The Sea Angling Classic is a unique international fishing competition taking place on 15 – 19 June 2022 based from Portsmouth and using the diverse Solent fishing grounds. The event is a catch, photograph and release format, focusing on five species: Tope, Smooth hound, Rays, Bass and Black Bream.
With the largest and most valuable prize table ever offered in a UK sea fishing event, the competition has already captured the imagination of anglers. It is not difficult to see why with a £150,000 prize table on offer in the Recreational Boat Category including a high spec, fully rigged Extreme 745 Game King and trailer. The Charter Boat Category has a £50,000 prize table up too. Since registration opened in October, boats across the two event categories already have more than 150 anglers signed up.
The event will be much more than a sea fishing competition as Angling Spirit and Sea Angling Classic founder Ross Honey explained: “This will be an event like no other, tying together environmental clean-ups and research, education, business and conservation while encouraging the next generation of anglers.”
“We are working with numerous event partners, including the University of Portsmouth, to provide them with our fishing data to aid their research into the Solent’s flora and fauna, including its native seagrass. The Angling Trust will be bringing newcomers into the sport with special children’s activities. With support from the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, the Local Enterprise Partnership, Gunwharf Quays, The Historic Dockyard and other businesses in the region, the Sea Angling Classic will be a major boost to the local economy.”
Hooked! Online live show
To celebrate the build-up to the Sea Angling Classic, a new online live show Hooked! is being launched in January. Anglers, participants and anyone with an interest in sea angling will be able to join Ross Honey and various guests for the fortnightly online show (streamed via the Sea Angling Classic Facebook page) for an insight into the event, fishing tips, an opportunity to ask questions and much more. Guests will include well-known anglers and event partners Penn, Lowrance, Mercury Engines, Extreme Boats, Rapala and Okuma and Seakeeper and more.
Dates to tune into Hooked!
| Wednesday 12 January at 7.30pm |
| Wednesday 26 January at 7.30pm |
| Wednesday 9 February at 7.30pm |
| Wednesday 23 February at 7.30pm |
| Future dates to be released |
The Sea Angling Classic is being run by Angling Spirit, the organisation behind the hugely successful international World Carp Classic, World Predator Classic and World Street Fishing competitions, which are followed by millions around the globe via TV programmes and a live Leaderboard app.
