International Surfcasting Friendship Cup
Greece Match 2025
Xylokastro
Our intrepid member Harry Mckee was the solo representative from Northern Ireland Federation of Sea Anglers to make the trip to Greece this year. Harry explains further.
I arrived at Athens airport on Monday morning for my week's stay to be picked up and driven to the hotel Riviera by Margaritis Stogiannidis of the ACADEMY OF FISHING ACTIVITIES GREECE. Hotel was excellent and spotless and all staff were fully friendly with nothing that was too much trouble.
The first 3 days were used up by rig making and respooling of reels with very little fishing, though I did venture out onto the beach to try a few newly tied rigs. In between times I was entertained and fed by Alex, Margaritis and Rena who took me out to various restuarants and cafes along with Olli and Kirt and Ower, the 3 German lads who had also arrived early.
Practice day was on Thursday with a few hours spent trying to work out methods and rigs.
Competition days were Friday and Saturday. The wind dropped and flattened the sea out and this, along with bright sunshine, slowed up catches slightly. Nonetheless I would say average fish catches would have been around 7 fish per session per angler. And such a variety of fish of all colours and shapes with predominantly wrasse type fish featuring along with small bream. Korean worms on pop up were the order of the day. Casting was super easy with the targeted area of weed banks varying from 40m to 70m distance. Stewards measured the fish and the catch was rechecked back at the hotel.
I managed to achieve 12th place in the listings which I was very pleased with.
The opening and closing ceremony went super slick with the mayor of the town making a welcome address to the anglers, after a parade through the town with dancers in traditional dress and a lovely melodic youth band.
This is all about friendship and companionship with a lot of top class anglers, both male and female, and young anglers participating in what is a lovely match. I met new friends, too numerous to mention individually but all were great craic.
I would like to thank all the Greek academy who worked tirelessly bringing anglers from airport to hotel and running the competition so seamlessly. In particular my new friends Alex, Margaritas and Rena. I can’t wait to return to Greece next year, but hope to see some of you at our own competition in October here in Northern Ireland.
Until the next time my friends
