The world's biggest fishing hook?

Is this £180 hook the biggest in the world?

It's a 27/0 Mustad circle pattern and was designed for use on the National Geographic Channel's TV show 'Shark Men'. Not surprisingly it's used to target great white sharks, the most feared predator in oceans around the globe.

Pictured with one of the hooks is Stuart Newell who bought one as a Christmas present to himself, at £180 plus P & P. He has a limited supply available at www.surreyandhampshiretackle.co.uk. 

At this price you wouldn't want to lose one in a snag!  

Apply for share of cash windfall

Anglers are to benefit from another huge cash windfall as more money from rod licence sales is pumped back into the sport.
Clubs, commercials and fishing charities can apply for a share of the £400,000 being made available through the Angling Improvement Fund (AIF).
The fund, which has already channelled £1.3 million of rod licence money into projects that have directly benefited angling organisations and their waters, is being administered by the Angling Trust on behalf of the Environment Agency.
Those who wish to be considered for a slice of the £400,000 have until January, 17, 2017 to apply.
“The Angling Improvement Fund is just one way we use rod licence money to work with partners for the benefit of fishing,” said Sarah Chare, Head of Fisheries at the Environment Agency .
“This latest pot of funding is the largest yet, bringing the total awarded this year to £600,000, so thank you to all those anglers who get behind their sport and buy a licence.
“There is a wide range of categories for fisheries to consider applying for, from winter maintenance and improvement of fisheries to predation management and the training of volunteers.”
The AIF has already helped fund 119 angling projects since its launch in 2015, and the Angling Trust will shortly be announcing the winners of this year’s spring round of funding, focused on access improvements for disabled anglers.
“This increase in funding is another big step forward in our programme of work to improve fish and fishing,” said Angling Trust CEO Mark Lloyd.
“With more funds coming from the rod licence over the coming year, and membership of the Angling Trust & Fish Legal growing, the future looks bright.”

Britain's biggest carp denied official record

Britain’s largest carp will not be ratified as an official record because it is a “cultivated fish”.

That is the ruling of the British Record Fish Committee after the mirror known as Big Rig was caught at 69lb 3oz by Tom Doherty at the Avenue in Shropshire.

“It’s a very uneducated decision”

— Rob Hales, Avenue boss

The committee decided the fish had been “grown under an artificial feeding regime close to a weight close to or exceeding the existing species record”. It has subsequently been caught at 71lb 4oz and that weight will not take the record either.

Avenue boss Rob Hales told Angling Times this morning it is a “very uneducated decision”.

He said: “It’s very predictable and I’m not at all surprised. I think that they (BRFC) don’t fully understand the carp-fishing/fishery/growing-fish business. It’s a very uneducated decision. All big carp in this country and elsewhere only get to those weights because they eat high-protein boilies.

“I gather they (BRFC) say it wouldn’t have reached this weight in the natural environment – but the fish is a fish, not a robot.”

BRFC chairman Mike Heylin told Angling Times the fish may still be able to break the record in future.

He said: “I don’t think it’s ruled out forever. If it came out at 85lb and had put on a significant weight in the fishery itself – assuming the fishery isn’t being regularly fed huge amounts of bait – I don’t see why we would be necessarily excluding it forever.”

Rob Hales said: “That’s very interesting. I actually think Big Rig will make 85lb, so it’s a challenge I’m willing to accept. I feed my fish to stop them getting hungry, you can’t force food down their throats.

“In my opinion, whilst it was a predictable decision, I think they’re only delaying the inevitable.”

Mike Heylin confirmed the carp record still exists and would not be split into cultivated and un-cultivated lists. He added: “I’m happy with the outcome, happy we did all we could to look at all the evidence to see if it could be accepted under our terms of reference.

“It’s an awesome piece of fishing, Tom must be over the moon to catch it – I know I would be.”

Help fence out otters

Embryo Angling Habitats has created a non-profit-making calendar, proceeds from which will go to build otter fences around fisheries that cannot afford them.

 The Pioneering fishery improvement organisation, founded by Korda Tackle boss Danny Fairbrass, has vowed to put £7 from each calendar sold into a scheme that will see numerous struggling angling clubs and not-for-profit syndicates benefit from additional protection from predators. 

Speaking exclusively to Angling Times, Danny said: “The threat from otter predation is increasing every year, and more and more historic waters are being ruined with the loss of their prized fish. 

“We aim to stop this and reverse the downward trend in available fishing. 

“No-one involved in the production of this calendar has taken a single penny from it, including the photographers, who have provided their amazing images totally free of charge – a very noble gesture which we applaud them for.” 

The calendar, which alerts anglers to which days in 2017 will be best to fish, will cost £8 and can be purchased from all Korda stockists. 

Clubs urged to apply for cash generated by carrier bag sales

What is the Bags Of Help Scheme?

• The scheme is run by Groundwork UK on behalf of Tesco Plc to fund environmental and green space-based projects.

• The initiative is supported by money from the 5p charge levied on single-use carrier bags.

• 1,251 organisations from Tesco’s 416 regions up and down the UK will receive a share of the Bags of Help fund.

• More than 2,800 groups up and down the country applied for grants from the scheme. These were whittled down to three in each of Tesco’s regions by Tesco colleagues.

• For more information please visit: www.tesco.com/bagsofhelp

How to apply

Find your local store and jot down the postcode. Then go online at: www.groundwork.org.uk and take the eligibility survey to apply.

Angling clubs and fisheriesacross the UK are being urged to come forward and apply for millions of pounds of free cash which is being raised from the sale of Tesco carrier bags.

More than £12m is up for grabs as part of the Bags of Help scheme, created to fund environmental and green space projects across the country.

The scheme, which is being run by the charity, Groundwork, on behalf of the supermarket giant, is funded every time someone buys a 5p carrier bag at Tesco.

Hundreds of projects have benefited by as much as £12,000 since the scheme began in October last year.

 Huddersfield-based Learn2fish has already successfully applied for a pot of cash. 

The project, to introduce youngsters and the disabled to the sport at the club’s Woodhouse Mill Ponds fishery, will get at least £8,000 in improvement grants. 

Project director Steve Kelly is now urging other clubs to follow suit. He told Angling Times: “It’s really simple – you just go on the Bags of Help website, fill out the form and then, if you’re eligible, shoppers will vote for your project in store to determine how much cash you get. 

“It’s hard to put into words what such a grant can do – we are building a dipping pond for students as well as improving disabled access at the fishery.

“There are not many clubs nowadays awash with cash, so this kind of grant can go a long way to increasing angling participation at all levels.

“Its not just the money which we will be benefiting from either. We have seen loads more interest in would-be anglers and community groups who want to try fishing because of the publicity the scheme has generated for us.”

Applications for the next round of funding are now open, and bosses at the scheme are urging projects to come forward and apply, including those from angling. 

Graham Duxbury, Groundwork UK chief executive, said: “Bags of Help is helping to create better and greener places for everyone to enjoy across the country.

“We’ve been thrilled to see the diversity of projects that have applied for funding – from community gardens to angling projects and everything in between. 

“Now the scheme is permanently open for applications, and because grants can now be used for the development of local outdoor spaces, we expect angling groups like Learn2fish will now have an even greater chance to benefit.”

Canals on the rise as anglers flock back to fish them

A research project has revealed that the number of anglers fishing the UK’s canals has doubled in the last four years.

Hundreds of stretches had been left deserted in recent times as a result of the commercial fishery boom, but the latest statistics have shown a remarkable turnaround.

Officials from the Canal & River Trust have announced that sales of their Waterways Wanderers permit have rocketed by 100 per cent since 2012.

The ticket allows anglers to target hundreds of miles of canal for a small fee each year, and national fisheries and angling manager John Ellis believes there are a number of reasons for the revival. 

“Gone are the days when anglers saw canals as venues capable of producing small fish and nothing else, with the awareness of their incredible potential,” he said.

“Whether you’re a predator, match or general pleasure angler, there is certain to be a stretch close to home that will appeal to you.

“Add to this, improved access and pegging in many areas and it is easy to see why canals have drawn back a lot of anglers.”

A national surge of interest in lure fishing and drop shotting is also thought to have aided the comeback.

Korum-backed specimen angler Gary Knowles said: “No matter where you are in the country, a cheap and affordable stretch of canal that is home to perch, pike or zander will be on your doorstep.

“At the drop of a hat, with practically no preparation and carrying just a light rod and reel, shoulder bag and landing net, you are ready to go.

“You can walk for miles fishing a very effective method and catch some cracking-looking fish from both industrial and rural settings. Given all this, it’s no surprise to me that the popularity in fishing canals has increased rapidly.”

New strain of hard-fighting ‘super carp’

Britain’s anglers are filling their nets with a new strain of ‘super carp’. 

These F1 ghosts are being described as ‘the commercial fish of the future’ following the first introductions of the hardy hybrids over recent months. 

The strain has been developed to feed willingly even in the coldest conditions and is immune to Koi Herpes Virus (KHV). It’s the ghost carp element that makes it distinctive – and it fights harder than the original F1.

Commercials that have already shared more than 10 tonnes of F1 ghosts include Gold Valley Lakes in Hampshire, Tunnel Barn Farm in Warwickshire, Staffordshire’s Heronbrook Fishery and Bradshaw Hall in Lancashire.

“When we stocked the fish there was more than 700lb caught in a match the very next day,” said Bradshaw’s Luke Worthington.

“Anglers love them because they look more individual than original F1s and fight really hard. We have more on order for next year.”

This is just the first phase of stockings across the UK that will continue until March 2017.

Babylon Fish Farm owner Jason Dorkings, who was involved in the creation of the original F1 carp, has been working on this latest project for over four years at his Kent facility. 

He says there is such demand for the F1 ghosts that there’s now a waiting list for venues that want to stock them.

“These fish have surpassed all my expectations and the feedback has been tremendous. I can’t produce them fast enough to meet demand,” he said.

“We’ve stocked fish from 6ins up to 2lb and they are stunning to look at. I really can’t wait to see how big they can grow.”

Tunnel Barn Farm in the Midlands is another venue where anglers have been singing the praises ofthe new strain, and boss Tony McGuire said: “Anglers have been over the moon with this fish, which has already featured in our winter league matches.

“Their willingness to feed in the colder conditions seems to have encouraged other species to have a proper go as well.

“Pleasure anglers love the look of the F1 ghost as well. But remember to fine down your rigs to catch them through the winter.”

£20m boost for River Severn

FISH PASS SITES

Seven sites have been pinpointed for renovation, with various devices being installed to help fish move more freely up and down the Rivers Severn and Teme. 
The weirs in question are:
• Upper Lode
• Diglis
• Holt
• Lincomb
• Bevere
• Powick
• Knightsford

The UK’s first-ever underwater viewing gallery – that allows spectators to watch fish in one of our most iconic rivers – is just part of a huge £20 million improvement project.

Years of discussions to secure the huge pot of government funding to transform the River Severn have finally come to fruition, and now Angling TImes can reveal how that cash will be allocated.

Millions will be spent on making it easier for coarse and game fish to migrate up and down the waterway via many state-of-the-art fish passes, but along with improved access and habitat improvements, arguably the most talked-about development is the installation of the unique underwater viewing area at Diglis Weir in Worcester.

Members of the public will be able to look in on what goes on beneath the surface, with the large shoals of barbel, chub, predators and silverfish all expected to be on show.

For those that are unable to visit the site, a live feed is expected to run on the internet to give everyone the opportunity to see what the river holds.

A collaboration between several influential bodies, including the Canal & River Trust, came up with the idea, and its national fisheries and angling manager John Ellis said: “In the past fishing’s big problem is that the general public can’t see what’s going on beneath the surface. There’s been an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ mentality.

“But the first-ever viewing window at Diglis Weir will open up this underwater world and give people an incredible insight into the lives of fish, their surroundings and their importance to our natural world.

“This work will open up more of our waterways for coarse and game species to become more widespread, while improving habitats and river environments. It’s great news that more conservation bodies are recognising fish and angling.”

Severn Rivers Trust deputy director Mike Morris was equally delighted at the scheme’s confirmation, and he added: “We are extremely keen for local anglers, school children and the wider public to get involved with the viewing gallery, which will be built at Diglis to monitor all movement of fish.

“Staff and volunteers will be on hand to help those with no prior knowledge of what lies beneath the surface and give them a better understanding of the various species they come across.”

The news comes just one week after the Environment Agency announced plans to provide free rod licences to all under-16s. 

Reigning RiverFest champion Tom Lane believes this move will further assist the process of attracting more juniors into the sport. 

He told Angling Times: “If youngsters are given the chance to view fish in their natural habitat it will create a unique opportunity that I am sure will spark an interest in the underwater habitat.

“Fish are often forgotten about, but this is a fantastic way to educate people and get them into angling at the same time.”

Work will get underway next year, with the scheme set to be completed by 2022.

Massive rod licence shake-up will see kids fish for free!

The new rod licence charges from March 2017

Every season the new rod licence goes on sale on March 1 and expires the following year on March 31. 

Type of licence – Full (April-March)
Current price: £27
New price: £30

Full (concessionary) senior and disabled
Current price: £18
New price: £20

Short-term 1 day
Current price: £3.75
New price: £6

Short-term eight-day
Current price: £10
New price: £12

Junior (12-16)
Current price: £5
New price: Free

Three- rod licence
Current price: None
New price: £45

Three- rod licence (concessionary) 
Senior and disabled
Current price: None
New price: £30

Children will fish for free and carp anglers will save money as part of a massive shake-up in the rod licensing system.

These are just two changes in a raft of new measures announced by Environment Agency bosses this week in a bid to offer anglers more value for money and encourage more youngsters to fish.

The changes,which come into force next March, include a special price for those using three rods, and scrapping the current £5 fee for under-16s. They will also see 365-day rolling licences from day of purchase.

The move comes in response to a recent Angling Trust survey in which the nation’s anglers criticised the current licensing system. Big-fish hunters claimed they were being overcharged for fishing three rods by having to buy two full annual licences. 

The EA Head of Fisheries Sarah Chare believes the changes reflect feedback from anglers nationwide: “We hope that a 365-day licence, a three-rod licence and a free junior licence will all play a part in getting more young people fishing and securing the sport’s future,” she said. 

“All money raised from rod licence sales is ploughed back into England’s fisheries, and is used to fund a wide range of projects to improve facilities for anglers.”

The announcement was also welcomed by Angling Trust Chief Executive Mark Lloyd. 

He said: “We lobbied the Environment Agency to make these changes to the rod licence system, as many of the carp and specimen anglers we represent had complained about the need for them to buy two separate licences for four rods, when they wanted to fish with three.

“We also wanted a free junior licence, as this removes a significant barrier to participation for young people considering taking up the sport. Well done to the Environment Agency for listening and taking anglers’ concerns on board.”

Meanwhile carpers were also celebrating, including Korda boss Danny Fairbrass, who has piled thousands of pounds into various projects aimed at boosting junior participation. He believes the latest move can play a big part in halting the decline in youngsters on the bank. He said: “This is absolutely brilliant news, and the EA deserves a lot of credit for listening to anglers and changing the system to provide free rod licences for under-16s.

“This was needed to help get more kids hooked on angling and I hope this news gets out beyond the angling world so that people who have never even considered fishing before are given still more reason to get involved.

“The three-rod licence will also be well received,” Danny continued. “Carp anglers have accepted the old rules of having to buy two licences through gritted teeth for many years, but this amendment represents the modern angling scene. All these changes can help provide an even brighter future for fishing.”

These sentiments were echoed by Current Fish O’Mania champion and professional coach Andy May, who tutors dozens of juniors each year. He agrees that the historic news can provide a springboard to getting more juniors on the bank. He said: “Our sport needs a regular influx of children if it is to continue to grow and the decision to give them a free rod licence is a fantastic way of achieving just that.

“We all know how addictive fishing is, and if we can tempt more kids into trying it out you can guarantee they will get the bug and become keen anglers.”

• Millions of anglers will be adding extra support to the EA’s continued work to improve fisheries following the announcement that the price of the rod licence is to increase by 10 per cent from March 2017.

In the light of this the Angling Trust is calling for the government to halt and reverse the annual cuts to Grant in Aid to the EA for fisheries management, monitoring and regulation.

Thousands bid at Bob Church’s tackle auction

Bob Church admitted to being ‘shocked and ‘overwhelmed’ after a collection of his prized tackle sold for thousands at auction.

Angling Times joined the legendary angler and his wife Jeanette during the recent Sporting and Country Pursuits sale at JP Humbert Auctioneers in Northants, which saw more than 50 lots of Bob’s gear go under the hammer.

Auctioneer Jonathan Humbert had a tough task keeping up with the number of bids as vintage rods, reels and collections of hand-tied flies turned heads in the busy saleroom full of collectors looking for their own slice of angling history.

But it was the volume of online bids from as far away as Australia and Switzerland that surprised and excited both Bob (MBE) and theon-site auctioneers.

The most popular lots included a gold-plated Mitchell reel made specially for Bob, an Avington
Mk II 9ft fly rod, and a three-tier fly box containing around 1,000 flies – which together made £1,160.

Speaking exclusively to Angling Times on the day, Bob explained his emotions during a memorable afternoon in the auction room.

“Funnily enough this is the first auction I’ve ever been to, so it was very exciting to watch and hear what was going on,” Bob said. 

“Although there weren’t that many in the room, those on the internet were constantly trying to outbid each other and Jonathan did a fantastic job keeping up with them. 

“This made the bidding very exciting, and I was overwhelmed to see the amount of interest in my tackle – which played a huge part in my angling career. 

 “It’s tackle that I would never use again so I’m just happy it’s going to help other people with their own fishing.” 

Auctioneer Jonathan Humbert wasn’t surprised at the amount of interest in Bob’s tackle, which made a total of £3,140.20, and believes it’s his reputation as one of the world’s most influential anglers that led to such frantic bidding. 

Mr Humbert said: “Bob obviously has a huge presence in the angling community. This was highlighted when we started to receive bids from people in Canada, Sweden and Tasmania. 

“All his items are unrepeatable rarities that are a must-have for any fly-fishing follower.

“My personal favourite was the three-tier fly box which is simply fishing gold and was the party-piece of the sale. They’re flies that Bob used all over the world throughout the last 60 years so it’s no wonder they sold for as much as they did.” 

The fly box held more than 1,000 flies – some of which caught championship-winning fish – and was purchased by a local Northamptonshire man for £880. 

Speaking anonymously, he said: “I bought the fly box for my son – who has not long taken up fly fishing but spends many hours at Pitsford.

“I’m sure these new, exquisite imitations will give him an edge during his next visit, and he’ll never have to buy a fly again!”

Bob has suffered from Parkinson’s disease for the last 19 years and is donating part of the money raised to the Parkinson’s UK Charity, which has been helping to combat the illness for 50 years.

Bob concluded: “I want to put something back into the charity that has been fighting the disease I’ve been living with for nearly 20 years.

“My wife Jeanette has aided and put up with me throughout that whole time, too, so I would like to buy her something for her garden – she truly deserves it.” 

‘Carp Wars’ will have all anglers ‘glued to the TV’

A bumper year for fishing on TV is guaranteed with the launch of a brand new show.

Big-name stars from the world of specimen angling will feature in the highly-anticipated Carp Wars series, to be shown on Sky Sports every week starting from December 1.

Carp fishing legends Dave Lane and Ian Chillcott are two of the big names on show as the anglers battle it out in a host of action-packed, head-to-head matches. 

Dozens of aspiring carp anglers also entered an online competition to be one of the six involved in Carp Wars, with teenager Harry Pratt winning the opportunity to compete in front of the cameras.

Points will be awarded for the biggest fish and largest overall weight in each contest, and the scores will be totted up after 15 rounds of action to decide the two finalists.

The second series ofThe Big Fish Off and Monster Carp are angling shows that have won rave reviews after they hit our screens earlier in the year, and Fishing TV, the creators of Carp Wars, are confident their latest project will be equally popular. 

Commercial director Ed Burgass said: “There is nothing else like this out there, and we believe the unique format will have anglers glued to their TVs.

“We approached Sky Sports to see if they’d be interested, and within minutes of watching an episode they agreed it was a great show that was perfect for their channels.

“It will give anglers an insight into the minds of some of the greatest carp anglers in the land and the battle to become champion is certain to go right down to the wire.”

The series will run weekly until the end of March, with the final being staged in France at the famous Etang le Fays fishery where the champion will walk away with £3,000.

Even at this early stage, discussions are already underway for a second series of Carp Wars. 

Vote for the best of 2016!

The prestigious Angling Times National Angling Awards are back, and the power is in your hands to decide the winners for 2016.
It’s been a great year, with countless incredible catches, huge match fishing achievements and historic TV moments.
In a bid to reward the best in the business for their sterling contribution to fishing in 2016, Angling Times is now calling on every reader to vote for their favourites in 28 categories.
It’s been a tough job to decide the shortlists in each fiercely-contested category, which include Match Angler of the Year, Specimen Angler of the Year and River of the Year – but now it’s up to you to decide.
Editor-in-chief Steve Fitzpatrick said: “I’ve been blown away by how good this year has been for our sport. Every day I come into the office I find out that something new and exciting has happened.
“Sometimes it’s a giant fish that’s been landed, or a brilliant TV show that’s been released. 
“So much hard work has been put in by people, but now’s the time for you to vote and give them the national recognition they deserve.
“The National Angling Awards has been running for several years and, while there are other similar schemes, none of them has the prestige that this one has.
“All the nominees are excited to be in with a chance, but now it’s all down to our readers to make them the winners.” 
It’s been an equally impressive year in the tackle market as well. Hundreds of innovative products have hit the shelves, with new poles, rods, terminal tackle and baits from the biggest names within the industry.
Tackle editor Mark Sawyer has been gauging the mood within the industry ahead of the awards, and said: “I have been incredibly impressed by the quality of tackle released by the top manufacturers this year and now is the time to reward those who have gone above and beyond with their innovations.
“I have spent a lot of time talking to staff from each company in recent weeks and there is a lot of excitement about the National Angling Awards. They are all determined to win and gain the trophies that go with that success.
“If you’ve bought a piece of tackle this year that has transformed your fishing, make sure you vote to give it a great chance of becoming a 2016 champion.”
Readers who register to vote will be instantly entered into a draw that will provide them with a chance of winning one of four £100 vouchers to spend with tackle shop giant Chapmans Angling.

Have your say below!

Want to work for Angling Times?

Angling Times has a unique opportunity for a Tackle & Commerce Editor to join our growing team.

Working closely with Tackle Editor Mark Sawyer, and the coarse angling team, you will be responsible for creating fresh, high-quality, engaging editorial content for anglingtimes.co.uk with particular emphasis on new gear reviews and buying guides to tackle.

An in-depth knowledge of the tackle industry and its products is vital, along with sound journalistic skills and a passion for creating must-read content.

Based at Angling Times' head office in Peterborough. A full job description is available upon request.

Please send your CV, plus a covering letter highlighting why this is the perfect role for you to: jo.green@bauermedia.co.uk.

CLOSING DATE: NOVEMBER 25TH

IMPORTANT: Price error on this week's Angling Times

Owing to a printing error, the wrong price has been printed on the front cover this week’s Angling Times, October 25th 2016 issue. The correct price is £1.99. If you have been charged £2.99 please call 01733 395107 or email mary-ann.payne@bauermedia.co.uk immediately. Thank you.

New campaign to help save predator stocks

Angling Times readers are being called to back a campaign to help protect one of the UK’s most sought-after species.

‘Stop the persecution of Zander in British waters’ is a campaign which has been created to try to bring about a change in the law which currently prohibits the species being returned to our waterways once caught.

The online petition, which has already received hundreds of signatures, was created by Buckingham-based angler James Aris.

He not only wants to see the species given more protection, but a radical change in attitude towards these fish. 

 “Zander have been in England since 1878 and should be more universally accepted,” he told Angling Times.

“An ever-growing number of lure anglers spend a lot of money on all the accoutrements needed to successfully target the species. Despite this, thousands are destroyed in netting or electro-fishing operations each year. 

“There are hundreds of venues which have licences to stock the species and miles of unfished canal – those fish could be returned to these areas instead,” he said.

Currently there are grey areas regarding the law about not returning zander to the water from which they are caught. 

English law currently allows individuals to return zander when they catch one from a water where the species is ‘already established’, but doesn’t allow netting operators on man-made venues like canals to do the same.  

The Canal & River Trust oversees dozens of such operations on its waterways each year. 

However, the charity says its hands are tied when it comes to keeping anglers happy while remaining within the law.

 A CRT spokesperson said: “We have not been granted permission to keep zander on canals and so we believe that we could inadvertently be breaking the law if we told an angler that it was okay to return a non-native fish species to the cut.

“In our day-to-day fisheries work, when we encounter a non-native species we are bound by the Keeping and Introduction of Fish (KIPF) Regulations not to return the fish in question to the water. We can only restock fish we find if the new venue has a licence to stock the species.”

It is this law which a growing number of predator anglers like James Aris wants to see changed.

Recently a Facebook page called ‘Save the Zander’ appeared online and some of the sport’s top names have also voiced their concerns, including Zander Anglers’ Club member Dilip Sarkar. 

He told Angling Times “Zander are here, fact. They do not decimate fish populations as was once feared.

 Over time, they have become an accepted part of the aquatic environment they now live in. 

“In waters where they are established, nature has balanced itself out. Take the Severn, for example… the river is in fine fettle, full of fish, and produces pike to 30lb and zander to 20lb-plus. 

“Were there not sufficient food, that would not be the case. 

“The canals where culling is ongoing are actually full of silvefish, so there really isn’t a problem. 

“Even if there were, it would be physically and practically impossible to eradicate zander, whether or not they remain on the invasive species list.”

THE LAW ASIT STANDS

When asked by Angling Times what the law is regarding zander, an Environment Agency spokesperson said: “The keeping or releasing of zander in your fishery (unless it’s a totally enclosed stillwater) is an offence under the Import of Live Fish Act unless the Fishery concerned has an official licence to hold the species. 

“If an angler catches a zander from a water where they are already established they can decide whether to return it or, making sure they have the fishery owner’s permission, to take it.”

To sign the petition visit: www.petition.parliament.uk/petitions/167921 or look for ‘save the Zander’ on Facebook.

UK’s rivers alive with huge roach

Experts are predicting a red-hot autumn of river roach sport following a flurry of stunning catches across the country.

Silverfish have made an incredible comeback on running waterways, and venue insiders are now claiming that sport will soon be better than ever before.

Several successful breeding seasons, Environment Agency stockings and localised restoration projects have all played a role in the transformation, and a positive weather forecast suggests the shoals are all set to feed in force.

Lancashire rod Alan Barnes included a 2lb 8oz roach in his latest haul from the River Ribble, pole fishing hemp for a new personal best.

The former Angling Times journalist has banked five roach over 2lb in the last 18 months, and is convinced the action will now step up another gear. He said: “I am certain we will have great roach sport this autumn. Several factors are helping roach stocks flourish, and one of them is the huge boom in barbel fishing. All the pellets going into our rivers are helping make roach bigger.

“I commonly hear of barbel anglers catching 2lb-plus roach after dark on 8mm and 12mm pellets. I think they have thrived on neglect and the shoals have regrouped while anglers have ignored them in favour of other species.”

Kent specimen angler Scott Cordingley has caught countless quality roach but hit a career highlight during his latest session with a personal-best 2lb 2oz fish from his local River Stour.

With limited time to wet a line, Scott made the short trip to the bank and legered breadflake in a deep hole – and soon got a lot more than he bargained for. He said: “The river is packed with roach but I’ve only had a few over 1lb to a best of 1lb 14oz. I never expected a fish this big.

“I’ve been trying for years to land one over 2lb and it’s great to finally make that mark. This is proof that it is definitely time to head out if a pb roach is on your agenda.”

Not just specimen anglers, but matchmen too have cashed in on the latest roach action.

A two-day festival on The Norfolk Broads system saw 68 anglers share over 2,100lb of silvers between them, with 36lb of roach the top individual catch.

Organiser Tony Gibbons told Angling Times: “The system is absolutely teeming with roach, and the sport we experienced during the tournament was absolutely incredible.

“We had 26 weights over 20lb, of mainly roach, on day two. I can see the action getting even better in the coming weeks.”

Similar levels of success have been achieved on both the Thames and Trent, with numerous 25lb-plus nets of roach being taken by both club and open match competitors.

Licence cheats pay £500,00 in crackdown on illegal fishing

The Environment Agency has revealed that more than £500,000 worth of fines were issued to rod licence cheats during 2015 and 2016 – the most successful crackdown on illegal fishing ever.  

Enforcement has been given a huge boost this year with the national roll-out of the Voluntary Bailiff Service. Additionally, countless police forces have pledged their support to battling angling crime.

More than 62,000 licences were checked in the last two years, resulting in 1,987 prosecution cases being filed for those caught without one. 

Dilip Sarkar, the Angling Trust’s National Enforcement Manager, said: “The team effort by the EA, police, fishery owners and anglers from all over the country has been immensely effective.

“We have been able to empower anglers via the Voluntary Bailiff Service, train the police and courts, address the migrant angler issue and initiate multi-agency operations which have increased intelligence and support available to the EA.

“As a result, angling has never been in a stronger position to protect fish and fisheries and crack down on licence cheats.”

Among the most effective forces on the ground in 2015 and 2016 were the Environment Agency patrol teams, deployed weekly to check that anglers are obeying the law. 

Angling Times was invited to join an enforcement patrol day at Bedfordshire’s Manor Farm Fisheries to witness what happens during a routine sweep of a fishery. 

Of the 30-plus anglers checked on the day, all had valid rod licences – although EA Fisheries and Biodiversity Team Leader Kye Jerrom warns that it’s not always plain sailing. 

He said:  “Today’s result came back 100 per cent positive but this isn’t always the case. Some days we’ll issue fines into double figures, so it’s important we conduct patrols like this.

“However, our job isn’t all about taking people to court – it’s about securing as much money as possible for fisheries by encouraging people to buy licences, working closely with fisheries and partners to spread the word. We’re now reaping the rewards for our efforts.”

Sarah Chare, Head of Fisheries at the Environment Agency, was equally positive about the new face of enforcement.

“Through working with our partners and taking an intelligence-led approach we are clamping down hard on those who are cheating the sport.

“The vast majority of anglers who fish legally deserve to see those who flout the law brought to account. 

“To that criminal minority, our message is clear – we won’t hesitate to take action to stop illegal fishing.”

Rob Hales: “I’m growing more records”

Big Rig’s origins

The record carp was bought at a weight between 30lb and 39lb in 2011 from Fenland Fisheries, Cambridgeshire, whose boss Mike Hawes says that it was legally imported from Israel in 2009.

The carp, and three others of the Dor-70 strain, was purchased by Rob Hales and transported to his Shropshire HQ. To find out more visit: www.rhfisheries.com

For more on Fenland Fisheries, call 01487 841858.

Record weight

Big Rig was weighed on two sets of scales. One gives it a weight of 69lb 13oz, but Rob will make the 69lb 3oz record claim on readings from a set of 120lb Reuben Heaton Specimen Hunter scales.

Rob Hales is without doubt the most talked about UK fishery boss in the UK after his Shropshire venue The Avenue produced the 69lb 3oz British record carp. 

The fish, Big Rig, was hand reared by the RH Fisheries owner and specifically grown to become Britain’s biggest-ever carp...dividing opinion within the sport.

As the dust settles on one of the most controversial captures of recent times, Angling Times caught up with Rob to gain an insight into the world of big carp.

You bought Big Rig at 39lb as one of a hand-selected group of fish. Do you have any other carp from this batch in your lakes? 

When I bought Big Rig she was one of a group of fish that were all bigger than she was, with amazing potential to grow huge.
I bought those too. 

All my lakes contain fish-of-a-lifetime and I just keep adding to them, giving more anglers a shot at the fish of their dreams.

How big do you think carp can get in a UK water? 

I think Big Rig has the potential to reach 75lb… possibly more. 

But there’s no doubt that a quality strain of carp in the right environment could break the 80lb barrier. 

In my opinion that’s great for carp fishing in the country and the fishing industry as a whole.

You use state-of-the-art feeders set on timers to optimise the growth of carp at some of your waters. What does this cost?

I can spend up to £15,000 on feed for just one lake during the course of a year. 

This includes pellets and medicated boilies just before the winter which keep the fish in top condition throughout the colder months. 

I’ve put 100 kilos of these boilies into one of our lakes in the last week alone. This is what it takes.

What is your message to those people who say that purposely growing carp to break records is wrong?

People must think that all I do is buy big fish and force-feed them bait until they reach massive weights. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The fish I buy and raise are from the highest quality strains. People don’t understand how much time, dedication and hard work it takes to grow so many huge carp. Anglers want to catch big fish and I meet this demand. 

Those who criticise this need to wake up, because it’s fisheries like mine that hold the future for the British carp record. 

Were you surprised by some of the negative reactions after the capture of Big Rig?

Not really. Sadly, it’s often the uneducated minority that tend to spout off and don’t realise the harm they can do. 

The national papers picked up on this and all the coverage did was to paint angling and anglers in a very bad light. 

Some of the comments that were aimed at the captor, Tom, were shocking and those responsible should be very ashamed of themselves. They should take up another sport.

Did you regret the way in which the record story played out?

The only thing I would have done differently was not to speak to the daily papers, because it ’s now clear that they didn’t want a good fishing story.

Instead they focused on all the negativity that came from small-minded and, in some cases, vicious individuals. 

At the end of the day a great guy caught the biggest carp in the country and it’s an achievement that should be celebrated, not denigrated.

Is the demand for catching big, commercially-stocked carp still on the rise?

The appetite among anglers for catching huge carp is just getting bigger and bigger. There’s no sign of this trend slowing down at all.

Have you and your team been inundated since the capture of Big Rig?

Put it this way, our website usually gets around 350 hits a day. Since Big Rig was caught we’ve had over 5,000 a day.

It’s crazy – the phone hasn’t stopped ringing and our email boxes have been filling up fast.

Now you’ve grown the biggest carp in the UK, what comes next for RH Fisheries?  

To continue to provide huge carp for UK anglers. It’s my passion. We now have thousands of Big Rig’s offspring that all have the potential to grow to massive proportions. 

Not only will I grow and nurture these fast-growing carp for my own waters, but I will sell them to other venues so they will have carp bearing the genes of this record-breaking carp.

River roach run riot!

An incredible 500lb of float-caught roach tops a long list of redfin hauls this week as venues nationwide prove why sport with the popular species is at an all-time high.

Venues from West Yorkshire all the way down to the South West have been delighting visiting anglers, while those fishing a contest on the River Great Ouse in Bedfordshire were treated to some of best roach fishing of their lives as they filled their nets with roach and dace.

There were more than 20 weights of roach and dace into double figures during the Bedford Hospital Cup, staged on popular club stretches along the upper river, and the top four anglers shared almost 80lb of prime silverfish, all caught on traditional float tactics.

“The roach fishing this year has been the best ever,” said Milton Keynes Angling Association chairman Trevor Johnson.

“This match is perfect proof, but this is just the tip of the iceberg – big nets of roach are being caught up and down the entire river.

“I believe the roach boom on this venue, and countless other waterways across the country, is down to the ongoing silverfish stockings carried out by the Environment Agency.”

The River Trent is another in a long line of rivers that have seen the huge shoals of roach they were historically famous for make a welcome return.

Anglers been flocking to Trent hotspots Burton Joyce, Long Higgin and Gunthorpe to take nets to 20lb-plus of roach on floatfishing tactics, and the owner of a local tackle shop has revealed that sales of traditional roach baits bronze maggots, hemp and tares are on the up.

“Roach catches on the river have been exceptional. It’s not only about quantity either, as there are so many big individual fish being landed too,” said Tim Aplin, who runs Matchman Supplies Angling Centre in Nottingham.

“All the areas that used to produce big catches of roach back in the Trent’s heyday are back in form, and more and more anglers are now fishing for them. It’s great to see,” he said.

“This is reflected in the fact that our bait sales for those visiting the river have increased in line with the general improvement of fishing on the Trent.”

Moving further north, 25lb catches of roach on the stick float have become a common occurrence on the River Calder in West Yorkshire.

It’s this sheer quality of sport that is seeing anglers regularly travel more than 100 miles in order to take part in the weekly contests held on the river around the Mirfield area.

“We get anglers travelling from Newcastle, Nottingham and Manchester to fish here.

“Every week matches on the Calder are being won with between 17lb and 25lb of roach,” said Mirfield Angling Club president Martin Highe.

“There aren’t many better ways to spend a day’s fishing than with a float rod in your hand, catching quality roach.”

Thousands more angling recruits

The future of angling is bright thanks to the success of this year’s National Fishing Month, which introduced nearly 14,000 new people to the sport over the summer.

The initiative, which is the country’s largest angling participation programme, held a record-breaking 326 special events throughout July and August in a bid to promote fishing to a much wider audience. 

During the six-week period, newcomers across the country were able to learn about fishing and gain new skills thanks to round-the-clock help from licensed coaches and angling bodies such as the Canal & River Trust, the Angling Trust and the Professional Anglers Association. 

Naidre Werner, Chair of the Angling Trades Association (ATA) which runs National Fishing Month, told Angling Times: “I’m over the moon that our NFM participant numbers continue to reflect how important NFM is in creating awareness of angling to the general public. 

“We really do fly the flag for fishing… and people love it!” 

The real key to NFM’s ongoing success is without doubt attributable to the enthusiastic and steadfast support of the voluntary organisers and coaches who actually plan and deliver the events every year. 

“It’s thanks to their hard work that the sport is exposed to so many people – and they deserve our greatest thanks and gratitude for helping recruit the next generation of anglers to our wonderful sport,” Naidre said.

One body that contributed to the overall success of the campaign was the Canal & River Trust, whose partnership with the National Fishing Month campaign helped expose the country’s waterways to hundreds of people. 

John Ellis, Fisheries Manager for the Canal & River Trust, said:
“We are delighted with how well our new partnership with National Fishing Month worked out this year – engaging with nearly 1000 participants. 

“We are already planning a larger programme of events on our canals and rivers in 2017 to make sure that even more people get the fishing habit.”

National Fishing Month was also popular with top fishing brands Daiwa, Fladen, Fox, Leeda and Pure Fishing, who collectively helped make the campaign a reality and a success. 

Naidre Werner added: “These establishments have demonstrated the admirable virtue of ‘putting something back into angling’, and I applaud them for it.”

To find out more information about the event, visit: www.nationalfishingmonth.com