The Angling Trust and the National Crucian Conservation Project (NCCP) have once again teamed up with the Association of Crucian Anglers to organise the Catch a Crucian photographic competition. Thanks to Angling Direct and Dynamite Baits there are some great prizes of offer, with entries to be judged by a panel of leading crucian crusaders including Hugh Miles from Passion for Angling, author and crucian expert Peter Rolfe, angling artist Chris Turnbull and big fish specialist Gary Newman.
The competition, which is open to all and will run throughout July, August and September, is designed to promote crucians as a species, to assist in the recognition of true crucians, to encourage more anglers to take up crucian fishing and to highlight the need to develop specific crucian waters.
Since its launch five years ago, the NCCP has inspired interest from all over the country with clubs and fishery owners creating a number of new, bespoke crucian fisheries. They were often helped by the Environment Agency’s fish farm at Calverton who increased their production of true crucians to support these stocking initiatives. Crucian production at Calverton between 2014 and 2018 saw a staggering total of 172,155 DNA-tested crucians stocked into 244 separate waters.
The Angling Trust and Environment Agency now receive regular requests from angling clubs and fisheries for advice on how to set up new crucian waters or restore derelict pools to their former glory. Funding for this work is available through the Environment Agency Fisheries Improvement Programme, which is accessible via local EA Fisheries Officers.
On the announcement of a fourth Catch a Crucian Photo Competition in 2019 James Champkin, Campaigns Officer for the Angling Trust, said: “It’s brilliant that we’ve been able to continue this popular competition into its fourth year. The National Crucian Conservation Project is a very rewarding initiative to be involved in and it’s fantastic to be receiving so many enquiries from angling clubs across the country that want to set up their own specialised crucian fisheries. It really does seem as though this endearing species now has a bright future.”
How to enter
Entries are free of charge and will be online via the special competition website. Simply follow the instructions on the website to register then go catch your crucian anytime in July, August or September and get snapping.
Most competitions in fishing revolve around catching the biggest or the most fish but this initiative from Britain’s crucian enthusiasts to promote their favourite species is to be judged more on the quality of the photography rather than the size of the captures.
Entrants will even find some top tips for taking a great fishing photo, which award winning film maker Hugh Miles has kindly produced for the event.
There will be three categories for entries with the best three photos in each winning prizes:
- Best Photo of a Crucian
- Best Scenic Photo of a Crucian Water
- Best Photo of a Junior with a Crucian
Thanks to some generous sponsorship from Angling Direct and Dynamite Baits, each of the four main winners gets a £100 Angling Direct tackle voucher, plus a special Dynamite Baits bundle containing crucian groundbaits, pellets and additives.
Our judges will choose three finalists in each category and all nine finalists will receive the Bait-Tech bait package. All appropriate entries will be displayed on the competition website and we are hoping for a great selection for the judges to choose from.
Oliver Harper, Angling Direct’s Marketing Manager, said: “What a great competition! Not only does it encourage the next generation of crucian anglers but directly helps to raise the awareness of crucian conservation across the UK. Angling Direct are again, very proud to be associated with the National Crucian Conservation Project and to support this great competition. We hope the winners not only use our Gift Vouchers to buy the crucian tackle they desire but helps them all catch some quality crucian carp to match.”
Daryl Hodges, Head of Marketing for Dynamite Baits, said: “It’s a fantastic competition that gives anglers the opportunity to target one of the UK’s most iconic summer species while also helping to protect them. Lots of anglers also use our baits to catch crucians so we needed little persuasion to get involved.”
Peter Rolfe, crucian expert and competition judge, concluded: “This competition goes from strength to strength and I am already looking forward to seeing more superb crucian photographs. It’s wonderful to find out how many people, young and old, are now fishing for crucians.”
