You may be familiar with the World Carp Classic or the World Predator Classic these international competitions are supported by big brands and gather the best anglers of their category. The carp competition was born in 1998 and the carnivore version in 2014. A saltwater version was missing and so the organizers launched in 2022 the Sea Angling Classic .
Establishment in Portsmouth in the south of England
The first edition was held in Portsmouth, in the south of England. It is located in the heart of an important military port of the Royal Navy, and is one of the three largest military bases in the country.
The fishing area outside the harbor is called "The Solent". It is the inlet that separates the Isle of Wight from the south of England. It is a maritime area protected from the winds, like a bay in France, but also a very busy inlet where ferries, cargo ships, military vessels and small boats mix.
The venue for the competition is Gunwharf Quays marina, a stunning tourist area with chic breweries and a shopping area with the most prestigious clothing brands. From here, competitors have a view of the vast channel, the narive HMS Warrior or the Spinnaker Tower, a modern design observation tower 170 meters high. The setting is atypical and impressive.
The rules of the game
On a 14 x 7 nautical mile boundary east of the Isle of Wight, competitors must add up the sizes of their three largest fish of each of the following five species: bass, gilthead bream, skate, shark and emissary. The fish can be caught with lures or bait, drifting or anchored.
Anchored bait fishing is the most favorable and most practiced in England. Each boat can have 4 rods in action, managed by 2 to 4 people. A fifth rod may be ready, the others must be unmounted, only a loop in the line is allowed.
Boats over 75 are subject to the same rules. The competition begins at a starting line that separates the boats into three categories: boaters under 6.7 meters, boaters from 6.7 to 10 meters and boaters over 10 meters and charters. The competition itself takes place over two days on Friday and Saturday from 8 am to 4 pm.
A boat or £50,000 in cash
The stakes are huge. There are prizes like we never see in the usual fishing competitions. The winner has 60 seconds to decide between an over-equipped 7.5 meter boat or a £50,000 cash prize bag, equivalent to a prize money of 58100 euros.
The boat is from the Extreme brand, in the Game King line. This 7.45 m aluminum boat is powered by a Mercury 250 Pro XS engine and equipped with Lowrance electronics. It is on a trailer, ready to be hitched.
The second prize is a gyro-stabilizer that eliminates 95% of the boat's rolling. It is the Seakeeper 1 system worth 16,000 euros, offered with the installation!
I might as well tell you right away that those who are playing for the win are not very willing to share their techniques and fishing spots.
We participated in this crazy competition. The story is coming in the next few days...
