Mersey Basin Species Hunt 2025
The Mersey Basin Species Hunt is an inclusive, free to enter competition that encourages anglers of all abilities to get out and explore their local rivers, catching as many different fish as possible along the way!
Run in partnership with and supported by Mersey Rivers Trust, this competition aims to assess how the Mersey Catchment has recovered since the industrial revolution – with angler catch data offering a very real insight into our understanding of fish populations in the local area.
How does it work?
The Mersey Basin Species Hunt comprises of 4 leagues, all of which run between the 16th of June and 30th of September:
- Overall (all rivers in the Mersey Basin & their tributaries)
- Weaver & Dane (and their tributaries, including Gowy)
- Mersey, Goyt & Tame (and their tributaries, including Bollin & Alt)
- Irwell (including Salford Quays, Irk, Medlock etc)
Each league operates on a simple points based system:
- 3 points for every different species caught
- 5 bonus points awarded at the end of the competition for the largest (longest) fish of each species in every league and overall
Anglers will automatically be added to the overall league, and any of the 3 ‘local’ leagues as they submit captures from different rivers.
League tables will be created at regular intervals (depending on the number of entries) and published on this page and the Mersey Basin Species Hunt Facebook group.
How do I take part?
To take part, you must first register via the Form below, after which you will be contacted to confirm your details. A registration pack will then be dispatched containing:
- Your competitor card, with name and UPN (unique participant number)
- Copy of the competition rules & terms, plus other relevant information
- Fish measure
Upon receiving this pack, you can begin fishing at your chosen locations (any river in the Mersey Catchment, providing you have permission) between the 16th of June and 30th of September, and submit your catches to receive points.
Any questions? Contact us at MBSH@anglingtrust.net
Mersey Basin Species Hunt - Registration Form
We need to collect some personal data to organise this competition. Your personal details will then be deleted in accordance with our privacy policy.
New Book Out Now
The Mersey Basin Species Hunt coincides with the launch of a new book – A History of Fish and Fisheries of the River Mersey by renowned fisheries scientist Dr David Solomon.
In this book, you can find the most up to date appraisal of how fish populations might have looked in the Mersey catchment before the industrial revolution – giving us a fantastic benchmark with which to compare results of the 2025 Species Hunt.
A brilliant read in it’s own right, this book will no doubt be of relevance to all those with an interest in fish, water quality and the industrial and social history of Greater Manchester. The book is illustrated with numerous etchings, photographs, drawings and maps, and contains a wealth of fascinating facts and tales.
