Murchison Falls National Park (MFNP) last week played host to Uganda’s first ever-international sport fishing competition that was won by an Englishman, Tony Cockayne after he caught a 48kg Nile Perch, the largest fish caught during the competition.

The two-day competition took place on 12th and 13th March 2005 and drew participants from eight countries including Iceland, Greece, Zimbabwe, South Africa, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Sweden, and hosts Uganda.

Cockayne, an engineer who has lived in Uganda for 25 years, will now represent the country in the June 2006 World Inshore Finals in Florida, USA organized annually by the US-based International Game Fish Association. “It is the first time I won a sport fishing competition, and I am looking forward to competing in Florida,” Cockayne said.

The competition, which attracted 19 participants including businessmen, diplomats and expatriates, ranked Nile Perch as the highest scoring catch, followed by Catfish, Vundu, Sharptooth and Tigerfish. For two days, competitors zealously fished on the banks of the mighty River Nile from 6.30am to 4.30pm daily.

The organizers, Steve Willis of Red Chilli and Jerry Burley of UMEME Limited said they hope to make it an annual event. They also have plans to link up with fishing associations in Kenya and Tanzania, as well as advertise it widely, so as to attract more competitors from Africa and the rest of the world next year.

Commenting on Tony’s success in the competition Steve Willis said, “Fishing always has an element of luck. But you have to work hard too. Tony was by far the best fisherman in this competition.”

Willis was pleased with the success of the competition. “All went well; all the fish were released alive, and security was good,” he said, adding that, “Next year will definitely be bigger.”

Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), which manages all the national parks in the country, extended a 25 percent discount on park entry fees, boat fees and sport fishing permits to all competitors. Sport fishing has gained increasing popularity in the Murchison Falls National Park, and the magnificent Murchison Falls definitely add to the allure.

Thank you, all who competed, and hope to see more sport fishermen next year!