David Shires emerged victorious at the 2024 FishOMania Grand Final at Westwood Lakes in Boston, Lincolnshire with a final weight of 45.650 kg live on Sky Sports Action in the UK.
Shires made a strong start, leading with a substantial 9.025 kg haul within the first 30 minutes, the largest of the day. By the hour mark, he maintained his lead with a total of 13.100 kg, closely followed by defending champion Matt Dawes, who moved into second place with 11.875 kg.
As the competition progressed, Shires temporarily lost his lead. Two-time champion Andy Bennett surged ahead, securing the top position with a total weight of 22.350 kg, while the 2022 champion Kristian Jones climbed into second. Dawes dropped to fourth, with three-time FishOMania champion Jamie Hughes trailing in fifth, 18.700 kg behind the leader.
In the early afternoon, Shires mounted a comeback, narrowly regaining the lead by just 400 grams ahead of Kieran Marsden, who held on to second place. Bennett’s dream of a third title faded as he slipped to sixth.
At 3:30 pm, Jimmy Brooks made a dramatic late charge, posting an impressive 7.250 kg weigh-in to take the lead, with a 2.350 kg margin over Marsden. However, the final weigh-in brought a twist as Shires reclaimed the top spot in crucial timing, ultimately securing victory by the slenderest of margins—just under 2kg ahead of runner-up Marsden.
David Shires’ triumph marks his first FishOMania title, etching his name into the competition’s storied history with a total weight of 45.15 kg.
Additional Highlights
Andy Bennett, Kristian Jones, and Gary Ainscough each won their respective lake sections, earning £2,000 for the heaviest catches in their areas. Meanwhile, Matt Dawes, last year’s champion, put up a valiant effort, finishing in fourth place with a total of 38 kg.
Notably, the youngest finalist, 15-year-old Ted Stewart, made a commendable debut, finishing 20th with a total weight of 18.900 kg, marking a promising start to his FishOMania career.
