The Angling Trust has given a warm welcome to the news that BBC 2's bold new global fishing programme, The Big Fish, will feature a return to the screen for Matt Hayes as judge and co - presenter alongside Ben Fogle. Matt, who is also an Angling Trust ambassador, has made many successful fishing programmes including The Great Rod Race, Wet Nets and Mainstream and he hosted his own successful fishing show Total Fishing for a number of years. Matt is a genuine all rounder who has caught large fish from all over the world on all manner of methods.
The Big Fish aims to test the skills of some of Britain's best amateur anglers, in some of the most dramatic and challenging places on earth from tropical seas to frozen rivers and lakes. This will be more than a competition to find Britain's best all-round angler - it is an expedition around the world with a fishing rod.
Last year the Angling Trust helped to promote The Big Fish by encouraging anglers with the necessary skills and experience to apply to be considered as one of the participants.
Martin Salter, National Campaigns Co-ordinator for the Angling Trust said:
"I can think of nobody better suited to breathe life, humour and expertise into this competitive fishing adventure than Matt Hayes. This is a man who is just at home battling marlin in the Gulf of Mexico as he is casting a fly for salmon or a dead bait for a winter pike. What's more Matt is a great communicator with a large and established following which almost guarantees the programme a good audience even before the first cast is made."
Angling Trust Chief Executive Mark Lloyd added:
"It really is very welcome that the BBC is promoting angling in this way and challenges the impression, that had been gaining traction in some quarters, that the BBC is somehow 'anti angling'. I have no doubt that such a high profile programme will be a great advert for our sport and will also help the Angling Trust with our wide range of programmes to get more people of all ages to take up angling."
Matt Hayes has described the series as "the most significant media event in the sport since the BBC's classic ‘Passion For Angling’ and says "I’m thrilled to be a part of it."
He added:
"It takes the sport into the homes of millions of families and gives them an insight into the skills required to be a truly great angler. It’s going to be a blend of calm and precision mixed with explosive action and sharp teeth. And all the drama will take place in some of the most spectacular locations on the planet."
Each programme will see the contestants travelling to a different country with very distinct climates, landscapes and habitats around the world where they will be tested using a wide range of techniques under the watchful eye of experts. The contestants will use knowledge gained from locals on how to find the perfect spot to land a catch, and will face challenges which combine their own experience and talents with newly learnt skills.
The Big Fish is scheduled to be broadcast on BBC 2 later this year.
Source: Angling Trust Fishing News
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