Final countdown: Strong field of 30 anglers set for Pwllheli showdown for Shore DragonMania prize

The Angling Cymru DragonMania Welsh Shore Angling Championships culminate at Pwllheli this weekend – with 30 anglers vying to be crowned champion for 2025.

In what will be the fourth Shore DragonMania final, another stellar field also includes a former winner, a host of international anglers and a two-time former world shore champion.

It will be the second time Pwllheli has hosted this final, having also done so back in 2022 when Pembrokeshire angler Ben Edwards was crowned the inaugural winner.  

So what will this year hold?

Ahead of Saturday’s final, Three Herrings SAC member and world championship angler Tony Owen – who is among those hoping for a good day and a share of the £1,500 prize pot – offered some insight on the venue.

“Pwllheli should throw up the usual summer species with bream being the main target,” he said.

“Other species expected are wrasse, gurnard, red mullet, dragonet etc; the main question is will the garfish turn up? If they do, they are well worth targeting.

“Rigs should be aimed at the bream, also longer rigs for garfish.

“Huss and tope are often caught, but it's a gamble targeting these fish as they don't always turn up.

“We are fishing Pwllheli at the correct time of year and is Wales top continental type beach (when calm). With Mediterranean species and warm shallow waters, the gulf stream enables fish which enjoy warmer waters to feed in the area.”

Pwllheli will welcome 30 anglers for this year's Shore DragonMania final on Saturday.

Tony added: “There are a lot of quality anglers from the north, plus several from our southern friends which include 2022 winner at Pwllheli Ben Edwards.

“The winner therefore will have to fish very well to take the title.

“Hopefully Pwllheli shows its magic at the weekend and anglers enjoy fishing the final.”

Bidding to regain the title will be Ben Edwards (Neyland SAC) in what is also his fourth DragonMania final appearance in four attempts.

He said: “All the finals have been filled with good anglers, so it's been tough each time. The fact that there's 30 of us this time will make it harder again.

“You always need a bit of luck to win a comp and I had a fair amount last time round here, winning with just the one gar.

“But I've got a lot more idea on how to fish the venue now – and honed my gar techniques – so I'm more confident going into it this time.

“I'd like to think if I did win it again it wouldn't be all down to luck this time!

“I'm hoping the weather doesn't blow up so it'll be targeting the bream and garfish, if they show up!

“I had a tidy result in an open on Pwllheli last year, so with any luck I can repeat that.

“If the fishing is good, it is one of my favourite match venues in Wales, but it can be rock solid, so we will see…”

Ben Edwards is looking to win DragonMania at Pwllheli for a second time.

Last month, Ben was part of the Wales men’s shore team crowned Home Nations champions. On Saturday, his team mates from that glorious week Dorian Harris, Craig Maddock and Welsh shore men’s team manager Ivor Smith will also be bidding to win DragonMania.

Also among the DragonMania finalists once again is north Walian Alan Price – world champion back in 2002 and 2012.

In what was a slightly expanded format for this year, there were six qualifiers rather than four, with the Angling Cymru Sea Anglers North, East and South West regions hosting two qualifiers each.

The top five at each venue made it through to the final.

Qualifiers from each venue:

North Channel (8 March): Shaun Tucker, Scott Busher, Keith Williams, Ben Edwards, Steve Tucker.

Cold Knap Pebbles (31 May): Will Irving, Ian Carpenter, Mark Cruickshank, Jamie Mills, Matthew Jones.

St Brides (28 June): Gary Parsons, Dean Roper, Dave Bowering, Robbie Wall, Dave Evans.

Holyhead Breakwater (28 June): Rich Hughes, Jim Morris, Allan Hughes, Tony Owen, Ray Wheeler.

Abererch (26 July): Danny Parker, Alan Price, Dewi Parry, Iwan Jones, Deian Parry.

Pendine (26 July): Josh Norris, Ivor Smith, Dorian Harris, Craig Maddock, Richard Morgan.

The prize money pot for this year’s final is as follows:

Total prize fund: £1,500

Overall winner: £600

Zone 1 & 2 winners: £200 each

Zone 1 & 2 runner-up: £150 each

Zone 1 & 2 third place: £100 each

The final will take place at Pwllheli on Saturday (9 August) with fishing from 8am until 12noon.

Info for finalists: Meet at Caffi Largo between 6.30am and 7am for peg draw. Pegging will be from the cafe and left towards Gimblet Rock.

Embankment Road, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, LL53 5AB