Udupi: Udupi Anglers will host the Angling Competition 2026 at Mattu Beach on Aug 23, with around 70 teams from various parts of the country competing.After last year’s strong turnout, which included international participants from the Gulf, this year, contestants will vie for prizes worth lakhs of rupees in categories including the heaviest catch and the highest cumulative catch. Ganesh Poojary, convener of the Udupi Anglers, told TOI that Mattu Beach, with its sea-erosion barrier, provides an ideal setting for the competition. He said fish species including Barramundi, Grouper, Snapper, Barracuda, Giant Trevally and Ladyfish are found at Mattu Beach. During spawning season, those fish come close to the shore to breed, he said.“Though there is no breakwater at Mattu Beach, the spot where the event will be held, has boulders placed along the coast, to prevent sea erosion. We have enough space to organise an angling competition between Mattu and Padukere, where boulders are laid against the sea. Anglers can stand on the boulders to fish for the competition,” he said, adding that the event was organised for the first time at Mattu Beach on Aug 24, 2025.“Last year’s event saw an overwhelming response with 60 teams of three members each. This year, we are capping at around 70 teams because the space along the shore is limited. Last year, four teams of NRIs living in Dubai came specifically for this event. This year, we don’t have overseas teams, but we have participants from Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, and Bihar, along with Karnataka teams, including enthusiasts from Bangalore, Chitradurga, etc,” said Poojary.Winners will be decided based on total weight of the fish. The first, second and third place holders will be awarded Rs 33,000, Rs 22,000, and Rs 11,000, respectively. Besides this, fishing gear companies will also sponsor various gifts worth over Rs 2 lakhs. There is also a separate ‘Big Catch’ prize of Rs 5,000 for the single largest fish caught, said Poojary.It will not be a catch-and-release event. The organisers weigh the fish and return them to the participant. The biggest single catch recorded last year was an 8 kg stingray, he added.
