Tony OwenFishing · Gogledd Cymru

About Tony

The fishing never really stops teaching you

Tony may have represented Wales internationally, but his fishing story began in the same way it does for many people. Friends. A river. A fishing rod. And curiosity.

Portrait of Tony Owen beside the North Wales coast

The story

A lifetime beside the water

  1. Early years

    Tony begins fishing around age ten, on his local river with school friends.

  2. Shore fishing

    Tony begins shore fishing around age twelve.

  3. Junior competition

    Runner-up junior champion in his first year, junior champion in his second.

  4. Time away

    A period living in London.

  5. Return to competitive fishing

    North Wales, the North West and South Wales.

  6. Representing Wales

    Eight international appearances.

  7. International championships

    Wales, England, Scotland, South Africa, Tunisia, Portugal, Spain and Italy / Sardinia.

  8. 2016 gold

    Welsh team gold medal in England. Tony won his zone on day two.

  9. Teaching

    A formal teaching qualification and experience teaching young people across different abilities.

  10. Why now?

    Passing knowledge on, and seeing somebody else succeed, has become one of the most enjoyable parts of fishing.

International

Where the fishing has taken him

Wales

Home international championships

England

2016 — Welsh team gold

Scotland

Home international championships

South Africa

World championship

Tunisia

World championship

Portugal

International championship

Spain

International championship

Italy / Sardinia

On the international calendar

Team Wales

Pulling on the Welsh shirt

International weeks are long, tiring and completely absorbing — draw bags, peg boards, unfamiliar beaches and a flag that travels everywhere the squad does. The lessons learned there feed straight back into the coaching Tony does at home.

Team Wales at a World Championship opening ceremony
Team Wales at a World Championship opening ceremony
Peg A7 — representing Wales at the World Championship of Shore Angling
Peg A7 — representing Wales at the World Championship of Shore Angling
The Welsh squad behind the País de Gales board
The Welsh squad behind the País de Gales board
The flag travels everywhere the team does
The flag travels everywhere the team does
Competition day, peg board in hand
Competition day, peg board in hand
A competition fish, measured beside the peg
A competition fish, measured beside the peg
On stage with Team Wales at the FIPS-M World Championship
On stage with Team Wales at the FIPS-M World Championship
Silverware for the Welsh squad
Silverware for the Welsh squad
Blazers and medals after an international
Blazers and medals after an international
The squad on the eve of a championship
The squad on the eve of a championship
Angling Cymru in the host town square
Angling Cymru in the host town square
Peg B-13 on competition day
Peg B-13 on competition day
Tony in the Wales international blazer
Tony in the Wales international blazer

The early days

Forty years of tides

Long before the international blazers, it was a rod, a bike and whatever the tide brought in.

Where it started — a young Tony with a plaice from home
Where it started — a young Tony with a plaice from home
Early boat days, and a cracking plaice
Early boat days, and a cracking plaice
Tony Owen kneeling on wet sand with a large bass before releasing it

Fish care

Every fish goes back better than it came in

Wet hands, an unhooking mat, a measure if the fish deserves recording, and back into the water quickly. Guests learn that on day one, whatever they are fishing for.

Competition fishing teaches you to handle fish quickly and accurately under pressure. That same care is what Tony passes on to beginners, children and families.

"Fishing is always teaching you something."
Book with Tony
Book with Tony