ANGLERS PREPARE TO BE HOOKED BY THE FALKLAND ISLANDS

Adventure anglers will be waiting with baited hooks for the start of the Falklands fishing season on 1 September. The remote wilderness, outstanding sea-trout fishing, diversity of locations to cast off, more sunshine hours (and less rainfall) than the UK and stunning backdrops make the Falkland Islands every fisherman’s friend. Whether casting out into the crystal blue waters of the ocean, or enjoying the rivers and treeless banks, the strong runs of fish on the Falklands – a remote group of islands situated approximately 400 miles off the south-eastern tip of South America – will surprise many a keen fisherman. The combination of plentiful fish and the pristine conditions of the waterways, practically untouched by man, make for a real angler’s paradise. From September 1 through April 30, adventure travellers and sport fishermen will find several species to tickle their fancy. And with no need to secure a licence, planning a trip couldn’t be easier. The following are all permissible to catch: • Brown Trout/Sea Trout – Commonly found in many of the rivers and can be quite large – up to 10 pounds. The best time to find brown trout is in September/October and February/March, but they are still plentiful during the other months of the season. • Mullet – A member of the group of fish known as rock cod and commonly found in estuaries and creeks around the Islands. These fish generally range from three to 10 pounds, but mullet of up to 20 pounds have been recorded. • Falklands Minnow - A small slender fish native to and very widespread throughout the Falklands, especially in the lower reaches of streams. While there are many places to fish in the Falklands - including river, estuary and sea fishing locations - top picks include: • Warrah River – Relatively small river in the foothills of Mount Robinson and Muffler Jack Mountain at the northern end of West Falkland, with a reputation for the size and quality of fish rather than quantity. • Chartres River – Smaller than the Warrah and best known for its consistency, deep runs and pools. It’s more common to find larger quantities of fish here. Chartres lies in the south-western foothills of the Hornby Mountains, flowing for 15 miles before running into the sea at Christmas Harbour. • San Carlos River – An easy drive from the capital, Stanley, San Carlos rises between Wickham Heights and White Mountain and flows into the Falkland Sound through a long estuary and Port San Carlos. It is a slow flowing river with some pools as well as good fishing opportunities on the estuary. • Murrell River – Close to the capital, Stanley, on the eastern slopes of Mount Vernet, this short river has a freshwater stretch that is closed to public fishing but the estuary provides excellent opportunities. A number of other spots are regularly fished on full or half day ventures from Stanley and Mount Pleasant including The Frying Pan, Swan Inlet and the Estancia. And when the fish stop biting and the sun sets, expect to spend your evenings feasting on local squid, Blackened Patagonian Toothfish, smoked Upland goose breast pate or butterfly leg of mutton or fish, all local specialities. Falklands Fishy Facts: • Brown / Sea Trout and Mullet are noted for their size on the Falklands. The record for the largest sea trout caught in the Islands is held by Alison Faulkner; at 22lbs 12 ½ oz (approx 10. 3 kg) it is 2 ½ oz heavier than the UK record. • While there are no national statistics for wilderness fishing in the Falklands, the shareholders of the Malo River on East Falkland have maintained a catch record over the last five years. These records show that the average weight of fish caught each year is between 4.2 and 5.3 pounds, while each year the heaviest fish has been over 10 pounds and in the 2006/07 season was a whopping 17 pounds. • Brown Trout were only introduced into the Falkland Islands fifty years ago, however they are in abundance and provide some of the finest fishing around with an average weight of five to eight pounds and recorded catches in excess of ten pounds. Book Now! Specialist fishing tour operator Go Fishing Worldwide (www.gofishingworldwide.co.uk/ 0208 742 1556) offers an eight-night Falklands fishing trip from £1,500 per person based on twin share. The package includes transfers in Stanley, three nights on a full board basis at Kingsford Valley Farm in San Carlos with two days fishing on the San Carlos River, four nights on a full board basis Port Howard Lodge, Port Howard with two days fishing on the Warrah and one day fishing the Chartres, one night on a bed and breakfast basis in Stanley with a city tour and Museum visit, plus all domestic flights. International flights, some meals, gratuities and items of a personal nature are not included. For further information on the Falklands Islands please visit www.falklandislands.com. Media enquiries should be directed to Tryph Greenwood and Suzanne Holiday at Keene on 020 7839 2140 or falklandstourism@keenepa.co.uk. Become a Falklands fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/naturesbestkeptsecret. Notes for Editors: • The Falkland Islands have a raw, unspoilt quality that entices locals and tourists back time and again. Visitors to the Islands are spoilt for choice with more than 227 species of identified birds (including several of the world’s largest endangered breeding colonies), as well as whales, dolphins, elephant seals, sea lions, delicate flora and rugged geographical formations. • The best time to visit the Islands and experience the local culture and wildlife is October to April. The average summer temperature (December to March) is 15º Celsius (59º Fahrenheit) and the Falklands has more sunshine hours and less rainfall than the UK. • There are over 40 international tour operators offering tailor-made packages and escorted tours to the Falkland Islands. See www.falklandislands.com for the latest list. • Visitors can reach the Falklands on the weekly LAN Airways flight via Chile or the charter flight operated twice weekly from RAF Brize Norton in the UK by the Ministry of Defence. • Because the Falkland waters are free of any invasive freshwater algae and fish diseases, anglers are asked to ensure that their gear is checked for any contamination or debris and that it is disinfected before being used. No license is required but there are some locations where there is a nominal fee for land/sea access. There is also a daily bag limit of six trout per angler with the exception of fishing in the Murrell River where the limit is three trout weighing no more than 1.5 lbs. We have sent you this press release because we believe it is of genuine professional interest to you. However, if you do not wish to receive our releases and updates in the future, please reply to this email with ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject line.

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