Mercury UK supports first fishing team: Team Snapbaits

Published on: 30/09/2020

Team Snapbaits will be supported by Mercury UK in their competitive season, the brand's first partnership with a  UK fishing team.

Two brothers from Co Armagh, Steve and Andy, make up Team Snapbaits and they are no strangers to the world of predator fishing having competed at international level world championships in South Africa, England, France, Italy, Slovakia and, of course, Ireland!

The pair have recently rigged their fishing boat with a new 40hp Mercury outboard supplied via authorised dealer Sands Marine and are now ready to head into their first tournament of the season, Predator Battle Ireland.

Run annually, Predator Battle Ireland has become not only Ireland’s but Europe’s most prestigious predator fishing tournament with the top prize of a brand new Alumacraft boat complete with outboard engine and trailer.

The tournament is held on Lough Derg, a freshwater lake in the Shannon River Basin and the third largest in Ireland. It is a long, narrow lake with shores in Counties Clare, Galway and Tipperary with depths of up to 118ft. Although Lough Derg is arguably one of the most beautiful places in Co Clare, it can also be the most dangerous as winds pick up, so this tournament is not one for the faint-hearted.

The three-day tournament will see all competitors catching four pike, three perch and one trout to be in the leading category before the team with the biggest catch wins first place.

To add further challenge to the already action-packed event, only artificial lures can be used which includes a mixture of soft plastic lures, hard bait lures, spinners spoons, wobblers and jigs to tempt the fish.

The scores are based on catching the following species:

Four Pike – the largest of the freshwater species and fairly easily caught, but getting the biggest is no easy task. The minimum size accepted is 60cm, but you need all four to measure at least 100cm to be in the top positions.

Three Perch – again, these are easy to catch, but only when you find them and keeping on top of Perch is hard as they are always moving. Finding the biggest takes a lot of time but can be extremely rewarding as they are a great points builder. 20cm is the minimum accepted but 30cm plus is where you need to be for the chance to maintain a high ranking.

One Trout – it may sound easy, but it couldn’t be less so. More like looking for a needle in a haystack! But, if you’re on top of your game and have the right equipment with you, then getting trout on your boat is possible - although finding a big trout is a rare occasion. Many fall within 25-30cm but 60-70cm can be achieved.

This will be Steve and Andy’s third Predator Battle Ireland tournament. Their highest achievement to date has been second place in 2018, just 3.5cm behind the leaders, so we are wishing them the best of luck to go one better this year!

Follow Mercury Outboards UK and Team Snapbaits on Facebook to keep up to date with their progress this season.

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