten

Q

Im Gegensatz zu vielen anderen

Teams gibt es bei euch einen größeren

Altersunterschied. Ist das euer

Geheimnis?

A

Na ja, als Geheimnis würde ich es nicht

bezeichnen, es passt halt einfach. Wir

verstehen uns blind beim Wettkampf

und haben wirklich oft im selben Moment

die gleichen Gedanken, besonders wenn es

nicht läuft. Das ist uns beiden manchmal

beinahe unheimlich, wenn Marc und ich exakt

den gleichen Köder aus der Box holen, ohne

Absprache.

Zum Thema Altersunterschied: wir angeln

Turniere und treten nicht bei einem 100m-Lauf

an. Körperliche Fitness ist natürlich wichtig, 8

Stunden voller Einsatz beim Turnier sind kein

Pappenstiel. Marc ist jung und dynamisch ☺

anglerisch über die Jahre gereift und mittlerweile

auf einem sehr hohen Niveau. Ich bringe

meine jahrzehntelange Erfahrung mit ein,

gesammelt in unterschiedlichen Bereichen des

Wettkampfangelns, vom Stippen über Feedern,

Raubfisch und Bass. Wir ergänzen uns prächtig

und hoffentlich hält er es noch ein paar Jahre mit

mir aus!

Q

Woher kennt ihr euch und wie kam es,

dass ihr beiden zusammen Turniere

angelt?

Marc kam schon als 11jähriger mit seiner

Mutter oder seinem Vater zu uns in den

A

Angelshop nach Worms, um sich Futter,

Köder und Tips für das nächste Jugendangeln

bei mir zu holen. Ich war damals Mitglied in der

Friedfisch-Nationalmannschaft und für Marc

gewissermaßen ein Vorbild.

Der Kontakt ist nie abgerissen, Marc und

mein Sohn Stefan gingen auch öfters zusammen

ans Wasser und als ich für den DSAV die Aufgabe

übernahm, Angler auf Weltmeisterschaften

zu schicken, hatte ich Marc aufgrund seiner

positiven Entwicklung dann für eine BASS WM

nominiert.

Leider hat es mit seinem damaligen

Bootspartner nicht so richtig harmoniert, ich

habe aber Marc‘s Potential gesehen und ihn zu

mir aufs Boot geholt.

Seitdem haben wir zusammen insgesamt 5

Bronzemedaillen bei BASS Weltmeisterschaften

mit der Nationalmannschaft geholt, 2014 die

Raubfisch-WM in Frankreich gewonnen, zuletzt

konnten wir 2019 in Südafrika mit Bronze mit

dem Nationalteam und Marc und ich auch

noch die Bronzemedaille in der Einzelwertung

gewinnen.

Das ganze Team auf dem Podium, das war

schon klasse und Gänsehaut pur. 2021 die WPC

zu gewinnen, war dann das Sahnehäubchen.

Von uns aus kann es so weiter gehen ...

Q

Im Starterfeld fallt ihr ja schon in jedem

Fall durch euer einmaliges Boot auf. Was

hat es damit auf sich und warum gerade

dieses Boot?

A

Wir waren vor Jahren zur Peacock-Bass-

WM in Venezuela. Bei der Verteilung

der Boote samt Fahrer wurde mir ein

ALLISON Bass-Sport Tournament zugelost, mit

WORLD

PREDATOR

CLASSIC


WPC JOINS FORCES

WORLD

PREDATOR

CLASSIC

IT’S OFFICIAL!

WPC GOES DUTCH

Feel like your

missing out?

Catch up on the event at

the WPC 2021 official video

programme ..

The World Predator Classic has a

undergone a new management set up

that will help the event to thrive and

grow in the years to come.

In March this year, Ross Honey, founder

of Angling Spirit and Thorsten Trojan of

Rheinlandboote, finalised an agreement

to expand and further develop the World

Predator Classic together.

This agreement enables the international

expansion to continue through the Dutch

division of RheinlandBoote (b.v).

Signed with blue ink and accompanied by

Dutch commercial lawyers, the WPC is now

also formally completely “Dutch” and thus

also well positioned for the future.

A delighted Thorsten said: “The WPC is a

really special fishing tournament that rightly

stands out as one of the most International

Events of its kind.”, he went on to explain his

motivation to join the Angling Spirit-World.

“For more than 8 years, participants

from all over Europe have been competing

in a sporting and at the same time, friendly

competition to win the title of World Predator

Classic Champion, to meet friends from

many European countries and also to win an

incredible main prize.

“All embedded in the Hellevoetsluis region

and its fantastic waters: in Holland”.

204

Going Dutch ... Thorsten Trojan and Ross Honey officially shake

hands and finalise the new agreement in the Netherlands (above).

Thorsten outside his Rheinlandboote headquarters (top).

Ross Honey added: “Developing a

tournament in the WPC format and making

it successful for participants, sponsors and

the region in which it is held is a challenge

that requires a lot of passion, know-how and

commitment. We are really looking forward to

an exiting future working together”.

Part 1

Getting ready,

Introduction,

Boat-Parade &

Event-Start

https://youtu.be/fyYLYV7NA9Q

Part 2

Fishing Day 1 in

rough water

and Interviews

with leading

competitors

https://youtu be/5HsDId4LMBI

Part 3

Fishing Day 2

with loads of “on

water“-Footage

and leaderboard

wwupdate

https://youtu.be/6lQuhh43hUo

Part 4

Finals &

Interview with

the new

Champions

https://youtu.be/46k-70DvsMo


CHAMPIONS! world predator classic 2021

WORLD

PREDATOR

CLASSIC

ENDLICH

WPC MEISTER!

Thomas Engert UND Marc Ptacovsky

einem fetten Mercury hinten drauf. Das Boot

ging ab wie Schmitts Katze, hatte jede Menge

Stauraum und war einfach perfekt. Die Allison

Boote werden ja für das Racing gebaut, das

heißt die Rennsport Gene des Rumpfes sind im

XB21 kombiniert worden mit den Ansprüchen

der Angler an ein Bass-Boot. Wieder zuhause

nahm ich Kontakt mit ALLISON USA auf und

tatsächlich konnten die mir ein fast neues Boot

anbieten. Es war wohl „Liebe auf den ersten

Blick“ und ich habe es keine Sekunde bereut,

dieses einzigartige Boot erworben zu haben.

Q

A

Q

Gibt es eine klare Spezies Aufteilung?

Und wenn ja wer ist für welche Fischart

zuständig?

Es gibt keine Aufteilung, wir entscheiden

vorm Angeln welche Spezies wir beangeln

und das tun wir dann erstmal zu zweit.

Thomas, man könnte sagen, dass die

Turnierangelei rund um die Welt dein

Leben ist. Wie bist du eigentlich zum

angeln gekommen und wie kam es dazu,

dass du dich mit anderen Anglern messen

wolltest?

Ein Nachbar hat mich im zarten Alter von 11

Jahren zum angeln mitgenommen, 3x waren

wir morgens früh am Altrhein, 2x keinen Biss,

beim dritten Mal hatte der Nachbar endlich

Action, die Pose ging mehrfach unter, am Ende

war der Wurm abgefressen…..eigentlich denkbar

schlechte Voraussetzungen, trotzdem hatte

mich der Virus irgendwie gepackt und ich bin

in den Bürstädter Angelverein. Von da ab habe

ich mich auf Angelwettbewerbe verlegt, von der

Jugend bis später in der Nationalmannschaft mit

mehr als 20 Einsätzen bei Weltmeisterschaften.

Es hat für mich viel mehr Reiz um die Wette zu

angeln, ist einfach so. Den Adrenalin-Kick bis der

vielleicht entscheidende Fisch im Netz ist, den

will ich auch heute noch nicht missen.

Q

Nach diesem phänomenalen Sieg seid

ihr nun die gejagten und alle Augen

werden darauf gerichtet sein wie ihr

abschneidet. Wie schätzt ihr selbst eure

Chancen ein in diesem Jahr, um an diesem

Erfolg anzuknüpfen?

A

Es spielen sehr viele Faktoren eine Rolle,

Erfolg beim Angeln lässt sich nicht

erzwingen. Klar wird auf uns geschaut,

das ist ganz normal, aber dieser Druck macht

uns nichts aus. Es gibt ja eine ganze Reihe an

Teams die man auf dem Schirm haben muss

und ehrlich gesagt fällt es mir schwer, da eine

Prognose über unser Abschneiden abzugeben.

Wir geben alles, den Rest wird man sehen.

Q

Ihr startet für das Team Mercury

Deutschland. Was verbindet euch mit

dieser Marke und was macht diese

Motoren für euch so besonders?

A

Unser Spezi Tobias Lepschi ist

Außendienstmitarbeiter bei Mercury

und Angler. Ihn hat die amerikanische

Wettkampfszene inspiriert. Mercury ist bei

den Bass-Events in den USA ja einer der

Hauptsponsoren. Er konnte seinen Arbeitgeber

davon überzeugen, auch in Deutschland die

Turniere zu unterstützen, dafür gebührt ihm

unser Dank. Tobias hat mich gebeten, für

Turniere deutsche Teams zusammen zu stellen

und das mache ich immer noch. Als Team waren

wir ja die letzten Jahre immer vorne, insofern ist

unser Sponsor wohl ganz zufrieden. Ich selbst

fahre schon seit längerem mit Mercury Motoren,

Marc ja auch. Beim Turnier braucht man einen

zuverlässigen und leistungsfähigen Motor und

den haben wir bei Mercury gefunden. Ich fahre

bei meinem Boot immer noch einen Optimax-

2-Takter mit 225 PS. Der Sound ist einfach Mega

und schnell ist er auch. Für mein anderes Boot

habe ich mir einen 200 PS PRO-XS Achtzylinder

geholt, der hat einen wahrhaft brachialen Antritt,

die Beschleunigung ist sogar noch besser als bei

meinem Optimax.

Q

Wenn ihr einem motivierten Angler,

der den Traum hat einmal die WPC zu

gewinnen einen Rat geben müsstet,

welcher Rat wäre das?

A

Soviel wie möglich aktuelle Infos zum

Gewässer sammeln, das Gerät im Top

Zustand halten, auf sein Bauchgefühl

hören. Ansonsten immer die Ruhe bewahren

und bis zur letzten Sekunde fokussiert bleiben. n

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WORLD

NITRO Z18 PRIZE BOAT. PREDATOR . PRO LEVEL PORFORMANCE

CLASSIC

. . . WHY THIS CUTTING EDGE

THE FAST &

THE FURIOUS

TOURNAMENT DESERVES A CUTTING EDGE BOAT

207


THE FAST &

THE FURIOUS

NITRO® performance fiberglass boats are designed

to be pure fishing machines, suitable for the highest

levels of tournament competition – and the proof is

easy to see.

For three decades, the NITRO Pro Team, led by Kevin

VanDam, have dominated US-tournaments and, in doing

so, have taught anglers around the world the tricks of the

trade and instilled in them a deeper love for fishing.

With the NITRO Z18, we are sponsoring a bulletproof

competition boat for the winners of this event. The boat has

travelled a lot. Like no other boats, NITROS are designed for

fishing and have been tested in numerous tournaments.

Throughout its history, NITRO® has been known for

smooth-riding boats that run dry and stable in rough water

– and that fish with the best of them. Now, new design

technology is raising the bar, retaining NITRO strength and

adding speed, agility and even quicker holeshots.

The NITRO Vortex Technology (NVT) hull is

a revolutionary design that uses a series of parabolic

curves instead of traditional strakes. The result is a hull

with exceptional top-end speed and lift – plus improved

acceleration – all while maintaining superior control and

handling. The organic shape of the new hull design also

enhances consistency in the manufacturing process and

provides exceptional strength-to-weight ratio.

This upcoming competition is going to be fast and

furious, and there are sure to be some monster pigs and big

winnings on the line.

Keep your eyes on these guys – they’ve got some

unforgettable days on the water just ahead!

We believe ... No other boat could better symbolize the

idea of a sporting competition among fishing friends. With

the chance of winning the most valuable main-prize ever

in a European predator fishing tournament, we’re really

looking forward to a cutting-edge tournament. With full

commitment against, but above all, full commitment with

each other. Take care of yourselves!

n Thorsten Trojan

RheinlandBoote

A REVOLUTIONARY DESIGN WITH

exceptional top-end speed and lift

plus improved acceleration

NITRO Z18 PRIZE BOAT. . PRO LEVEL PORFORMANCE

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UP FOR GRABS. . WPC PREDATOR PRIZE TABLE 2022

CLASSIC

WORLD PREDATOR CLASSIC 2022

PRIZE TABLE

It’s the Ultimate prize combo and

it could all be yours! We’ve put

together an amazing professional

package of the Nitro highperformance

Bass Boat Z18

complete with a Mercury 150 Pro

XS fourstroke engine, a Lowrance

Ultimate Fishing System and that’s

not all ... we’ve even included a

premium Pega bass boat trailer so

you can take all it home!

PRIZE BOAT:

Fiberglas HighPerformance NITRO Z18

Boat from BassProShops – exclusive

Dealer for Germany and Benelux

RHEINLANDBOOTE.

n Length: 5,69m

n Beam: 2,39 m

n Max.Power: 175 hp

n FuelCapacity: 150 l

n Max. Persons: 4

PRIZE MOTOR: MERCURY ProXS

Built to take you almost anywhere and

nearly 20lbs lighter than its closest

competitor. It’s an incredibly fast highoutput

150hp FourStroke outboard.

n HP / KW: 150

n EngineType: 8-valve SOHC

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OTHER PRIZES

INCLUDE ..

2nd - 1oth Overall

A selection of Sponsors’ prizes

Longest Fish

Overall

A selection of Sponsors’ prizes

TEAM EVENT:

1st to 3rd Overall

(2 boats paited together

make a team)

SPORTSMANSHIP

AWARD

n Displacement: 3 l

n Fuel induction: EFI

n Full throttle: 6000 RMPM

n PowerTilt / PowerTrim

ELECTRONICS:

The unique Lowrance Ultimate Fishing

System, ready to fish with:

n Bow-Installed: 2 x Lowrance HDS Live

n Dash-Installed: 1 x Lowrance HDS Live

n TrollingMotor: Lowrance GHOST 24/36

V Brushless

n Sonar: ActiveTarget LIVE Sonar; Active

Imaging 3in1 (DownScan, SideScan,

CHIRP)

n Network: Ethernet

n Mapping&Charts: CMAP

n ShallowAnchor: 2 x POWER-Pole Blade

including Remote

TRAILER:

More than 60 years of experience can be

found in ease of use, quality and highquality

finish. Together with Pega NL, we

developed a BassBoat specialized trailer

n Frame: ExtraWide Axe System for

lowest boat positioning

n Coating: Poudercoated

n Axes: 2-axe tandem

version

n Fittings: 4 x extra low

Bass-Boat Bunks

n Lighting: Frameintegrated

LED System

n Winch: FultonF2

n Comfort: Walkway,

carpet-coated fenders

211

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MERCURY MARINE PREDATOR . . 150 PRO XS PRIZE ENGINE

CLASSIC

THE POWER

BEHIND SUCCESS

ONCE AGAIN Mercury raises the bar even higher with

16

their 150 Pro XS FourStroke outboard

When you’re feeding your need for speed,

Mercury Pro XS engines will get you there faster.

Engineered to meet the demands for high speeds

on fresh or salt water, these high-performance

motors deliver a winning combination of power,

acceleration, durability, and fuel efficiency.

Where does this extraordinary

speed come from?

Extraordinary engineering.

Pro XS is engineered for the two mostdemanding

types of people on the water

– anglers battling on the tournament

trail and powerboaters who simply crave

speed.

Mercury developed exclusive

components and tuning to extract every

ounce of performance from each Pro XS

model to get you to the fish first, then

back to the weigh-in with time to spare.

“The new 150 Pro XS is based on

one of Mercury’s most successful and

widely adopted engine platforms, the

Mercury 150,” said John Buelow, Mercury

Marine Vice President of Category

Management. “Building on this solid

foundation, Mercury engineered the new

MERCURY MARINE’S Outboard

motors have kept tournament

anglers atop the winner’s stand in

North America for decades, and

a powerful lineup of new engines

recently introduced by Mercury

seems destined to keep that trend

rolling.

Among these is the ultra-fast 150hp

Pro XS motor and three V-6 FourStroke

outboards (175hp, 200hp and 225hp)

with low weight, awesome power

and spectacular fuel economy that

make them exceptional candidates for

multiple uses.

Building on the successful launch of

the Mercury 115 Pro XS in 2016, the new

Pro XS sets a new standard in the 150hp

high-output category and lives up to the

legendary Pro XS reputation for superior

hole shot, top-end speed, and durability.

performance-tuned 150 Pro XS to be the

Fishing enthusiasts and professionals

ERCURY MARINE’S Outboard quickest, lightest and most advanced

alike have long considered Mercury’s Pro

motors have kept tournament high-output outboard in its class.”

XS outboards to be the most durable,

reliable and best-performing

anglers atop

outboard

the winner’s stand in

engines for competition North fishing. America This for decades, The new and Mercury Marine

new four-stroke will a powerful continue that lineup of new engines

recently introduced by 150 Mercury Pro XS delivers:

tradition, but it is also an ideal fit for

seems destined to keep n that Fastest trend acceleration: the engine

performance-oriented fibreglass and

aluminium boats. rolling.

features class-leading 0-20mph

heavy-load acceleration. In competitive

Among these introduced

angling

at the

competitions,

2018

mere fractions of a

Miami International Boat second Show can were make a big difference. Faster

an ultra-fast 150hp Pro XS acceleration motor and provides anglers with an

three V-6 FourStroke outboards edge, as (175hp, it allows them to get out in front

200hp and 225hp) with low and weight, avoid getting stuck in the wake of

competitors’ boats.

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MERCURY MARINE . . 150 PRO XS PRIZE

Mercury 150 Pro XS FourStroke Specs

THE POWER

BEHIND SUCCESS

n Lightest weight: at 207kg, the new 150 Pro XS is

9kgs lighter than the nearest competitor offering.

n Largest displacement: at 3.0L, the new 150

Pro XS also boasts the largest displacement in the

150hp category.

n Extra torque: Mercury’s exclusive Transient

Spark Technology optimises spark timing, resulting

in additional torque during hole shot.

n Higher full-throttle RPM: Increased maximum

engine RPM from 5,800 to 6,000 allows for a wider

selection of propeller pitches and the ability to dialin

performance for superior hole shot or top speed.

n Improved fuel efficiency: The new Mercury

150 Pro XS continues Mercury’s mission to produce

new technology that is sustainable and more fuel

efficient for the consumer.

n Performance gearcase: The new 150 Pro

XS features a 2.08:1 gear ratio that delivers more

torque to the prop shaft for improved acceleration.

In addition to the standard water pickups on the

side of the gearcase, this engine also features four

extra water pickups on the nose of the gearcase

torpedo. This provides greater flexibility to mount

the engine higher, install a jack plate, or trim the

engine more aggressively while running, allowing

boat owners to optimise performance without

sacrificing water flow for engine cooling.

n HP / kW 150 / 110

n Engine type

8-valve single overhead cam (SOHC)

Inline 4

n Displacement (CID/CC) 183

n Displacement (L) 3.0

n Full throttle RPM 5200-6000

n Air induction

Performance-Tuned Scroll Intake Manifold

n Fuel induction system Computer Controlled Multi-Port Electronic

Fuel Injection (EFI)

n Recommended fuel Unleaded Regular 87 Octane Minimum (R+M/2)

or 90 RON 10% Ethanol Maximum

n Recommended oil NMMA Certified FCW SAE 10W-30

n Engine protection operator warning system

n Optimised mount package: Performancetuned

engine mounts provide for improved highspeed

handling characteristics.

n Superior charging output and battery

management: The new 150 Pro XS features a

class-leading charging output of 60 amps as well

as idle charge battery management capability,

which protects consumers from draining batteries

while operating multiple electronic devices and

trolling.

n Smooth performance: The new 150 Pro XS

boasts significantly lower seat and helm vibration

levels compared to leading competitors in the

150hp high-output segment.

Additionally, the new 150 Pro XS provides

superior protection against corrosion. Mercury’s

proprietary ultra-low copper alloys make this

outboard better able to withstand the elements,

including the rigours of saltwater operation.

Mercury provides an industry-leading standard

three-year warranty against damage due to

corrosion. n

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WPC ROLL OF HONOUR

WPC ROLL OF HONOUR

2014 - 2021

As the World Predator

Classic reaches it's

seventh year (2019

missed due to Covid) it

seems only right to look

back at the successes

and honour those

anglers who pulled

out all the stops to be

titled WPC Champions.

Congratulations to you

all and here's to many

more WPC Champions

2014

Overall Champions: Luc Coppens and

Jeremy Staverman. This was the first of a

consecutive win streak for the Belgian pairing!

Street Fishing Champion:

Mark Lubbarts took victory for the Netherlands.

2015

Overall Champions: Luc Coppens and Jeremy

Staverman – the Belgian pairing bettered their

opponents scores on every competition day. The first pair to win two

years in a row!

Street Fishing Champion: Michael Bongers – the German won

by a long way with 49 points more than second place!

2016

Overall Champions:

Markku Tiusanen and Antti Anttila set a goal

and smashed it! Coming from the Finnish qualifier to winning

the 2016 event with a whopping 545cm of Zander, they were

ahead of their competition by a long shot!


Vitalijs KarpenKovs brought home the street fishing trophy for

Latvia winning 11 points ahead of second place!

2020

Overall

Champions:

Radek Filip and Martin Steak said

that hearing their names read out

as the WPC Champions was one

of the proudest moments of their

lives.


Alexandre Dennetiere, Street

Fishing Champion said: ”The

exceptionally hot weather made

the WSF really challenging, but

thankfully local knowledge paid

off.“

2021

Overall Champions:

Due to the COVID-19

pandemic, the 2020 event

was held in June 2021. After

a fierce battle, Thomas

Engert & Marc Ptacovsky,

sponsored by Mercury, lifted

the coveted trophy aloft.

Street Fishing

Champion:

Jamie Parking, winner said: “I

love street fishing events, as

it brings together the angling

community in a really friendly

way and the WSF in Metz is

one not to be missed”

2017

Overall Champions:

Dustin And Johannes

secured first place in the

2017 boat event, putting

Germany at the top of the

podium yet again.

Street Fishing

Champion:

Fabian Grafe, the

German street fisherman,

conquered the 2017

competition and took first

place proudly.

2018

Overall Champions:

Enrico Di Ventura and Frank Bussmeyer

won what was was a fiercely contested battle right up

until the last few minutes of the event.

Street Fishing Champion: Vince Payro said that it

was the pinnacle of his fishing career. He added, “I have

had so many messages from people, it really makes me

appreciate how special it is to win this event”.

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WHO’S IN THE RUNNING PREDATOR THIS YEAR ..

CLASSIC

BELGIUM

FRANCE

GERMANY 2

CAPTAIN

VICE CAPTAIN

SPONSOR

TEAM NAME

Sylvain Legendre

Jean-Marc Brisson

Fox Rage

Fox Rage

CAPTAIN Morel Jean Baptiste

VICE CAPTAIN Kolle Richard

SPONSOR Paris Predator Fishing

TEAM NAME Paris Predator Fishing

CAPTAIN Andre Schmitt

VICE CAPTAIN Danni Schaefer

SPONSOR Lowrance

TEAM NAME Lowrance 1

WORLD PREDATOR CLASSIC

COMPETITORS

CAPTAIN Luc Coppens

VICE CAPTAIN Jeroen Eijssens

SPONSOR Mercury

TEAM NAME Mercury 1

CAPTAIN

VICE CAPTAIN

SPONSOR

CAPTAIN

VICE CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

VICE CAPTAIN

TEAM NAME

CAPTAIN

VICE CAPTAIN

SPONSOR

TEAM NAME

CAPTAIN

VICE CAPTAIN

SPONSOR

CAPTAIN

VICE CAPTAIN

SPONSOR

CAPTAIN

VICE CAPTAIN

SPONSOR

TEAM NAME

CAPTAIN

VICE CAPTAIN

Jojo Schmitt

Julian Paul

FoxRage

/Rheinlandboote

Kris Broeckx

Johan Volkaert

Randy Das

Wim Kumpen

Cal Rei

Romain Winsherman

Jean-Francois Boreux

Vexus Europe -VMC

Cal Rei

CZECH REP.

Roman Kuril

Josef Verner

Jan Hubka

Jakub Kolar

Tropic Fishing

Radek Filip

Martin Stepka

Tropic Fishing

Nitro-Boats

Jan Bohunek

Antonin Pacal

ENGLAND

CAPTAIN Matt Boast

VICE CAPTAIN Jan Boosma

SPONSOR Lowrance


FINLAND

CAPTAIN Saku Laaksonen

VICE CAPTAIN Juho Tuomivaara

SPONSOR Jigi Cup

TEAM NAME Fox Rage

CAPTAIN Mika Vornanen

VICE CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN Kalle Paavola

VICE CAPTAIN Pekko Kanerva

CAPTAIN Ari Paataj

VICE CAPTAIN Pekka Laitinen

VICE CAPTAIN Lowrance


CAPTAIN Sami Laakso

VICE CAPTAIN Tomi Soininen

CAPTAIN Antti-Jussi Noronen

VICE CAPTAIN Toni Hamalainen

CAPTAIN Stephane Poincot

VICE CAPTAIN Gael Even

SPONSOR Illex Gunki

CAPTAIN Julien Bridard

VICE CAPTAIN Vincent Charlier

SPONSOR Quantum

TEAM NAME Quantum

CAPTAIN

VICE CAPTAIN

GERMANY 1

Daniel Stahl

Klaus Liebl

CAPTAIN Nils Gabsa

VICE CAPTAIN

SPONSOR Daiwa

TEAM NAME Mercury 1

CAPTAIN

VICE CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

VICE CAPTAIN

TEAM NAME

CAPTAIN

VICE CAPTAIN

TEAM NAME

CAPTAIN

VICE CAPTAIN

TEAM NAME

CAPTAIN

VICE CAPTAIN

TEAM NAME

CAPTAIN

VICE CAPTAIN

TEAM NAME

CAPTAIN

VICE CAPTAIN

TEAM NAME

CAPTAIN

VICE CAPTAIN

TEAM NAME

CAPTAIN

VICE CAPTAIN

TEAM NAME

Mark Althaus

Daniel Brouwers

Sascha Lagerin

Herbert Lagerin

Nomadsfishingteam

Ritchie Schramm

Adolf Schramm

Nomadsfishingteam

Frank Bussmeyer

Daniel Katzorek

Nitro-Boats

Jens Koch

Christian Bai

Kochs Angelwelt

Enrico Di Ventura

Daniel Adriani

Hecht & Barsch

Sascha Todtenhausen

Jochen Elpers

Nitro-Boats

Philip Eberz

Garmin

Gino Heinen

Gino Heinen

Gekeschert/LMAB

CAPTAIN Thomas Engert

VICE CAPTAIN Marc Ptacovsky

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS

SPONSOR Mercury

CAPTAIN

VICE CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

VICE CAPTAIN

TEAM NAME

CAPTAIN

VICE CAPTAIN

TEAM NAME

CAPTAIN

VICE CAPTAIN

TEAM NAME

Sebastian Schmitt

Eric Korczakowski

Andre Knippenberg

Max Wachs

Colormatch

Frank Szodruch

ApexAngling030

Christian Neubauer

Fabian Allmanshofer

Team Echomops

CAPTAIN Lukas Riplinger

VICE CAPTAIN Toni Weise

SPONSOR Mercury

TEAM NAME Mercury 2

CAPTAIN Kevin Stey

VICE CAPTAIN Sascha Neumuller

TEAM NAME BFE 1

CAPTAIN Pierre Johnen

VICE CAPTAIN Patrick Wischermann

TEAM NAME BFE 1

CAPTAIN Lennard Otto

VICE CAPTAIN Marcel Reinhardt

TEAM NAME BFE 2

CAPTAIN Angelo Schmidt

VICE CAPTAIN Roman Kesler

TEAM NAME BFE 2

CAPTAIN Gewen Schopper

VICE CAPTAIN Franz Zimmermann

TEAM NAME BFE 3

CAPTAIN Lennard Otto

VICE CAPTAIN Marcel Reinhardt

TEAM NAME BFE 2

CAPTAIN Angelo Schmidt

VICE CAPTAIN Roman Kesler

TEAM NAME BFE 2

CAPTAIN Gewen Schopper

VICE CAPTAIN Franz Zimmermann

TEAM NAME BFE 3

CAPTAIN Alex Martin

VICE CAPTAIN Yannick Wermelskirchen

TEAM NAME BFE 3

CAPTAIN Marvin Lourzki

VICE CAPTAIN Antohny Adam

SPONSOR Dynmt fishing

TEAM NAME BFE 3

CAPTAIN Brian Kurbjuhn

VICE CAPTAIN Klaus Liebl

CAPTAIN Marcel Weigel

VICE CAPTAIN Carsten Finis

CAPTAIN Thomas Wilke

VICE CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN Thorsten Gerde

VICE CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

VICE CAPTAIN

Toni Pohjalainen

GERMANY 3

CAPTAIN Patrick Herbst

VICE CAPTAIN Kevin Klein

CAPTAIN Oliver Wieczorek

VICE CAPTAIN Michael Otte

CAPTAIN Steven Beer

VICE CAPTAIN Mathias Tremel

CAPTAIN Stephan Schreiner

VICE CAPTAIN Stefan Marsiske

TEAM NAME Catch Easy Predator Shop

LATVIA

CAPTAIN Martins Balodis

VICE CAPTAIN Kristians Godins

CAPTAIN Roberts Valters

VICE CAPTAIN Rubenis Valters

CAPTAIN Inguss Pavasars

VICE CAPTAIN Peteris Lideris

NETHERLANDS

CAPTAIN Rene Lunenburg

VICE CAPTAIN Stefan Elgers

CAPTAIN Chris Bloemert

VICE CAPTAIN Willem Stolk

SPONSOR Mercury

TEAM NAME Mercury 1

CAPTAIN Evert Oostdam

VICE CAPTAIN Tim Jochems

SPONSOR Mercury

TEAM NAME Mercury 3

CAPTAIN Gea de Ruijder

VICE CAPTAIN Babs Kijewski

SPONSOR Mercury

TEAM NAME Mercury 3

CAPTAIN Jelle De Jong

VICE CAPTAIN Mitchell Croeze

SPONSOR Lowrance


CAPTAIN Michael Stalenhoef

VICE CAPTAIN Herman Schuurman

SPONSOR Resort Citta Romana


CAPTAIN Jan Baar

VICE CAPTAIN Daan de Rijk

SPONSOR Resort Citta Romana


CAPTAIN Arend van der Heijden

VICE CAPTAIN Martijn Reitsma

SPONSOR Lowrance


CAPTAIN Jeremy Staverman

VICE CAPTAIN Ruben Dekkers

SPONSOR Lowrance


POLAND

CAPTAIN Tomasz Kurnik

VICE CAPTAIN Piotr Wojnowski

SPONSOR Fox Rage

TEAM NAME Fox Rage

CAPTAIN Daniel Celeda

VICE CAPTAIN Janusz Panak

SPONSOR Robinson Europe

CAPTAIN Artur Kocikowski

VICE CAPTAIN Marcin Kotowski

CAPTAIN Roman Milkowski

VICE CAPTAIN Jerzy Gancarz

CAPTAIN Adam Grabowski

VICE CAPTAIN

ROMANIA

CAPTAIN Tofan constantin claudiu

VICE CAPTAIN

SLOVAKIA

CAPTAIN Juraj Brek

VICE CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN Peter Hornak

VICE CAPTAIN Marian Maslanak


COMPETITORS

219

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WPC ‘22 ITINERARY

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Monday, June 27th

n 10:00 - 19:00: Competitors

Registration at Registration Desk;

Guided boats slip (ends 19.00), Cape

Helius Entrance-Area; boat mooring

assignment and GPS Boat Tracker &

Boat Security Briefings during mooring

assignment.

n 19:30: Captains’ dinner & Official

Opening Declaration at Citta Romana

Tuesday, June 28th

n 10:00 - 14:00: Competitors

Registration at Registration Desk;

Guided boats slip (ends 14.00) at Cape

Helius Entrance-Area; boat mooring

assignment and GPS Boat Tracker &

Boat Security Briefings during mooring

assignment.

n 16:00 – 16:30: Official participants

briefing (Boats) by the registration area.

n 17:30 – 19:30: Opening WPC at

Market Place and Boat Parade at From

the Marina

Wednesday, June 29th

COMPETITION DAY 1

n 07:00 – 07:15: Boat Captains’ daily

briefing WPC at Market Place

n 07:20 – 08:15: Daily Event Boat

Check at Marina

n 8:30: Start of Boat competition from

start line


ITINERARY

This three-day

battle will push

the limits of

anglers from all

over the world ...

but don’t panic,

if it all gets too

much, there’s

always a good

excuse for a

party!

n 12:00: CutOff Live Leader Board

n 16:15: Daily end of Boat competition

and return to Marina

n 18:00 – 19:00: Daily Result

Presentation at the Stage-Area at

WPC Market Place

Thursday, June 30th

COMPETITION DAY 2




Check at Marina


start line


n 16:15: Daily end of Boat competition

and return to Marina

n 18:00 – 19:00: Daily Result

Presentation at the Stage-Area at

WPC Market Place

Friday, July 1st

MEDIA & RESTS DAY

10:00 – 18:00: Meet & Greet at WPC

Market Place

12:30 – 14:30: Competitors’ Finger-

Food Lunch at WPC Market Place

Saturday, July 2nd

FINAL COMPETITION DAY 3

and FINALS




Check at Marina


start line


n 16:15: End of Boat competition and

return to Marina

n 20.00: Daily Result Presentation and

Prize Giving at the Stage-Area at WPC

Market Place

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MERCURY’S SOLUTION TO WINNING TOURNAMENTS?

SMART

THINKING

The secret to being a

champion isn’t just having

the right tools, it’s also

knowing how to use

them. Mercury owes its

long history of winning

to a combination of

many things, including

a persistent need to

engineer and innovate

the greatest marine

technology on the

water, a culture that

encourages skilled and

talented people to work

hard and succeed, and

a lifelong commitment

to learning from the best

to become the best. The

following pages provide

information to help you

achieve your goals.


MERCURY MARINE . . SMART SOLUTIONS WITH SMARTCRAFT

WORLD

PREDATOR

CLASSIC

Prostaffers and anglers in general

have an excellent reason for using

Mercury Marine gauges and controls,

or any piece of equipment. It’s all

about the fish.

That’s why they put anything on their

boats – to help them be more efficient at

their passion, which is catching fish. They

know a thing or two about what creates a

successful day on the water.

And you can rest assured that their

Mercury gauges and controls are more than

pulling their weight in terms of putting them

and eventually their 250 Pro XS®-powered

Lund or Nitro boat in the best possible

position to catch fish and get back to the

weigh-in on time. The real-time fuel flow

and estimated range data provided by the

SmartCraft system is among their favorite

features.

In a tournament upfront where to run.

Could be an hour or hour and a half or just

45 minutes away. So monitoring the fuel

consumption is a big deal and by using the

SmarfCraft technologies you’ll know right

away if you need to back off the throttle a

little to conserve fuel.

Fish smart and

finish first with

SmartCraft gauges

and controls . .

One of these is SmartCraft Digital

Throttle and Shift. DTS provides precise and

immediate throttle response for ultimate

drivability, and easy shifts that protect the

gearcase. In addition, by using Mercury’s

VesselView Mobile app on the smartphone

you get much of the SmartCraft information

you need. Aiming to win a tournament or

simply to navigate with information putting a

phone in its holder and watching its customdesigned

display in the app is the best way to

see crucial engine data at a glance. In short

terms, the information you get from your

Mercury SmartCraft instruments is the ability

to concentrate on catching fish instead of

worrying about the engine.

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SKYHOOK

DIGITAL ANCHOR

A digital anchor that locks

in your boat’s position

and heading via GPS with

the push of a button.

What it does: Skyhook uses a GPS

sensor to lock in your position, then

works with the engines and drives

to maintain position and heading

regardless of wind or current. The

Bowhook feature unlocks heading and

maintains position, allowing your boat

to point in whatever direction the winds

and currents dictate.The Drifthook

feature maintains heading and unlocks

position, allowing winds and currents to

move your boat along, perfect for drift

fishing or enjoying the view. Skyhook

comes standard on Joystick Piloting

for Outboards, Joystick Piloting for

Sterndrives and Joystick Piloting for

Pods.

What’s in it for you: Greater Vessel

Control, Intuitive Boating, Controls Boat

Position Holding

SMART TOW®

If it is not only about fishing but

all about having fun and ruling the water:

Take the guesswork out of pulling skiers,

tubers, and wake boarders. Create a

customer launch profile for each rider.

Plug it into the system and enjoy a

perfect launch speed every time. Just hit

the throttle and go.

What it does: Smart Tow uses your

boat’s rpm and speed to launch and

maintain consistent speed throughout

a run. Choose from one of five preset

profiles or create your own custom

profile to launch tow sports participants

at a predetermined acceleration and

speed. Smart Tow is a standard feature

on all Mercury VesselView displays and

the SC1000 gauge, and is available on

MercMonitor.

What’s in it for you: Greater Vessel

Control, Intuitive Boating, Controls Tow

Sports Speed Control

SMART THINKING

A FIELD GUIDE ON HOW TO WIN TOURNAMENTS

But it’s not only about SmartCraft Digital

Throttle and Shift of VesselView Mobile.

Mercury Marine is offering a whole

range of smart technologies. Here is an

overview and explanation of what they

do and what is in for you:

ACTIVE TRIM

An intelligent, hands-free system for

outboards and sterndrives that automatically

trims your boat for a simpler, more fuelefficient

and more comfortable ride with the

push of a button.

What it does: Using a GPS sensor, Active

Trim automatically trims your engine to the

ideal position based on your boat’s speed.

Active Trim responds to your maneuvers and

trims your engine to maintain your speed for a

smooth ride.

What’s in it for you: Better Fuel Efficiency,

Better Vessel Control, Faster Acceleration,

Ease of Use, Smoother Ride

VESSELVIEW

A fully integrated, on-board

information management system that

provides access to more information and

data on your boat and engine functions

than any other system in the boating

industry.

What it does: VesselView allows

you to control your vessel from an

intuitive LCD screen that displays

rpm, speed, fuel flow, fuel

efficiency, temperature, trim,

and more. VesselView allows

you to monitor up to four

engines at a time. All VesselView

displays can support Active Trim,

Smart Tow and Troll Control.

What’s in it for you: Intuitive Boating,

Controls Access to Engine Data, Tow

Sports Speed Control

VESSELVIEW® MOBILE

An on-board management system

that connects to your iPhone, Android, or

tablet via Bluetooth to display VesselView

data on your device.

What it does: VesselView Mobile uses

Bluetooth to display gauge information on

your iPhone or Android. Monitor up to four

engines and customize data points across

three additional screens. Receive alerts

and information if something isn’t right with

your engine.

What’s in it for you: Access to Engine Data


MERCURY MARINE . . SMART SOLUTIONS WITH SMARTCRAFT

JOYSTICK PILOTING

An intuitive steering system for

multi-engine boats that places steering,

as well as throttling and shifting, at your

fingertips. The joystick provides “360-degree

control,” enabling you to move your boat

sideways, forward, backward, diagonally or

spin on its own axis.

What it does: Heading uses an integrated

digital compass to automatically maintain

your boat’s direction. When the Route

feature is engaged, the vessel automatically

navigates to the active waypoint or active

route in the compatible chart-plotter. Route

is a fully integrated, one-button autopilot.

Heading Adjust allows the driver to adjust the

heading of the vessel in 1- and 10-degree

increments with the Joystick while using the

Heading feature.

What’s in it for you: Greater Vessel Control,

Intuitive Boating, Controls Easy Docking,

Boat-Position Holding

DIGITAL THROTTLE & SHIFT

Precise handling and total control of

your boat with no cables and no hesitation.

What it does: DTS uses electronic signals

instead of cables to provide precision control of

throttle and shift.The single lever allows you to

control all of your engines with one handle by

syncing engine throttle position and rpm. DTS

comes equipped with a cruise-control feature.

Troll Control allows you to maintain speed

by setting and adjusting the rpm at 10-rpm

increments up to 1200 rpm.

What’s in it for you: Greater Vessel Control,

Intuitive Boating, Controls Easy Docking

1st MATE

Safety equipment is nearly always

mandatory in fishing tournaments. For scenarios

where worse comes to worst, 1st Mate Safety and

Security System, compatible with Mercury

SmartCraft-enabled marine engines,

can provide life-saving assistance. 1st

Mate entails the integrated use of

an intelligent engine hub, wearable

devices and a mobile app to

provide boater-overboard alerts and

distress messaging. The system also

provides functionality for engine-theft

deterrence.

What’s in it for you: Safety & Security

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WELCOME TO HELLEVOETSLUIS PREDATOR . . OFFICIAL EVENT MAP ‘22

CLASSIC

Citta Romana

END OF

FISHING

ZONE

N497

Stellendam

CENTER

Slijkplaat

Haringvliet

Middelharnis

Haringvliet

OFFICIAL

EVENT MAP

Vuile Gat

Tiengemeten

E

F

2

Zuiddijk

Citta Romana 2

Gorslaan

Gors

Heliushaven

Nieuwe

Zeedijk

Courtine

Nieuwe Zeedijk

DROOGDOK

Burgemeester Van Der Jagtrade

Indistriehaven

Opzoomerlaan

Opzoomerlaan

Glacisweg

Glacisweg

Kanaalweg Westzijde

Hoomwerkstraat

Kanaalweg Oostzijde

GRAPHIC

Helius

1

2

Haven

Start of Boat

Parade

Captain’s Dinner:

Citta Romana

3

3

1

WPC Headquarters:

Registrations and

Trailer Park

Competitors’ Mooring

Nieuwe Zeedijk

Molenstraat

Westkade

Oostkade

Zuidfront

Kerkstraat

Kanaalweg Westzijde

Kanaalweg Oostzijde

Kanaalweg Oostzijde

Veerweg

Vlasakkertaan

Struytse Zeedijk

Haringvliet

A29

Start of Boat

Numansdorp

Strijen

END OF

FISHING

ZONE

A16

Moerdijkbruggen

Hollands Diep

ND OF

ISHING

ZONE

A29

N59

Hollands Diep

Hollands Diep

Moerdijk

A17

A59

Klundert

ANDREW STEER @ ANGLING KNOTS

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WELCOME TO THE NETHERLANDS PREDATOR . .

CLASSIC

WELCOME TO

HELLEVOETSLUIS

Home of the World Predator Classic, Hellevoetsluis

is a unique setting for such an event, as it’s the

only fortified harbour in The Netherlands with a

magnificent location at the Haringvliet

It is with great pleasure that we

welcome the World Predator Classic

in our beautiful town and on our

interesting island.

In the fortification of Hellevoetsluis

you can experience the life of the soldiers

who had to defend the ramparts. The big

canon 24IJ – the only original canon of

this size in its original place in Europe – is

one of the most important remains and

the Barracks Haerlem and the various

casemates dating from the 17th till the

20th century have also been recently

restored are great places to visit.

The fast and furious boats of the

World Predator Classic contrast well

with the maritime history of King’s Quay

(Koningskade), where you can find

three historical ships: the Buffel, AMS

de Bernisse and the Lighthouseship

12 Noordhinder. As you walk in you

arrive at the Drydock Jan Blanken – a

masterpiece of waterworks. This is the

first drydock built in stone and the only

one still working today. You can take a

tour around the 400 year old harbour and

enjoy beautiful views on the National

Firefighting Museum, corn mill ‘De Hoop’,

the old marine school ‘De Veste’, the

Prinsehuis (office of the executive board

of the municipality of Hellevoetsluis),

the monumental iron bridge and the

protestant church with its golden lamb

on top. Enjoy a cold drink on one of the

various terraces and if you like to shop,

you’ll find a big shopping mall, Struytse

Hoeck, 2 km from the historical center.

On Saturdays the local market with

various stalls bursts into life with beautiful

flowers, delicious fruits and the typical

dutch ‘stroopwafels’’. You can also try the

‘herring’ or sample our lovely cheeses.

There’s even a little train that can take

you around and a ferry service to other

areas at the Haringvliet. Ask our friendly

volunteers at the information Center

“Bezoek Hellevoetsluis”, on the corner at

the iron bridge .

The Island of Voorne Putten . .

‘One island, two worlds’. This is the slogan

of the Island of Voorne Putten which

contains the towns of Brielle, Westvoorne,

Hellevoetsluis and Nissewaard which are

filled with history and modern facilities.

Here, you will also find beautiful nature

and beaches. This green island offers

possibilities for hiking, biking, horseriding,

relaxing, sailing, spotting seals, island

hopping, golfing, kitesurfing, and more!

The Island of Voorne Putten is a hidden

treasure in the south west of The Netherland.

You can spend days roaming the island by

foot, bike or car and enjoy its pleasures.

Oostvoorne and

Rockanje

If you like the beach and the sea this

is the place to be for you. You will

find miles of beaches, you can walk

along the seaside and there are a lot of

places where you can have a drink and

something to eat.

The small beach next to the lighthouse

is a nice place to enjoy with toddlers and

little children.

They can play on the pirateship in the

sand. The big beach called Quackstrand

offers possibilities to walk and swim.

The Aquapark Splash is a real water

paradise.

Brielle . .

Brielle is a small fortified town, 11

kilometers from Hellevoetsluis. You will

find some charming little shops and a very

interesting historical museums. There

are lots of excellent restaurants and bars

– perfect for sitting on the terraces and

watching the world go by when the weather

is fine.

Nissewaard . .

Nissewaard is the biggest town on the

island of Voorne Putten. It is a very modern

city. In the center you will find many shops

and the ‘Boekenberg’ (Mountain of Books),

library. This extraordinary building was

designed by architect Winy Maas. Outside

the town you will find a large nature park

called De Bernisse.

A dive into the past:

Dry Dock Jan Blanken

The dry dock Jan Blanken has played

an important part of the maritime history

of Hellevoetsluis for over 200 years.

From the 17th century this fortress

city served as the naval centre for the

Admiralty of the “Maze”.

In 1775 as part of the modernisation

project of the naval settlement in

Hellevoetsluis, Jan Blanken (Inspector

General of the Ministry of Waterways and

Public Works), designed this so-called

double dry dock. That means that there are

two docks, which can work independent of

each other. In 1802 the construction started

of the Keeldock. The Construction of the

Carpenters’dock followed between 1821

and 1825. Dry-dock Jan Blanken was the

First Stone dry-dock in the Netherlands.

Special elements are the shipdoors

(bateau-porte) as barricade of the two

docks and the aquaducts, a water reservoir

for fire-fighting and purification.

The dry dock Jan Blanken is still in

operation and regularly ships are docked

according to the original methods. This

dry dock Jan Blanken is considered to be

one of the greatest cultural and industrial

monument of the Netherlands.

Waterbus Excursion

The waterbus is a tourist transportsystem

which serves the area from Rotterdam

to Hellevoetsluis. It is possible to hop on

board and experience the beauty of the

Haringvliet and its harbourtowns and visit

the island of Tiengemeten.

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LOWRANCE . . YOU PREDATOR HEARD IT FROM THE EXPERTS!

CLASSIC

What do the Pro’s say?

Lowrance ambassadors Andre

and Jelle give us their top 3 tips on

how they get the best out of their

electronics ahead of the World

Predator Classic!

LOWRANCE: ASK THE

230

Jelle Long:

Using the HDS

LIVE 12” sidescan

in three ways.

SideScan is a must use feature on HDS

LIVE devices. The scan is high level,

allowing you to see everything super

sharp, so you can check whether you are

fishing in the right areas and for the right

species of fish.

1

I use my SideScan to search for structures

and fish against the slopes. These are often

monotonous parts of a fishing spot, and by

looking for the structure on the bottom you can

always fish the right swims.

It may be that only a few meters off a slope

of a few kilometers is filled with structure and

fish, and the search for these spots has been

simplified a lot by the HDS LIVE SideScan.

PROFESSIONALS

2I also use SideScan a lot when fishing for

spring pike in the shallows. You can see the

pike on the shallow plateau’s to the left and

right, and this allows you to choose which fish to

cast to.

The length of the fish can also be reasonably

determined using SideScan. Once I came across

several pike on a shallow plateau to the left and

right of the boat. By locating the longest fish on

my HDS LIVE 12“ SideScan, I was able to target

her precisely. The result of this was a nice thick

130 cm pike! I took a picture of the setting I was

able to fish. You can only choose one fish a cast!

I marked the fish on this picture and as you

can see there were several fish around the boat,

by first looking closely and choosing the largest

all about Jelle ..

Jelle has lived by the sea in

Holland his whole life and has

fished with his brothers since he

was a child.

Now his speciality is hunting

down big pikes – out every

week in his aluminium fishing

boat. He’s been preparing for

WPC and is ready to smash

some PB’s!

symbol I was able to catch the largest fish in the

pool thanks to the Lowrance HDS LIVE SideScan.

Top marks ... choosing the largest symbol I was able to catch the largest fish in the pool thanks to the Lowrance HDS LIVE SideScan

3Another way I use my Lowrance HDS LIVE

SideScan, is to look for waterplants. By

scanning the area well, you can stay away

from the edge of the plant at casting distance.

This allows you to make much more precise

casts along the plant edges without the boat

coming too close to the plants. This makes a lot

possible without disturbing the cutting and also

without constantly contaminating your bait with

loose aquatic plants.

Take advantage of it, and start with the

ultimate fishing system from Lowrance.

n JELLE LONG. LOWRANCE AMBASSADOR


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With this great innovation you can

see everything in the water, live, in

real time. Every fish, every tree or

stone, all kind of things . .

all about Andre ..

Andre lives near Banberg – a

small town in the south-east

of Germany. Fishing has been

his passion since the age of

three and he describes himself

as being infected with the

predator virus!

Perch, pike and zander are

what he targets on different

waters around Genrmany

and the Netherlands. He

started competing for the

first time in 2007 in one of the

biggest competitions in the

Netherlands. Since then, he

has invested a lot of time on

preparation for competitions

which has payed off well – he

took first place in Luremasters

2018. Next challenge? The

World Predator Classic!

Andre Schmit:

ActiveTarget

the game changer for those

with a blue heart

Levelling up my fishing, I have now

been using the Lowrance ActiveTarget

for some time and I often get asked

what are the differences between this

and a normal 2D transducer?

With this great innovation you can see

everything in the water live in real time. Every

fish, every tree or stone, all kind of things

under water, and on the bottom you can see

everything absolutely perfectly, like a picture

with a camera. There are three different ways

to use ActiveTarget:

1

Forward mode: I use this mode during

casting in open water and also in

shallow water. For me the best way to

fix ActiveTarget to your boat is to use a pole

which is flexible. I can turn it in the direction

where I like to cast, so it´s much easier for me

to find active fish.

This method is also called “sharp shooting”

- you see the fish, cast into the direction of it,

and hopefully you can catch it! It´s awesome to

see it on the screen when the predator attacks

the lure.

2Scout mode: this is my favourite mode

for really shallow water. Best fix is to use it

directly on the Ghost Trolling Motor. I like

to stand in the front of the boat and cast for

big pikes to see them patrolling in flat areas

between the weeds.

3Down mode: for Pelagic fishing this mode

is the best option. For me, I like to use

two ActiveTarget´s at the same time.

This is what we call a “cross“ - with this deadly

technique I fix two transducers on the same

pole. One of them to scan the area along the

boat, the other one shows me all details right

and left. If you are a good captain almost no

fish can swim away!

All three modes can be directly changed

on the ActiveTarget with only a few handles.

It´s so great! Try ActiveTarget and you´ll be

convinced of this new generation of live sonar

for sure. Tight lines

n Andre, lowrance ambassador

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A MESSAGE FROM PREDATOR HELLEVOETSLUIS . .

CLASSIC

A MESSAGE

FROM THE MAYOR

AART JAN SPOON, ALDERMAN SPORTS & EVENT

Dear partcipants and visitors,

Welcome to Hellevoetsluis! It’s an honour to

welcome the World Predator Classic after some

years of insecurity due to covid-19.

The WPC have been very brave to continue with

the event and to do what is possible within the

boundaries of lock-downs and doubt. In 2022 this

famous fishing contest will again take place in its

‘old’ and spectacular form in Hellevoetsluis.

From 2023 onwards, the community of

Hellevoetsluis will be part of a new and bigger

community – Voorne aan Zee (together with

Brielle and Westvoorne). But this doesn’t mean

the end of the WPC. On the contrary, we hope to

welcome you again in Voorne aan Zee!

Of course, during the event, we know you will

be busy competeing, but we hope you take time

to enjoy Hellevoetsluis and the island of Voorne-

Putten. There is so much you can do.

In the green surroundings you can hike, bike

or take a swim. There’s always a beach nearby.

So come paddle or surf on the North Sea! In the

various little towns on the island you can relax and

enjoy lunch or dinner in the sun at a terrace. Want

to know more about our history? The fortifications

and other museums offer various tours that you

can join.

I am very glad to hear that the organisation

Angling Spirit with Ross Honey, his business

partners and all the participants will work

together with the local Rotaryclub and will

offer activities for the young and old. I wish you

all a good tournament and a pleasant stay in

Hellevoetsluis.

May the best anglers win!

Aart Jan Spoon

Alderman sports and events

234

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CITTA ROMANA . .

WORLD

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WHEN IN

ROMANA ..

With 25 years of experience in hospitality, Città

Romana is the official event accommodation of the

WPC and offers a unique holiday resort where visitors

can relax and unwind after a good day’s fishing

236

Resort Città Romana is very

proud to still be the official event

accommodation for the World Predator

Classic 2022 in Hellevoetsluis. This year

after COVID-19 we hope to welcome

you all again for our Captain’s Dinner

to start the event!

This fishing event is growing every year.

More and more people are getting to know the

sport and now the competition has become

a household name for almost everyone in

Hellevoetsluis.

After a couple of years, people are now

starting to realise this is not just a fishing event,

but much more than that: it has become an

exciting international event for the whole of

Rotterdam! This is largely due to our special

fishing waters ideal for perch, pike and zander.

The strategic location of Resort Città

Romana, makes it the perfect base for a

fishing holiday and soon there is to be a

brand new jetty less than five minutes drive

away from the resort making it so much

easier to launch your boats. This is why

Resort Città Romana has been the official

event accommodation for quite a few years

now.

What can you find in Resort Città Romana?

The Resort is spread over 16.3 hectares, with

small lakes that run between the holiday

homes. People that have stayed with us have

said it’s an idyllic, quiet and peaceful place.

There are 5 different types of holiday

homes, that have been completely

refurbished over the last few years.

Furthermore, every holiday home has its own

free Wi-Fi and free satellite TV and a lovely

garden to enjoy the good weather.

This year we celebrate our 25th

anniversary, so we have enough experience

to give you a fantastic holiday experience.

In the central building of the Resort you

will find our reception, a heated indoor

swimming pool and a private sauna (which

PROUD SPONSOR OF THE WPC

is free to use as a guest), a cosy pub (Tony’s)

and the restaurant (Duinhoek), which features

a beautiful terrace next to the water. Other

facilities include a beauty salon and a massage

studio for extra relaxation. For children we

have an outside playground and entrance to

an indoor play centre free of charge.

We wish you all the best of luck with this

year’s World Predator Classic event and a

wonderful stay with us at Resort Citta Romana!

n If you would like to know more about

our resort or make a reservation, you can

send an e-mail to info@cittaromana.com.

If you would like to keep updated of our

Resort and Restaurant, please follow the

following accounts:

l Instagram: @resort_citta_romana

l Facebook: @CittaRomana

l Instagram: @restaurant_duinhoek

WORLD

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WORLD

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WELCOME TO

BOOTE CAMP

Imagine the fishing holiday of your dreams – a beautiful

location, superb holiday home and your own boat

right at your fingertips ... sound to good to be true? At

Rheinlandboote we call it “Fishing 360 Degrees

Call us crazy – and many have – but

that's what we at RheinlandBoote are

all about – thinking out the box and

making dreams a reality.

What could be better than spending a

relaxing fishing holiday in Holland? A relaxing

fishing holiday in Holland, with your own boat

to drift where you choose, at your own pace,

that's what.

Add to that a beautiful holiday home in the

North or South of the Netherlands and we

believe you have the perfect scenario.

At RheinlandBoote, all we want is to offer

great experiences. And that can only happen

with the right people at your starboard and

port side.

We can offer the complete fishing

package. There's no need to have your own

boat to have a great fishing vacation. All our

travel-packages include modern, fully rigged

aluminum fishing boats.

We will also set you up with a beautiful

holiday home either in a marina or on a

excellent holiday park in either the north or

south of the Netherlands. Always with your

boat on spitting distance of your holiday home.

The perfect boat..

The requirements for the perfect fishing boat

are as individual as the fishing waters, it was

made for, the target fish and its owner. With

handpicked brands, we have the right boat for

every angler in our range:

PikeHunter & BassFusion:

Extra-solid, self-draining aluminum boats from

4 to 7 meters.

TrackerBoats:

welded aluminum boats from the USA

RHEINLANDBOOTE. . YOUR 360 DEGREE HOLIDAY

At RheinlandBoote,

all we want is

to offer great

experiences and

that happens with

the right people at

your starboard and

port side

NitroBoats:

High Performance Fiberglass Fishing Boats,

ready for tournament

RangerBoats:

Finely built and brilliantly thought out, in

aluminum & fiberglass

The most beautiful boats should only

have the best equipment. We sell and

install Lowrance, Garmin and Humminbird/

MinnKota electronics. And as Mercury-Partner,

we are certified experts for all outbordengines.

Fishing vacation with

accommodation and boat. .

You don’t necessarily have to own a boat.

Modern boats are always included in our

fishing trip-packages. If you want a fishing

vacation, just use them. We

operate our own holiday resorts with

houses, jetties and service for all aspects of

fishing in the north and south of Holland.

And of course, with a boat at the jetty in

front of the door!

Aluminum fishing boat rental:

In short: we operate one of the largest charter

fleets in the Netherlands for fishing boats in

several locations.

Guidance & seminars:

It doesn’t matter whether it’s training for a

sports boat license, short guidings on the most

beautiful fishing waters, lock- or sonar training.

In our workshops, we help where things get

stuck, where it makes sense and is fun.

Boat workshop:

In our workshop we assemble engines, offer

specialist service as a Mercury partner, and

install electronics from all major brands as an

approved company.

On the way to your next fishing trip? Simply

plan a stopover for an engine service,

We are ready to cast off and invite you to

join “Fishing 360 Degrees” n

239

CAST

Since its introduction in 1984, the

Quantum brand has been highly

regarded by predator anglers

around the world.

Products of this brand are thought

out to the smallest detail and are

always characterized by outstanding

qualities. Designed and engineered in

America, the land of predator anglers

and lovers of artificial lures!

The professional competence of

Quantum engineers is the basis for

more than 30 successful years in

the USA, the largest fishing market

in the world. Fishing professionals

with countless championship titles,

such as Kevin VanDam, who has

fished his entire successful career

with Quantum rods and reels, are

the impressive proof of the reliability

of our equipment when used on the

water - whenever it matters!

However, Quantum products

are also designed to meet the

needs of anglers worldwide: With

extensive and detailed expertise, an

independent team of technicians

and designers works in Europe every

day to develop new products: Rods,

reels, artificial lures and accessories

that cover all disciplines of modern

predator fishing.

Numerous product ideas are fused

together, every aspect is important

and every single basic material is

analyzed and extensively tested

before it reaches production. So

you can be sure that what you hold

in your hands is really the proven

Quantum quality and represents top

class fishing tackle.

CRANK

CATCH

Pelagic Shad Set HAIRY

Finally, they are here! Pelagic Shads are

now indispensable on the market and

for good reason. Many a monster

pike and even zander have

fallen to the Pelagic Shad.

So, why have we made

further improvements?

Simply because some situations called

for them! On heavily fished waters, small

changes in swimming action can make

the difference between a successful

day’s fishing or a drawing a blank. The

Hairy version is a classic of early vertical

fishing. Not only do zander find the frills

irresistible, many a big pike will also

succumb to the impulsive swimming

action. Ideal for mid-water fishing in

open water but also try this lure on the

bottom! An ace up your sleeve when the

fish are close to the bottom.


QUANTUM . . FOR THE PREDATOR ANGLER

WORLD

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JOINTED Minnow

Old but gold. This was the motto

for the development of the

JOINTED Minnow SR. A two-piece

wobbler with a very natural action.

In lengths of 5.5 and 8.5cm, almost

every common species can be

tempted to bite.

FAT Minnow DR

The FAT Minnow SR is a

crankbait, ideally suited to

targeting all species. At 4cm

long, the lure fits into the prey

spectrum of most silverfish

species, such as chub, orfe and

asp, but perch and pike will also

gladly take it. Suitable for use on

all waters and at all times of day

thanks to the optimal selection

of colours.

Crank N’ Blade

The Crank n Blade is a special breed of

crankbait. With its rear spinner blade, the

shallow runner creates large amounts of

pressure beneath the surface. The wobbler

is particularly attractive to trout and perch.

Pike and chub are also very partial to the

little wave maker. This makes the lure a

universal weapon that should be in every

tackle box.

Pelagic Shad Set PIN

Finally, they are here! Pelagic Shads

are now indispensable on the market

and for good reason. Many a monster

pike and even zander have fallen to

the Pelagic Shad. So, why have we

made further improvements?

Simply because some situations

called for them! On heavily fished

waters, small changes in swimming

action can make the difference

between a successful day’s fishing

or a drawing a blank. The Pin-Tail

is a secret weapon, particularly

for cautious fish, and will draw big

predators out of their lairs. Try

it out and you will be impressed.

FAT Minnow SR

The FAT Minnow SR is a

crankbait, ideally suited

to targeting all species.

At 4cm long, the lure fits

into the prey spectrum of most silverfish

species, such as chub, orfe and asp,

but perch and pike will also gladly take

it. Suitable for use on all waters and at

all times of day thanks to the optimal

selection of colours.

SLIM Minnow & SLIM MINNOW SR

The SLIM Minnow is a twitchbait par

excellence. The design perfectly imitates

the domestic prey of predators, making

it ideal for targeting all predator species.

The shallow runners can be retrieved

normally but these wobblers are also

ideal for twitching. With slight jerks of

the rod, the wobbler breaks out and

becomes extremely tantalising. The

optimal colour selection offers the

perfect option for all conditions, while

the striking eyes on the wobbler provide

additional attraction. You simply have to

try them.

241


QUANTUM . . FOR THE PREDATOR ANGLER

WORLD

PREDATOR

CLASSIC

CRANK, CAST, CATCH

Hypercast Light Lure

The Hypercast rod series has been

around for some time. We have

simply resurrected it and for good

reason. A superb rod series with a

fair price-performance ratio. The

Light Lure series covers all aspects

of light soft lure fishing. Whether

you’re using small shads or modern

techniques, such as drop-shotting

or a Carolina rig, these rods take it

all in their stride. What’s more, their

visuals are timeless and impressive.

Hypercast Medium Lure

The Medium Lure is the big brother

of the Light version and allows

even heavy lures to be used when

the situation requires them or

you’re targeting larger specimens.

This model also impresses with

high-quality components that are

unrivalled in this price category.

Hypercast

Spin & Jig

The Hypercast Spin&Jig rods are

the ideal partners when it comes

to fishing with wobblers, spoons or

soft lures. Anybody who doesn’t

believe a rod can cover such a

broad spectrum is not familiar with

Smoke S3 Plus Spinning

The popular Quantum flagship is

now available in a new S3 version.

This is not smoke and mirrors but a

hard-wearing, high-quality rod series of

the very highest order. Our rod engineers

put their hearts and souls into the

elaborate composition of the powerful

yet extremely fast rod blank, resulting in a

flawless end product. Designed to meet

the high demands of modern predator

fishing, the rod provides phenomenal

feedback in terms of the bottom features

of a water. Immediate bite indication

allows the angler to strike quickly, even

over long distances. It goes without

saying that the new S3 series comes with

the usual top-quality Fuji components

in two rod lengths and different casting

weight spectrums to cover the broad

scope of modern predator fishing.

The model series 35, 55 and 75 are

equipped with modern Fuji single-leg

rings and are designed exclusively

for modern methods of spin fishing.

Annoying top-heaviness is a thing

of the past thanks to the supplied

counterweights for balancing a wide

variety of reels. Whether you are

targeting pike, perch, asp or zander,

all modern predator anglers fishing for

these species can put their complete

faith in the Quantum Smoke S3 spinning

rod series. Design and technology of the

highest standard.

Smoke S3 Plus Drop Shot

New from our Smoke series. The name

stands for quality and that is exactly what

you can expect from the S3 Plus Drop

Shot. As the name suggests, the rod has

been specially designed for drop shot

fishing. The rod impresses with its ultrasensitive

tip action while maintaining a

powerful backbone thanks to lightweight

and robust core. The new standard for

drop shot fishing has been set.

Energy Extreme Jigging

Spin and Jigging Cast

The Energy rod series is as versatile as

the angler. All anglers have their own

expectations of their equipment and their

own visions of the perfect rod. A variety

of baitcaster and spinning models from

ultra-light to heavy offer the ideal rod

for every application. A high proportion

of carbon ensures plenty of sensitivity

combined with extreme stability. The

Kevlar components in the handle finish

off a classy rod, putting you at the cutting

edge of angling.

the Hypercast Spin&Jig. 243

WORLD

PREDATOR

CLASSIC


WORLD

WORLD PREDATOR PREDATOR CLASSIC 2021

CLASSIC

THE PRIDE &

JOY OF ‘21

They say very picture tells a story .. so here’s a small

snapshot of last year’s catch by WPC competitors

245

WORLD

PREDATOR

CLASSIC


WORLD

PREDATOR

CLASSIC

GARY PALMER. . HEAD MARSHAL OF THE WPC

WPC Head Marshal, GARY PALMER,

has year’s of experience as an angler

and competitor under his belt and this

know-how will ensure the success and

safety of the 2022 event

YOUR WPC HEAD

MARSHAL

246

GARY PALMER. . HEAD MARSHAL OF THE WPCS

Well, after two years of COVID 19 rules and

regulations I am sure everyone has had

enough of being told what they can and

cannot do. However, the rules are in place

to help you and all the other competitors

have a safe and fair competition. Please

ensure both competitors and the boat are

fully compliant with both Dutch and WPC

requirements.

First of all, I would like to welcome all

competitors to the World Predator Classic 2022 on

behalf of your marshalling team.

To get the best and really enjoy competing in

any major sporting event it is vitally important

to have confidence in your competition officials.

Whether that be the referee in the FIFA World Cup,

the umpire at the Wimbledon final or the Head

Marshal at the World Predator Classic. Having

officials that are experienced, knowledgeable, and

fair is of paramount importance.

I can assure you that as Head Marshal, I will

do everything in my power to ensure that the

World Predator Classic 2022 is an enjoyable and

extremely well-run competition.

A Bit About Your Head Marshal . .

Before we start getting into the rules and

regulations, I would first like to introduce myself.

My name is Gary Palmer, I’m sure some of

you will already recognise me from previous

competitions as Head Marshal or you may

remember that I myself, have competed back in

2016 at the World Predator Classic with my boat

partner Hans Ruigrok. During which I managed to

catch the longest Pike of the competition.

I am sure you will appreciate that as a former

competitor I understand and can see the

competition from a competitor’s point of view as

well as the organiser’s.

Having fished from the age of 5, over the

years I have covered all disciplines in angling

from float fishing on local waters to fishing for

Nile Perch in Eqypt. For the last 18 years or so, I

have been a dedicated lure angler during which

time I was selected for the Team England in the

World Championships. I make my living as a full

time Angling Guide and Consultant, alongside

this as well as competing I also run UK based

competitions including The World Predator Classic

England Qualifier, Perchmania and Zandermania

all of which are held on Grafham Water usually with

both boat teams and kayaks competing.

The Main Event . .

A huge amount of time and effort is put into an

event such as the WPC and this preparation will pay

dividends once the competition starts.

The weeks leading up to the main event are

both exciting and important for both organisers

and competitors, this is especially true for team

Captains. In my opinion the most important job

of all is to understand the rules as knowledge of

the water, well organised tackle and great boat

handling technique will count for nothing if you are

disqualified.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind

all Captains that it is your responsibility to

fully understand and comply with all rules and

restricted areas, speed limits, signs and buoys as

stated in Dutch law etc. Any boat receiving a ticket

for breaching any of the rules of the water including

speeding will receive an automatic Red Card. Please

do not ask either myself or any of my marshalling

team about buoys, restricted zones etc.

Boat Safety . .

From experience I know that the waters

immediately outside the marina can get very

choppy, so safety is of paramount importance.

Every boat without exception must have the

following items in their boat safety kit;

n One or more paddles or oars.

n Appropriate anchor which is secured to your

boat with a minimum of 30m rope.

n A foghorn or acoustic warning device.

n A bailer or manually operated water pump.

n An approved dry chemical fire extinguisher.

n An emergency ignition shut off device.

n A towing rope with pull strength of 500kg+

and a fixed tow ring.

n 10 litres of spare fuel.

n A first aid kit.

All boats will be checked whilst on the water

daily by the marshalling team and no one will be

permitted to leave the harbour without being 100%

compliant.

Finally, rules are rules, it is your responsibility to

ensure you have them, have read and understood

them and to comply with them.

Best of luck to all, tights lines and may the

fishing gods smile on you!

Getting it right!

How to Photograph your catch

Any pictures of fish that are not in the

following format will be disallowed

n All fish must be placed on the official

measure supplied

n Ensure the tip of the nose is against

the stop bar right flank down

n Measure to the TIP of the tail

n Ensure security tags are shown

n Make sure that the complete fish can

be seen in the picture

The golden rule is, take your time

and double check that everything is

correct and visible before sending.

8

8

Wrong: Both head and tail must

be fully shown in picture

Very wrong: Treat the fish with

respect ... there should be no blood

4Right: It’s not that difficult!

Be prepared ... the

marshals will

check your boat

every morning, so

make sure you have

everything required

and on show

WORLD

PREDATOR

CLASSIC

WORLD

PREDATOR

CLASSIC

CAPE HELIUS

MARINA

OFFICIAL MARINA OF THE

CAPE HELIUS MARINA . . PROUD SPONSOR OF THE WPC

Our first encounter with Ross Honey

was when he had decided he wanted

to hold the World Predator Classic here

at Cape Helius Marina, Hellevoetsluis.

Back then, we had absolutely no idea

what to expect, but as he began telling us

his plans for the competition with such

excitement and enthusiasm, we couldn’t

help but get excited about the prospect of

such festivities too, so we said ‘yes’, very

quickly.

As the first WPC event kicked off, we were

so impressed with the organisation of the

event, the boats and the enthusiasm of all

the competitors, which created a real buzz

around the marina.

This perfect combination of

professionalism and enthusiasm ensures

that we are always excited to welcome the

World Predator Classic to our every year.

Ever since the World Predator Classic

started, we have welcomed more and

more enthusiastic “Anglers from all around

Europe”, almost all year round.

Our port has exactly the all the right

facilities for anglers, their boats and their

berths. The Roompot Holiday Park Cape

Helius is located on the shore at our Marina.

Many Anglers rent a house or apartment

here, bringing their boats them fish in the

Haringvliet.

In the run-up to this year’s World

Predator Classic, many participants have

already visited our Marina and have already

picked their best spot. We hope that the fish

will still be swimming in July!

We are very happy that the World

Predator Classic now returns annually to our

Marina and we wish the organization and

certainly the participants “Happy Fishing”.

This year will be a another great event.

249

Streetfishing is an upcoming type of

fishing that breaks with the general idea

that non-fishermen have about fishing.

The WPC is proof that fishing is more

than just an activity for retired people.

Same way with Streetfishing!

Streetfishing is fishing for predator fish in an

urban setting. It began in Paris, where, unless

you had the means to travel to the lakes and

rivers miles outside the city – which was difficult

for youngsters – the Seine was your only option.

And surprisingly this river is excellent habitat

for predator fish. It wasn’t unusual to catch big

zander, perch and even 2 meter + catfish! Hence,

streetfishing was born.

Initially, other anglers, tackle shops and

fishing publications were surprised, if not

sceptical, to find out how many predator fish

could be caught in the canals and marinas in The

Netherlands. But once they saw how many fish

were caught and how delicate the technique was,

all of them were soon convinced that this could

be a fast growing market in fishing.

Nowadays, almost all brands have developed

special lures and terminal tackle for this kind of

fishing and tackle shops have allocated a special

departments for the sport.

The first World Streetfishing Classic event

took place in Hellevoetsluis as a side competition

of the World Predator Classic, back in 2014.

Over 70 competitors took part and such was

the success that number rose to over 160 the

following year saw .. we even had participants

from Japan!

In the first couple years, very few fish were

caught because of the high temperature during

this period in June. So, to increase the chance of

catching more, it was decided that fishing during

the evening and night would give better results.

Now, the World Street Fishing event is fished

over two days; Friday evening and a one day

session on the Saturday. This of course means

rethinking yout tactivs slightly – for example,

what are the hotspots during feeding hours

of zander during these times? Work this out

and your chances of finishing in the top 10 are

achievable. Do well on the Saturday and the

Trophy could be yours!

URBAN

LEGENDS

OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, STREET FISHING’S BROUGHT


WORLD STREET FISHING CLASSIC

WSF

A WHOLE NEW COOL TO THE ANGLING WORLD 251

WORLD STREET FISHING CHAMPIONS

252


ONE CAST

WSF

CAN CHANGE

EVERYTHING!

Street Fishing Champion,

Jamie Parkin’s, has a

philosophy in life ... never to

give up. This served him well

last year when he made the

decision to go it alone

Hi, my name is Jamie Parkins, I’m from

Gutenberg near Bad Kreuznach in Germany

and I’m 31 years old. My passion for fishing

started in the USA in 2013 and then I got my

fishing license in 2014.

By the end of 2018, I discovered spin and street

fishing and ever since then, any spare chance I

get, I’ll grab my rods and head out to the city’s

rivers. Having two children can make this a llittle

difficult, so I wait until the family’s asleep – that’s

why I can usually be found by the water at night,

tracking for pike and perch.

Actually, I was registered for the WSF 2020

together with a friend, but due to Corona and

all the postponements we had to cancel. A week

before the WSF 2021 tournament started, I called

my friend and asked if he would like to join me this

time, but unfortunately he couldn’t make it. For

some reason, I had this strong sense that I had to

go, so I signed up on my own ... that turned out to

be a good decision!

How I won the World Street Fishing Classic

is a good question. I never gave up, even when

nothing worked at all on the first day. First I lost a

WSF

ONE CAST CAN

CHANGE EVERYTHING

JAMIE PARKINS, WSF CHAMPION 2021

fat perch and then a zander. Far from a good fishing

day. Anyone who has ever fished at a tournament

knows that desperate desire for the first fish, the main

thing is not to.

Having said that, the second day wasn’t looking so

good either, but then that moment arrived when the

fish seemed keen and I was able to catch one after the

other. Having caught 9 in total, l was eager to head

for the starting point quite early, because I there were

some issues uploading the pictures.

My year as WSF Champion has been great so far ..

thanks to winning the title, I was approached by Team

Herakles Germany and after a few talks and a nice day

on the water, at the end of last year I was lucky enough

to become a part of their team.

You’ll be hearing and seeing a lot more of me this

year – at least that’s the plan! And if you’re interested,

you can follow my antics on Instagram @ borntocatch_

jamie. Basically where, how and what I’ve fished.

My goals for the future are definitely to improve my

fishing and still learn a lot. And at some point take part

in the WPC and win, but first I should probably get a

boat! I hope to see you at the WSF Tight Lines in 2022

Hi Mein Name ist Jamie Parkins, ich komme

aus Gutenberg Nähe Bad Kreuznach in

Deutschland und bin 31 Jahre alt.

Ich hab meine Leidenschaft fürs Angeln 2013 in

den USA entdeckt und dann 2014 den Angelschein

gemacht. Seid Ende 2018 habe ich dann das

Spinnfischen/Streetfishing für mich entdeckt und

seid dem probiere ich es so oft wie es geht loszugehen.

Da ich 2 Kinder haben gestaltet sich das nicht immer

leicht, aber auch das ist ein Grund warum ich meistens

Nachts am Wasser anzutreffen bin und den Zandern

Nachstelle. Wen meine Familie schläft Ziehe ich los.

Eigentlich war ich zusammen mit einem Freund

für die WSF 2020 angemeldet, aber durch Corona und

die ganzen Verschiebungen hatten wir uns komplett

abgemeldet. Eine Woche vor Tunier beginn, rief ich

meinen Freund an und fragte, ob er nicht doch Lust

hätte, mit mir auf die WSF zu gehen, er verneinte.

Da ich so ein Gefühl hatte, dass ich unbedingt dahin

muss, meldete ich mich alleine an. Wie sich später ja

rausstellte war es eine gute Idee XD.

Wie ich die WSF gewonnen habe, ist eine gute Frage

Ich habe nie aufgegeben, auch wenn es am 1. Tag

gar nicht funktioniert hat zuerst einen fetten barsch

verloren und dann auch noch ein Zander der 1 tage

war alles andere als ein guter Angeltag. Und jeder der

mal so auf einem Tunier schonmal gefischt hat hofft

einfach auf den ersten Fisch Hauptsache nicht OF.

Am 2 Tage sah es erst auch nicht so gut aus, aber dann

Kamm der Zeitpunkt wo die Fische Lust hatten und

ich konnte einen Fisch nach dem anderen Fangen.

Insgesamt hatte ich nachher 9 Rapfen gefangen und

ging voller Aufregung schon recht früh zum Startpunkt,

weil es ein paar Probleme mit dem Hochladen der

Bilder gab.

Bis jetzt war mein Jahr als Champion echt gut.

Durch den Sieg der WSF wurde Herakles Germany auf

mich aufmerksam und nach ein paar Gesprächen und

einem schönen Tag am Wasser bin ich seit Ende letzten

Jahres im Team von Herakles Germany. Ab diesem

Jahr wird man mehr von mir hören und sehen, das ist

zumindest mal der Plan Instagram borntocatch_jamie.

Was ich gemacht hab, soviel Zeit wie es geht am Wasser

verbracht XD,

Tipps: Fahrt zum Trainieren und ihr solltet euch

unbedingt das UL fischen angewöhnen und trainieren.

Ich als Rheinangler mache das nicht wirklich oft und

werde probieren mir das dieses Jahr noch besser

anzueignen XD. In Frankreich beißen die Fische

einfach anders. Ein weiterer Tipp “Never Give UP,one

Cast can Change everthing“. Nur ein Köder der im

Wasser ist, kann auch fangen. Ich war jetzt 2 Mal auf

der WSF und leider hat man immer sehr viele Leute

gesehen, die sehr schnell aufgeben kann, aber vielleicht

verpasst man genau in dem Moment die beisphase.

Meine Ziele für die Zukunft sind aufjedfall mich

anglerisch zu verbessern und noch viel zu lernen.

Und irgendwann mal bei der WPC mitmachen und

gewinnen, aber erstmal sollte ich schauen, dass ich ein

Boot bekomme. XDXD

Ich hoffe, das man sich 2022 bei der WSF sieht Tight

Lines

n JAMIE PARKINS

Anyone who has ever fished at a tournament knows that

desperate desire for the first fish .. the main thing is not to

Jamie’s top tips . .

Practising is super

important, especially when

you’re using Ultra Light

fishing gear.

As a Rhine angler, I

don’t train as often as I’d

like to, but this year I’m

determined to practise

more and improve my

skills. In France, the fish

just bite differently.

Another tip: “Never Give

UP! One Cast can Change

everthing”. Only a bait

that’s in the water can

catch. I’ve been to the

WSF twice now and sadly

I’ve seen a lot of people

just give up very quickly –

but maybe you’re going to

miss the Beiphase right at

that moment.

WSF


WORLD STREET FISHING . . HOST CITY

METZ:

THE GREEN

CITY

Le Temple Neuf ... a romanesque

revival church on the Petit-Saulcy

river island, just down from the

Place de la Comédie

As a ‘basin of urban ecology’,

with leafy promenades along

the Moselle and Seille rivers,

there’s no doubt that Metz is the

ideal venue to host the World

Street Fishing event

256

The administrative centre of France’s

new Grand Est region, Metz, has been

a base of power for more than 2,000

years.

The city has been an ancient Celtic

fortified town, an important Gallo-Roman

city, the Merovingian capital of Austrasia, the

cradle of the Gregorian chant and one of the

oldest republics in Europe. It’s a city steeped

in romantic culture and due to its location,

greatly influenced by German culture.

In ancient times, the town was known as

“city of Mediomatrici”, being inhabited by the

tribe of the same name. After its integration

into the Roman Empire, the city was called

Divodurum Mediomatricum – meaning Holy

Village or Holy Fortress of the Mediomatrici –

then it was known as Mediomatrix. But it was

during the 5th century AD, the name evolved

to “Mettis”, which gave rise to Metz.

As a basin of urban ecology, today Metz

has gained the nickname of ‘The Green

City’, thanks to its extensive open grounds,

public gardens and boasts one of the largest

commercial pedestrian areas in France.

Because of this historical, cultural, and

architectural background, its no surprise

that Metz is now listed on France’s UNESCO

World Heritage Tentative List.

The city features noteworthy buildings

Wonderful city

with wonderful

specimens

The tourist city Metz, on the Moselle

river, is a favourite of visitors from

all over Europe who come to see the

wonderful architecture of churches,

basilicas and fortifications.

The pride of this historic city is

Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains. one of the

oldest churches in Europe and Metz

Cathedral located in the city’s centre.

However, what anglers are most

interested in is its ubiquitous water

and fish species, that you don’t find

everywhere in other European

countries. Among the urban, old

streets and cafes, you have access to

water – great canals and rivers. Dams,

spillways, wild rivers and its quieter

banks are perfect conditions for chubs,

very large chubs, that can be found

here in the centre and big asp all year

round.

These are predators that require

knowledge, patience from the angler

and the appropriate preparation of the

equipment, such as Dragon Fishing

Equipment with excellent Dragon

Flash and Dragon Z-series rods.

The infrastructure and diversity of

water that we encounter in Metz allows

us to catch other predators here, such

as pike, perch, zander and catfish.

So, not only is it the perfect place for

visiting tourists, but also for those of us

who prefer a fishing rod in hand and

chasing beautiful specimens.

n Adrian Pron

Team Dragon Nederland

such as the Gothic Saint-Stephen Cathedral,

with its largest expanse of stained-glass

windows in the world; the Basilica of Saint-

Pierre-aux-Nonnains – being the oldest

church in France; its Imperial Station Palace

which displays the apartment of the German

Kaiser and its Opera House, the oldest one in

France that’s still use today.

The Cour d’Or museum, which

illuminates eastern France’s late-antiquity

and early middle ages, will help you to come

to terms with the time when the Merovingian

kings of Austrasia ruled their kingdoms from

this city.

WSF


WORLD STREET FISHING . . HOST CITY

You’ll notice that Metz’s historic buildings

have a singular appearance ... that’s because

they’re made with Jaumont limestone,

mined in the Moselle area and imbued

with a yellowy tone by the iron oxide in the

rock. On sunny days the city is quite literally

lustrous! Wander the avenues and gardens

where the old walls used to be and get some

modern culture at the Pompidou centre.

So, if you should find yourself with any

spare time during the World Street Fishing

event, why not check out some of the great

landmarks, restaurants and bars the city has

to offer. Here’s a few suggestions ...

Metz Cathedral

Constructed across more than 300 years

from 1220 to 1552, Metz’s cathedral is one

of the tallest in Europe, with breathtaking

vaults in the nave soaring to 42 metres.

With more stained glass than any

other cathedral in the world the building

has earned the name, “La Lanterne

du Bon Dieu” (the Lord’s Lantern). The

windows have been created by gothic

and renaissance master glassmakers, as

well as the modern artists Marc Chagall

and Jacques Villon. Adding to this sense of

radiance is the yellow Jaumont limestone,

which makes the cathedral seem bright,

even on dull winter days.

Centre-Pompidou Metz

Metz made history in 2010 when it

unveiled the first satellite of the Pompidou

centre in Paris. The building is the work

of three architects, Shigeru Ban, Jean de

Gastines and Philip Gumuchdijan and

easily recognised for its outline, meant to

resemble a Chinese bamboo hat.

Exhibits in the vast galleries are all

temporary or semi-temporary, with

landmark shows along with “Beacons”,

a revolving array of painting, sculpture,

photography and illustration from the

enormous collection of the National

Museum of Modern Art in Paris. Think

Picasso, Fernand Léger, Joseph Beuys,

Joan Miró, Anish Kapoor and so forth.

Place Saint-Louis

The west side of this medieval square in the

old centre is one long terrace of renaissance

houses over a handsome arcade. The arches

are more reminiscent of somewhere like

Tuscany than eastern France, and show how

well the city was doing for itself in the middle

ages.

Back then many of these buildings would

have been occupied by early bankers from

Lombard in Italy, which explains the design

On number five you can spot the engraving

of a hand. Apparently, this was the house of

a glover who, after winning a legal dispute

against a German, got permission from

the city to put an ornamental hand on his

building.

Gare de Metz

The city’s train station is preserved as an

historic monument and was also built during

Metz’s German era.

A bit of culture ... The Gare de

Metz, Centre-Pompidou Metz,

the city’s magnificent cathedral

and Port des Allemands

It’s a wondrous building, ordered by

Wilhelm II and designed in the Rhenish

romanesque revival style. Rumour has it that

Wilhelm himself drew up the plans for the

clock-tower, which has a sculpture of the

Frankish knight Roland to represent German

imperial protection over the city.

The station was designed to be able to

move large numbers of troops quickly, and

its arrivals hall resembles a Holy Roman

palace, which was of course no coincidence

either.

Another fun fact is that the SNCF offices

are now in Wilhelm II’s private apartments.

A taste of Metz..

Covered Market

Thanks to the French Revolution

Metz may have the grandest

covered market in France.

The building was begun in the

1760s and intended as the Episcopal

Palace. But after the Revolution

at the end of that century it was

repurposed as the market after

plans to turn it into the courthouse

fell through.

The market is open from Tuesday

to Saturday, and on the latter a large

assortment of stalls fill this side of the

cathedral square.

Along with stalls selling a tantalising

range of cheeses, charcuterie,

pastries, fruit and vegetables, there

are small eateries for lunch, some

serving classic moselle specialities

and others selling international food

like pizza.

Porte des

Allemands

Spanning the Seille to the east of

the old centre, the magnificent

Porte des Allemands is the last

remaining castle bridge in France

and the greatest piece of Metz’s old

fortifications.

It is essentially a gate with two

sets of towers: Angular, crenellated

ones facing towards the east and the

South in the distance, and circular

ones on the city side. The structure

is named after the Teutonic Order of

knights who had founded a hospice

at that time on the adjacent street.

The gate is the climax of the

“Circuit des Remparts”, a walking tour

that shows you round the remaining

pieces of Metz’s walls.

La Cour d’Or

Museum

In a group of buildings that includes

the historic former Petities Carmes

Abbey, are three museums

giving you the clearest picture of

Metz’s glorious Gallo-Roman and

Merovingian past, as well as its

culture since then. The museum

ensemble is named after the palace

in which the Austrasian Kings reigned

and is an often bewildering maze of

chambers and passageways, leading

you to unforgettable artefacts, like

the 7th-century sculpted chancel

from Saint Pierre-aux-Nonnains, or

historic architecture in situ, like the

Roman baths in the basement.

There’s also a fine arts gallery

devoted to the Metz School in the

19th century.

Le Temple Neuf

Another landmark created in the

decades of German control is this

romanesque revival church on the Petit-

Saulcy river island, just down from the

Place de la Comédie.

Le Temple Neuf is where Metz’s

protestant congregation comes to

worship and is constructed with a dark

grey sandstone, giving it a completely

different feel to the city’s older

monuments, made with yellowy Jaumont

limestone.

At night the church’s arcade openings

emit light like large lanterns, and the view

of the Le Temple Neuf reflected in the

water from Pont Moyen is now one of

Metz’s unmistakeable sights.

Local Cuisine

You can’t talk about food in Metz

without first mentioning Quiche

Lorraine, a pastry pie made with

eggs, crème fraîche and bacon.

The earliest mention of this dish

dates to the beginning of the

17th century and it was originally

made with emmentale cheese,

which still appears in some

varieties.

The German influence is clear in

Potée, a cabbage stew simmered

Esplanade

These marvellous gardens also follow

the course of Metz’s old defences, on

the site of a vast ditch filled in after the

citadel was pulled down in 1816.

In these French gardens with geometric

lawns and hedges trimmed to right

angles you can look out to Mont Saint-

Quentin, climbing to the west of the city.

The Esplanade is the life and soul of

Metz’s city celebrations; During carnival

time the fair takes place in the Esplanade

in February and March, and then the

Mirabelle Fair is here in late-summer.

And at Christmas there’s a skating rink

set up next to Avenue Ney.

for hours and served with

sausage and boiled potatoes.

The damson and mirabelle

plums grown in the countryside

appear not just in tarts, brandies

and jams, but also some of the

charcuterie made in the Lorraine

region.

Paris-Metz, is a small, brightlycoloured

cake made of

macarons and has been made

following the same recipe since

1854. Well worth a try!

You can’t talk about

food in Metz without

mentioning the Quiche

Lorraine, which dates

back to the 17th

Century

What a relief ... Bas reliefs

of Tauroctony at the

La Cour d’Or Museum,

259

WSF

STREET

INSPIRATION

Tostedt. The so-called street fishing craze is

currently on everyone’s lips and maybe even the

big trend in the fishing scene of the coming decade.

Anglers love street fishing because it allows them

to pursue their hobby in a simple way and without

much effort, and at nearby urban fishing spots. All

you need is a short rod, handy and light luggage -

and fire away!

The trend is now catching anglers from many

European cities, so it was obvious that Quantum

now offers a tailor-made product range - tailored

exactly to the needs of these sportsfishers! Under

the “4street” label, the street fishing enthusiast will

find the optimal products which will enable them to

fish in this modern way.

For example, extravagant spinning rods, made

from the highest quality materials. Catchy baits such

as softbaits made of Japanese eco-friendly material

(EFM) and tungsten-made components such as jig

heads and bullet weights are all the rage due to their

ecological sustainability. A well designed luggage

range is not only chic, but allows the angler to fish

long stretches with light luggage. The terminal tackle

section is designed to produce catchy rigs, such as

the Carolina or Texas rig, to ensure catching success

even on heavily fished waters. The articles will be

available from mid-May.

n And here’s where you can find 4street:

Facebook: facebook.com/4streetfishing

Instagram: instagram.com/4street_fishing

After the first year of sponsorship, in

2018, SAKURA became more involved

and is now an official partner of the

World Predator Classic and World Street

Fishing trails.

The organization and the mobilization

of the cities around WPC/WFS international

fishing events are simply incredible and

unpublished! The amazing work of Angling

Spirit team and the volunteers who

participate to the success of the WPC/WFS is

impressive. Having participated in many lure

fishing competitions in France and abroad

(USA, Spain, Italy) since the 90s, I know how

difficult it is to organize a fishing tournament!

SAKURA, French brand, develops its

own collections of rods, reels, high-end

monofilaments and braided lines and lures.

We also offer a wide range of fishing luggage

and accessories since 2005. We work in our

office located in the suburbs of Bordeaux

(France) to offer anglers high quality material

at an affordable price. At Sakura, we’ve all

been anglers since childhood. so we know

perfectly well the current needs and we are

always trying to launch future trends, which

will help anglers catch more big fish whatever

the conditions. Our products are available all

over Europe and overseas as well.

The last two seasons have been very

prolific in terms of new products, both in

terms of rods and lures. There is plenty of

choice and the participants in the WSF rounds

had the chance to test some of them thanks

to the Welcome Bags samples that we had

offered to them during their registration!

Here’s a brief overview of the main 2022

products that could interest the street

fishermen.

We wish good luck to the WFS competitors

and send all our support to the organizers.

n Franck ROSMANN

Sakura product Manager

n For those who would like to know more

about our range, feel free to visit our website

www.sakura-fishing.com and follow us on

Facebook and Instagram social networks.

SAKURA:

SETTING

THE TREND

ICONIC RS Series

The new Iconic RS lure rods will delight fans of

Sakura rods, who know that, even more than

for our other series, we particularly refine our

top-of-the-range models to offer you, each

time, real aesthetic jewels with a very neat

design. From the first cast, these new Iconic

RS rods will reveal themselves to you as highperformance

instruments that will amplify your

sensations by living your passion to the fullest!

This new series is constituted by 4 casting

rods and 8 spinning rod and has been made

with Mitsubishi Japan Carbon in 36T and 40T

modulus. All the equipment (reel seats, SiC

Slim guides with titanium K-Frame) comes

from Fuji.

Light tackle spinning reel FURYO FD

This spinning reel has received our full

attention in their design and construction. Its

cosmetics are classy and refined and they

are equipped with high quality mechanics,

mounted on sealed Japanese stainless-steel

bearings. Equipped with a frame and a rotor

made of Carbon-Titanium FLC composite, the

Furyo reel is remarkably light. Compact, it’s


SAKURA .. OFFICIAL PARTNER OF THE WPC

WSF

Slit Shad Evo:

Soft swimbait shad

3.3” (85 mm) and 4” (105 mm).

Years after years it’s still standing!

Naturally shaped, the Slit Shad

EVO has an almost triangular

section body whose flat back is

split lengthwise to hide the tip of

the hook when it’s Texas or Carolina

rigged or to correctly center a jig

head hook. A belly groove, ideally

proportioned, is also arranged to

facilitate the sliding of the offset

hooks during hooking, without

harming the maintenance of the

hook during the animation, including

during the passages in force

through obstacles or in “skipping”.

The paddle tail of the Slit Shad

Evo is thin and flat with an ovoid

shape which gives it immediate

action, even at very low speed. By

increasing the rate of recovery, the

pulsations of the tail will amplify and

propagate powerful low-frequency

waves, which can be detected at

a great distance. This evolutionary

mobility is the superiority of the

Slit Shad Evo because it maintains

impeccable stability in all situations.

Sakura Sensibraid

8X Vertical braided line

This new high-end braided line is

dedicated to vertical and finesse

lure fishing for perch and zander.

It also can be used in salt water.

This sinking braided line is available

in eight strands and has a dark

grey color with white marks every

single meter and red marks every 5

meters. The ultra-tight weave with

central core allows obtaining a new

profile, much rounder and smoother,

but above all, it improves by 40% its

resistance to abrasion and knot!

robust and silent. Its meticulous design and

high-precision mechanics give it surprisingly

smooth rotation and power. Available in size

809 FD and 2009 FD – 8+1 stainless and

corrosion proof bearings – Gear ratio 5.3:1 –

Aluminum shallow spare spool for braid line.

Sakura Soukouss Blade:

45 mm (10,5 g) – 50 mm (14 g) - Sinking.

Soukouss Blade is a “metal vibration” or “blade”

type metal lure developed by SAKURA with

high quality materials and finish and features

that make it effective under all conditions of

use. It is an excellent lure for vertical fishing

(rear dorsal attachment point) around docks

or for fast retrieves. When you need to do “run

and gun” fishing, the front dorsal attachment

point is the best, thanks to a perfect balance

and a rather attractive oscillation during of the

descent. The two double hooks have a specific

opening angle to allow quick and efficient

hooking while give a snagless capacity to the

must-have lure.

Our tests with the Soukouss blade gave

excellent results with a vertical and slow

presentation during winter and autumn, while

a faster and linear animation was ideal for

flushing out active predators throughout the

season.

Tungsten terminal tackle range:

Recently introduced in our range of

accessories, the jig heads and the Sakura

tungsten sinkers will allow you to create

finesse and eco-friendly rigs for fishing

with our soft lures. Bullets, drop shot

weights, round and wacky jig heads,

nothing is missing to offer you even more

efficiency.

WORLD

PREDATOR

CLASSIC


WORLD

PREDATOR

CLASSIC

JUST FOR LAUGHS. . EVERY ONE A CLASSC!

“That’s right, IT’S ROSS HONEY. OVER. I WANT TWO

CHAPATIS, TWO LAMB BHUNA, SIDE OF VEG PAKORA AND

A PESHWARI NAAN. OVER. YES, RICE. COPY THAT. OVER”

Just then, it occured to team Well Plumbed, that maybe

they should have done the trip in two runs

OH MAN! THAT WIERD GUY ON THE HORSE IS BACK

After that shoot, the

modelling agencies

just stopped calling

THEY JUST SAT THERE .. LIKE

DUCKS OUT OF WATER

OH FOR GOD’S SAKE WILLEM ..

JUST TAKE THE HAT OFF!

THE VISION..

THE REALITY

An air of excitement filled the bivvy camp .. Vivienne

Westwood had just revealed her new ‘FISHING’ line

Ah am a

profashonal chef ...

dees arrr cooked to

parfection

264

When photoshoots go wrong!

AS HARD AS HE TRIED, NOBODY REALLY SEEMED THAT IMPRESSED

BY NIGEL’S BREAD-SCULPTING DEMONSTRATION..

..and it came out of

the water, in the box,

just like this?!

PRIVACY AT BIVVY CAMP

BECAME A SLIGHT ISSUE

This is what happens when you

don’t do suncream Ardy!

UNFORTUNATELY, THE ‘WHO CAN FIT THEIR HEAD INTO THIS TINY BUCKET’ GAME DIDN’T WORK OUT THAT WELL FOR GÜNTER

a look at the

funny side

Worryingly, when the Spinnaker

generator went down, Ross assured

everyone he had it in control!

THE FULLER MONTY

Loving the attention, Karel didn’t notice Vladim face-planking it!

2022 World OF Angling Spirit

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