A new competition hoping to introduce a league format to commercial match fishing has revealed the twenty anglers set to compete in its first season.
The Fishub Premier League will bring together a fixed field of invited anglers who will fish four rounds each season. The opening match is scheduled for 20th April 2026 at Tunnel Barn Farm, one of the most recognisable venues on the UK commercial circuit.
Instead of building around a single final, the series will see the same anglers competing repeatedly across the season. Points will be awarded in each round, allowing form and consistency to build before an overall champion is crowned.
The Anglers Competing in the Premier League
The reveal video confirmed a lineup that mixes major title winners with anglers who have built strong reputations through consistent performances in televised finals and big match events.
The 20 anglers are:
- Andy Bennett – 2 x FishOMania Champion (2019, 2020)
- Andy Power – 4 x UK Angling Champion (2013, 2016, 2020, 2021)
- Brad Lucas – FishOMania Champion 2025
- Craig Edmunds – Parkdean Masters Winner 2018
- Dale Shepherd – 4 x FishOMania Finalist
- Dean Lock – Fish South Finalist (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
- Harry Bignell – FishOMania Champion 2021
- James Howarth – Maver Match This Champion 2025
- Jamie Hughes – 3 x FishOMania Champion (2013, 2015, 2017)
- Jimmy Brooks – 6 x Maver Match This Finalist
- John Harvey – Parkdean Masters Final Winner 2023
- Jordan Holloway – 3 x FishOMania Finalist
- Lee Thornton – Fish North Champion 2024
- Mikey Williams – Daiwa Pole Masters Champion 2025
- Paul Holland – Parkdean Masters Final Winner 2021
- Pete Upperton – Maver Match This Champion 2015
- Robbie Taylor – 2 x FishOMania Finalist
- Steve Forster – 2 x UK Championships Winner
- Tom Edwards – 3 x Maver Match This Finalist
- Tom Scholey – Drennan Knockout Cup Champion 2015
Several of the sport’s most recognisable names appear in the field. Former FishOMania champions Andy Bennett, Harry Bignell and Jamie Hughes are all included, alongside the reigning champion Brad Lucas, who secured the title at Westwood Lakes last summer.
Alongside them are anglers who have built reputations through years of results on the commercial circuit. Names such as Craig Edmunds, Jordan Holloway and Jimmy Brooks will already be familiar to anglers who follow major opens and televised finals.
A League Format Instead of a Single Match
The structure of the competition is one of the main talking points. Speaking on the Guru Weigh In podcast, Andy Bennett explained that the plan for 2026 is to run two seasons, each made of four matches. Anglers will pay £500 per season to compete, which works out at £125 per match.
Points will be awarded based on finishing positions in each round. The angler with the highest total at the end of the series will be crowned the Premier League champion.
Bennett also hinted that the concept could expand if interest grows. One idea already being discussed is the creation of additional divisions, which could introduce a system of promotion and relegation between leagues.
Opening Round at Tunnel Barn Farm
Beginning the series at Tunnel Barn Farm feels like a deliberate choice. The Warwickshire venue has long been a fixture on the commercial match calendar and regularly hosts large open matches. Its lakes are heavily stocked with carp and F1, producing big weights while still demanding careful feeding and accurate fishing.
Many of the anglers in the Premier League lineup will already have plenty of experience there, which should make the opening round particularly competitive.
Fishub and Capital Catch Behind the New Series
The competition has been launched by Fishub, which has been expanding its presence in organised fishing events and online angling content. The Premier League is being developed alongside Capital Catch Competitions, whose prize competitions have gained a following among anglers in recent years.
By introducing a structured league format, organisers appear to be aiming for something that fans can follow over time rather than focusing solely on one-off matches.
A Format That Could Grow
League structures remain unusual within match fishing. Most competitions still revolve around qualifiers and single-day finals. The Premier League takes a slightly different approach. With the same anglers meeting repeatedly across the season, rivalries and form lines should begin to emerge.
If the format works as intended, the first season in 2026 could be the starting point for a much larger competition structure in the future.
