THE angling web site www.total-fishing.com is back up and running along with its popular Coarse, Carp and Sea discussion forums.
The site, formally owned by the David Hall Publishing group, was forced to close down in December due to legal problems on the forums.
It has now been sold to former Improve Your Coarse Fishing and current Midland Angler editor Gareth Purnell, who has taken legal advice before switching the forums back on.
“The traffic on the site was simply fantastic since we relaunched in May 2002, and most of it was driven through the discussion boards which were really informative and regularly used by some of the top names in the sport such as Keith Arthur,” said Gareth.
“Unfortunately, a few idiots ruined it for the majority and DHP decided the risk was too great. However, I was keen for the spirit built up on the forums not to be lost and after taking legal advice I have bought the site and re-opened the forums in their old format, but with some new legal parameters.”
In addition to the forums, www.total-fishing.com carries regular news updates on the carp, coarse, match and sea angling scene in the UK and abroad, plus reader and magazine offers.
“I have loads of ideas for the site and if I can make it work from a financial standpoint in the next few months I intend to grow the editorial side significantly,” added Gareth, who is looking for sponsorship partners for the site and its newsletter, which reaches 6000 anglers a week. He can be contacted on 07721 004022 or at gareth.purnell@btinternet.com .
The www.total-fishing.com charity match scheduled to take place in May will go ahead as planned. Proceeds will go to the ACA.
