On Saturday, 9th May 2026, Weston Pools hosted the 10th FishOMania qualifier, where Art Hilmi secured his place in this year’s Grand Final after producing the winning performance at the popular Shropshire venue.

A former FishOMania Grand Final podium finisher, Art added another major result to his record by topping a strong field and booking his return to Westwood Lakes for July’s showpiece event. Drawn on peg 19 on Weir Pool, Art weighed 193lb of carp and F1s to claim victory and finish clear of the chasing pack. His catch proved enough to secure qualification and continue his impressive record in major commercial fishery events.

Lee Riley finished in second place with 176lb 3oz from peg 36 on Clay Pit. He enjoyed a productive day’s fishing but was unable to close the gap on the eventual winner. Third place went to Ben Summerscales, who weighed 169lb 10oz from peg 2 on Weir Pool to complete the top three.

Art is no stranger to the FishOMania spotlight. The talented match angler finished third in the 2022 FishOMania Grand Final and has remained a regular contender in some of the sport’s biggest events. His qualification at Weston Pools ensures another experienced name joins an increasingly strong Grand Final line-up. With previous experience of competing on the biggest stage, he will undoubtedly be among the anglers fancied to challenge for the title this summer.

Weston Pools has built a reputation as one of the country’s leading commercial fisheries and once again produced a strong set of weights throughout the field, rewarding anglers who could consistently put carp and F1s in the net.

FishOMania 2026 Finalists

• Brad Lucas (2025 FishOMania Winner)
• Matt Redman
• Jake Fowles
• Jake Dye
• Chris Barley
• Jamie Hughes
• Harry Campbell
• Chris Reilly
• James Fuller
• Steve Openshaw
• Art Hilmi

Attention now turns to The Oaks Lakes at Sessay in North Yorkshire, where another sold-out FishOMania qualifier will take place on Saturday, 16th May 2026. A further place in the Grand Final will be up for grabs as the race to Westwood Lakes continues.

Spectator tickets for the 2026 FishOMania Grand Final at Westwood Lakes on Saturday, 18th July 2026, are still available.

• Entry: £7.00 per person
• Group of 4: £20.00
• A service fee and £2.95 booking fee per order apply
• Parking: £7.00 per car / £10.00 per van (available when booking)

Head over to the FishOMania website to get your tickets now.