Big Game World Championships
FIPS-M 28th World Big Game Angling Championship
Sodwana Bay,
SOUTH AFRICA (World Games)
9th – 16th February 2019
Silver for the England Big Game Team at the Sport Fishing World Games.
The FIPS-M 28th Big Game World Championships were held at the stunning Sodwana Bay area of South Africa from 9th – 16th February, with 26 teams from across the World competing for the coveted prize of World Champion.
This year England sent two teams of three to compete, they consisted of; Andy Atkins, Jonathan Patten, Peter Bailey, Jack Challis, Nik Teal, Bob McKee and Steven Walder (Manager).
With overcast skies and stifling heat the practice day showed that it was going to be an extremely competitive tournament with only 3 marlin released and two small tuna on the practice days.
Day 1 – proved to be decisive with England B brilliantly securing the first release of a Blue Marlin in 500m of water and the first recorded catch of the tournament placing them in the lead overall.
Despite perfect water and weather conditions the fish did not come on the bite for the whole tournament and this proved to be one of only 9 fish recorded by all teams over 3 days securing a brilliant silver medal on time for the England Team.
The final team result saw leaders Spain taking the Championship title, England finishing in runner up position with the superb silver medal and Mexico taking the bronze.
Andy Atkins, England Big Game Team stated “It was fantastic to see our two teams pull together and work superbly to find fish in an incredibly tough fishery with Marlin and other game fish all hard to find. We set our stall out early and some excellent work on the boats secured a well deserved silver medal.”
“This was a first cap for two of the team and to secure such a good result shows all the hard work and preparation put in by everyone months before had paid off. Special thanks would have to go to the organisers of the tournament who worked tirelessly to ensure that everyone were well catered for and the tournament was a success. We look forward going forward to trying for Gold next year in Senegal.”
The Angling Trust would like to offer their congratulations to Team England on such a fantastic achievement of securing their silver medal and for all their hard work.