Celebrity angler joins competitors at black bass championships in Nackawic, Fredericton

Some of the best anglers in the world are casting their lines into the St. John River also known as Wolastoq this week for international bragging rights.

Fredericton and Nackawic are hosting the Pan-American Black Bass Championship.

It's the biggest fishing tournament ever held in Canada, according to Adam Foster, media director for the Canadian International Sportfishing Association and a Team Canada member.

As many as 200 competitors from 10 countries are expected, as well as thousands of fans, said Foster.

Competitors hail from as far away as Mexico, Colombia, Puerto Rico and South Africa, he said.

Among the big names taking part is a man sometimes referred to as the Wayne Gretzky of fishing Bob Izumi.

Izumi hosted a television show called Real Fishing for 38 years. He travelled the world fishing up to 320 days a year.

Now,Izumi said,he's "enjoying life," competing in tournaments like this one and doing seminars for corporate sponsors.

Tournament fishing is close to his heart and something he said he's been addicted to since he was 15 years old.

He saidhe's pleased to be back in New Brunswick, having filmedsome episodes of his show in the province in the 1980s and 1990s.

The bass have gotten bigger since then, he said.

"This is a world-class fishery here," said Izumi, who did some practice fishing on the river Monday, ahead of the tournament.

He and his fellow anglers caught "numerous bass" using different techniques, he said.

"They're hard-fighting, river small-mouth. There's lots of them. I'm like, 'This is like dying and going to heaven.'"

Foster, now in his mid-40s, has loved fishing since he was old enough to hold a pole.

He recallsmany a Saturday morning watching Izumi's show with a bowl of cereal.

"We're honoured to have him as Team Canada captain," he said.

'All about the heart'

Each country's team is made up of eight smaller two-person teams.

There is a lot of team spirit among the Canadian pairs, said Foster.

"You share, and you get to expand and explore a whole new avenue of tournament fishing that's all about the heart and not about the wallet," he said.

Usually tournament fishing has big-money prizes.

But for this one, there is no prize money at stake, just a title.

That hasn't stopped many people from spending a lot of money and effort to get here.

Another big-name competitor is Jacob Wheeler, who is currently the number one angler in the world, according to the website BassFan.com, with total career earnings of $3.8 million as of Aug. 13.

The defending champion, Team USA, is stacked with professional, full-time anglers, said Izumi.

Team Canada has a few people who fish full-time on the American bass circuit, called theBassmaster EliteSeries, as well, including Jeff Gustafson and Cooper Gallant.

Some members of Team Mexico were out practising yesterday near Woodstock, said Izumi.

A compound has been installed next to the Delta hotel for dozens of boats.

Boats will launch, or "blast off," one at a time from the Big Axe Marina in Nackawic.

On Thursday, all catches will be for practice only.

Heaviest catch wins

Teams will fish throughout the day on Friday and Saturday, and at the end of the day they pick their five best catches.

The heaviest fish, from the four best pairs from each country, will be tallied.

Weighing will take place at the marina in Nackawic.The country with the heaviest total weight wins.

The fish have to be alive when they're weighed, and the goal is to live release them afterwards, said Izumi.

Many of the fish caught will be six to 12 years old, he said.The larger ones can weigh about five pounds, or 2.27 kilograms.

"We want to put them back, just like with the Atlantic salmon you want toprotect that fishery," Izumi said.

A one-hour show will be streamed on YouTube each day of the competition, said Foster. Links will be posted on the Canada Bass Facebook page, he said.

Besides coverage during the event, an episode of the Fish'n Canada Show is also being recorded for broadcast during its regular season.

Opening ceremony Wednesday

During the competition there will also be an angling industry exposition.

The association's mission is to grow the sport of competitive fishing, said Foster. He's thrilled to have a chance to show off the region.He expects it will help put the area on the map as a destination for sport fishing.

Various levels of government have contributed to the organizing costs, hoping it pays off in tourism promotion.

The opening ceremony, planned for Wednesday in Fredericton, kicks off at 4 p.m. and includes a country-by-country march onto the stage in Officers' Square, a live band, celebrity speakers and a street party with food, beverage and other vendors.