MATCHROOM SPORT can announce that for the first time in its 18 year history, the top prize for Fish ‘O’ Mania is set to rise. The 2011 champion will carry off a cheque for £30,000, an increase of 20% on the previous first prize of £25,000.
Known as the ‘FA Cup of fishing’ Fish ‘O’ Mania is the only live televised coarse fishing match in the world, and now this year’s winner will have an extra £5,000 to go along with the most prestigious title in UK angling.
Reigning Champion is Gloucester’s Neil McKinnon whose come-from-behind win over crowd favourite Tom Pickering, was one of the greatest ever Fish ‘O’ Mania finals.
In addition, due to the customary over-subscribed demand for match tickets, organisers the Angling Trust have turned the last of the 16 heats into a mammoth ‘last chance saloon’ 300 peg affair.
The Angling Trust website at www.anglingtrust.net will be the only means by which anglers can enter Fish ‘O’ Mania XVIII.
The online entry period for Fish ‘O’ Mania XVIII commences on Monday 17th Jan at 9.00am and is open until 7th February at 4pm. Match tickets are now £25, up from £2.00 from 2010.
Anyone wishing to obtain a ticket to take part in Fish ‘O’ Mania XVIII must be valid individual members of Angling Trust.
Commented Matchroom Sport Chairman Barry Hearn; “At long last we’ve put the prize-money up! I don’t think though, that winning Fish ‘O’ Mania is necessarily about the money.
“Although 30 grand is always nice, this is more about going down in history as a winner of the biggest event in fishing.
“The tag ‘Fish ‘O’ Mania Champion’ will stay with the winner forever and put him onto an exclusive club with many of the gamest match anglers in Britain.
“Each year more and more anglers attempt to enter this event and attempting to accommodate everyone without interfering with the structure and entry levels is not easy.
“Hopefully the final heat at Lindholme with 300 pegs will increase everyone’s chances of one of the coveted 16 spots in the final, “he added.
Full list of Fish’O’Mania XVIII qualifying heats 2011
Sat 9th April – Viaduct Fishery, Somerset
Weds 20th April – Makins Fishery, Wolvey, Warwickshire
Sat 23rd April – Lakeview Fishery, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
Weds 27th April – Woodlands View Fishery, Droitwich, Worcestershire
Sat 30th April – Packington Somers, Meriden, Warwickshire
Sat 7th May – Stafford Moor, Devon
Weds 11th May – Monk Lakes, Marden, Kent
Sat 14th May – The Oaks, Sessay, North Yorks
Weds 18th May – Holly Farm, Lutterworth & Peatling Pools, Peatling Parva, Leicestershire
Sat 21st May – Tunnel Barn Farm, Shrewley, Warwickshire
Sat 28th May – Moorlands Farm, Hartlebury, Worcestershire
Sat 4th June – Partridge Lakes, Culcheth, Warrington
Weds 15th June – Octoplus Boldings, Bridgnorth, Shropshire
Sun 19th June – Heronbrook Fishery, Staffs
Sat 25th June – Woodlands Lakes, Thirsk, North Yorks
Weds 29th June – Lindholme Lakes, Doncaster, South Yorks
