Masters from 11 Countries Gather at Shengshui Lake: Zhushan, Hubei to Host First International Boat Fishing Championship in September
Organized by the China Fishing Sports Association and Zhushan County Tourism Association, the China·Zhushan 2023 Shengshui Lake International Boat Fishing Championship will be held from September 8 to 12 at Shengshui Lake Resort in Shangyong Town, Zhushan County, Hubei Province. At that time, 20 boat fishing masters from 10 countries—South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Austria, Spain, Czech Republic, United States, Australia, Sweden, and New Zealand—will gather with over 90 Chinese boat fishing athletes at Shengshui Lake to exchange skills and compete.
Kayak boat fishing, introduced to China in 2013, has been around for ten years and is currently a fishing sport in China that can align with international standards. Known for its fashion, health, and environmental friendliness, kayak boat fishing promotes the eco-friendly philosophy of "catch-measure-release," which is popular among anglers at home and abroad. Over the past decade, the China Fishing Sports Association has been dedicated to building a platform for international exchange and competition, inviting world-class boat fishing masters to China, giving Chinese athletes opportunities to compete with top players and continuously improve their skills. After ten years of hard work, Chinese boat fishing athletes have steadily learned, competed extensively both domestically and internationally, and tested their skills in various tournaments, narrowing the gap with world leaders. From knowing nothing about boat fishing, they have grown to occupy a place in the global boat fishing arena, gradually stepping onto the world stage.
The competition event is a boat fishing lure target fish length competition, with target fish being Mongolian redfin and topmouth culter. The fish body length (distance from the naturally closed mouth to the tip of the tail fin) must be equal to or greater than 25 cm. The competition lasts three days, one session per day, each session lasting 6 hours. Anglers submit six target fish per session to calculate the single-session score. The total score ranks the overall length of eighteen fish from three sessions; if less than eighteen fish, the actual number of target fish submitted is used. Each fish must be submitted with a qualified photo and a corresponding release video to be valid. Prizes are awarded to the top 10 anglers in total score and the angler with the longest single fish. Total prize money is USD 30,000 before tax, with the champion receiving USD 10,000.
Shengshui Lake Resort is one of Shiyan's first forest health and wellness tourism demonstration bases, Hubei's top ten sports tourism destinations, and a provincial-level tourist resort. The scenic area is located 10 kilometers south of Zhushan County town, Shiyan City, in Shangyong Town, covering a planned area of 55.5 square kilometers. Relying on Shengshui Lake, Jiunü Peak, Shangyong Ancient Town, and the 3600-year-old Shangyong culture, it is the only tourist resort in China themed on Shangyong culture, making it an ideal destination for leisure, vacation, conferences, health and wellness, and study tours. Since 2018, the scenic area has successfully hosted the China Boat Fishing (Lure) Open (CHINA OPEN) sub-stations for four consecutive years. The China Fishing Sports Association has successively awarded Zhushan County the titles of "National Excellent Organization Unit for Fishing Competitions," "National Boat Fishing Competition Training Base," and "CAA Decade Fishing Project Outstanding Contribution Award."
