GET HOOKED WITH ‘THE BIG CATCH’ TO WIN R1-MILLION CASH!
Thousands of anglers... hundreds of boats... thousands of fishing rods... kilometers of fishing line and one very big ocean. Add to the mix the cunning and survival instinct of millions of fish, some in abundance others rare. All highly desirable and worthy opponents for angler and rod and you have the making of one of the most fiercely contested and televised angling shows in the history of South African fishing.
This is The Big Catch where man, woman and rod will take to the seas on boat or cast from the shores along a number of locations along the southern African coastline. It will take skill, knowledge, experience, determination and perseverance to hook the R1 million cash prize and the prestigious Champion Trophy.
“The competition sets itself apart from other angling competitions in that it offers not only the biggest prize money ever in South Africa, but also an opportunity for angling enthusiasts and the general public to participate in the first-ever reality televised show of an angling competition with intrigue, twists and turns that provide an excitement factor second to none. Thanks to The Big Catch, budding anglers no longer have to dream about being the star of a fishing TV show, but can now be a part of the action,” says Craig Clay-Smith of The Flagship Communications Group, specialist brand, product, sport and marketing agency and producer of The Big Catch.
The Big Catch R1 million cash prize is open to everyone over the age of 18 (the junior category will fish for a prestigious trophy) and participants can fish in as many competition zones as they wish in order to qualify for the Finals. The limited Early Angler registration is R1 450 per angler for the initial entry and a further R575 per additional zone entered. Thereafter the entry fees increase to R1 950. Included in the entry fee is an exclusive membership to the launch of the first national fishing Loyalty Club, which offers membership discounts on a variety of products and angling related items. The R1 million cash prize is guaranteed & secured with the Auditors, Deloitte Durban, South Africa.
Regional eliminations will take place from 1 September to 31 October in zones along the South African coastline, namely KwaZulu-Natal north and south, Port Elizabeth, Struisbaai, Zululand, Mossel Bay, East London and Cape Town. Each zone will be ruled and regulated by categories of fish, which will be scored for points on a catch and release basis. The criteria for advancement are to score the highest points from ranked fish during any one of the elimination rounds. The score will not only be determined by the size of the fish, but will also include species and difficulty of the catch, which is ultimately what counts. The top 3 scoring entrants from each competition zone will then proceed to the national Finals.
Each elimination round will be filmed as part of the TV show, which progresses to a ‘reality’ section where the total entry is reduced to 54 and then to the final 12. The show, which will be broadcast on Supersport later in the year, will run over 14 weeks leading up to the final broadcast where the winner of R1 million cash will be revealed.
In line with the environmental protection of our coastline, The Big Catch has been launched as a strictly ‘tag and release’ competition thereby endorsing the sanctioning of the Oceanic Research Institute, Marine and Coastal Management and the Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism to ensure that environmental and conservation objectives are met at all times. The Big Catch will also assist in oceanic research through the collection and documentation of all catches during the competition. Furthermore, disadvantaged communities along the coastline will benefit through the creation of an education platform on the art of angling, fish species, environmental issues, overall conservation and the protection of the ocean. During each show sponsored inserts will showcase The Big Catch experts in regional communities teaching the art of fishing and the environmental considerations as well as giving away both viewer and participant fishing tackle prizes, so be sure to tune in to the show.
“Entries are limited per region on a first entered first accepted basis, which will be governed by the amount of boat launches and shore anglers permitted per venue. Don’t delay, go online and secure your Early Angler entry today,” concluded Ray de Bruyn fishing celebrity expert and Technical director of the show.
To enter and take advantage of the Early Angler registration, visit www.thebigcatch.co.za and complete the online entry. Details of the fishing zones and dates are also available on the website.
