Angling coaching sessions improve lives in Plymouth – how angling coach Martyn Green helps locals Get Fishing

Over the past year Plymouth Fishing & Seafood Association (PFSA) working with Martyn Green, a licenced angling coach, who with support from the Angling Trust ran a programme of beginner have-a-go fishing events that had a huge and beneficial impact on the local community…

Martyn and the PFSA have:

• Introduced fishing to 127 participants – including disabled veteran service people, as well as young people facing social, learning, and financial challenges
• Helped build confidence, friendships, and life skills through fishing in the local community
• Held competitions and celebrations hosted at the fantastic new National Marine Aquarium
• Had generous support from local businesses and volunteers who made it all possible

The sessions have helped create bonds between the various organisations involved and connected participants and their local support network through this forwar-thinking programme. This has truly changed lives by helping people in the Plymouth area take advantage of a brilliant local resource that is right on their doorstep – the coastline and amazing sea fishing opportunities it holds for both newcomers and more advanced anglers!

At these events where everyone was welcome to come along and give fishing a go, it was possible to help instilling an interest and understanding of the value of the sea, the coastal habitat and the opportunity to take part in some fun, friendly and safe fishing recreational activities run by Martyn and his volunteers.

Martyn is planning more event delivery like this in our South West Region and we encourage you to take a look at our Get Fishing events for an angling event near you where you can give fishing a go. All the Get Fishing events can be found here in our Get Fishing event pages. Angling Trust Get Fishing days are a great introduction to angling because you can simply turn up and fish and don’t need to bring any of your own fishing tackle or bait – it will all be provided on the day, by the event organiser. Not only that, when you attend a get Fishing event you become part of the Get Fishing Club and receive news, info, tips and offers to help you continue and progress on your angling journey.

The Get Fishing campaign is funded by

The Angling Trust’s Get Fishing campaign to get more people fishing more often is funded by the Environment Agency from fishing licence income as part of the National Angling Strategic Services contract with the Angling Trust, and Sport England. Children under 13 do not need a licence, and licences for children aged between 13 and 16 are free but you still need to register and receive a licence before you go fishing. You can get a licence for the full year, for 8 days (ideal for holidays!) or just a day’s fishing.

NOTE: Although young children who are under 13 year old do not need a licence to fish, the person supervising them needs to have the proper fishing licence before they take hold of the fishing rod or help the child fish with it.

Get Fishing is Proudly Supported by

The Angling Trust’s ‘Get Fishing’ campaign is proudly supported by Angling Direct, Exclusive Retail Partner
as we work towards getting more people fishing, more often.

If there’s something that you cannot find here to help you start fishing or return to angling, please contact your local Regional Angling Development Officer – you can find the nearest one to where you want to go fishing here.