Over 200 anglers are set to compete in the largest Coarse Fishing Competition ever to hit Scottish waters as part of this year’s Burns an A That! Festival celebrations.

AYRSTRIKE, the Festival Fishing Competition, is expected to attract competitors from all over Scotland in a bid to net the largest cash prize in Scottish fishing history.

The first of 13 stage qualifier rounds will be held at Magiscroft Fisheries, by Cumbernauld, on March 1st.  The winner from each qualifying group will win a place at the prodigious final at Spring Water Fisheries, Ayr on Sunday 25th May.

Gus Brindle, President of The Scottish Federation of Coarse Angling said, ‘This event offers a unique opportunity to promote the competitive sport of Coarse angling in Scotland to a wider audience and ultimately, encourage more into the activity.’

Throughout the competition, the SFCA also aim to introduce angling to school children.  Through the Get Hooked project, sessions will be run by fully qualified and licensed coaches, with the emphasis of setting up a junior AYRSTRIKE competition for the Burns an a that! Festival and Homecoming Scotland in 2009.

Full details of the competition rules and requirements, entry forms and profile forms will be available online from the Fish Scotland website www.fishscotland.co.uk from Friday February 1st.