Fishing catches on again in UK

ANGLING numbers are booming as the UK rekindles its love of fishing in the wake of the Covid pandemic.

More than a million licences were issued last year with the number of people taking to the riverbanks rising almost 20 per cent.

The Environment Agency also recorded a five per cent increase in sales of rod licences to women, while almost a third of new applications in the 15 to 44 age group were from female anglers.

And fishing tackle shops have enjoyed soaring sales, with suppliers even struggling to keep pace with demand.

Neil Spooner, who fronts ITV’S Monster Carp show, predicts figures will rise further in the summer and believes the wave of interest will benefit Britain’s mental health.

He said: “Numbers were dwindling for years but angling is enjoying a resurgence.

“The younger generation are coming into it now.the beauty is, it’s cheap to get started with a rod and the natural high you get from being out in nature is uplifting. People really came back to fishing because it was one of the first things they could do after lockdown. But it also introduced a lot of people to the activity for the first time.

“They are getting so much mental health benefit, as well as enjoying the sport.”

Freshwater fishing requires a rod licence, which costs from £6 a day to £82 per year, while no licences are needed for sea fishing.

Clive Copeland, from the Angling Trust, says: “There have been a number of studies showing how good angling is for mental health. We work with 34 groups that help improve wellbeing with fishing. We expect that to rise to 100 by the end of the year.”

Monster Carp co-presenter Tom Dove added: “It’s about being outside and enjoying the fresh air and hearing the birds sing – rather than being glued to a screen or scrolling through social media. There is a lot of stress around and fishing alleviates that.”

Monster Carp, 8pm, ITV4, from July 7