Approximately 3.5 million people are hooked on it making it the single most popular participant sport in the UK and with National Fishing Festival Week starting on Saturday August 16th, the number of fishing claims is set to rise as anglers set foot on the banks says Halifax General Insurance.
While the ongoing costs of permits and bait are relatively small, the price of equipment can be quite considerable according to Ben Miles from ‘Angling Times’, the biggest-selling fishing weekly publication.
He said: “A cheap, junior starter pack is around £ 60 upwards, but a decent rod and reel for a more committed angler can quite easily top £ 500 or £ 600 – and that’s without the accompanying boxes, nets, floats and hooks.”
Professional anglers can head for a day on the riverbank or out on a boat with thousands of pounds worth of equipment. Even a novice will be carrying quite a few hundred pounds of fishing tackle. However, much of it is not covered under normal household contents policies if people do not tell their insurer about it, and they do not have cover for items taken away from the home.
Howard Posner, Managing Director of Halifax Insurance – one of the companies that does cover fishing tackle – said its average angling claim is between £ 800 and £ 1,000.
“The most common claims we receive are from anglers who’ve left their rod, reel and tackle on the riverbank, or by their cars and driven off and left it,” said Mr Posner.
Halifax General Insurance recommends telling your insurer what tackle you have, its replacement value, and making sure you are fully covered for personal belongings away from the home.
“You can add cover that will protect your tackle when you’re away from the home for around £ 40 a year, but it gives you peace of mind,” he said.
Halifax General Insurance covers fishing tackle at home to the value of £ 2,000 automatically. Halifax covers fishing tackle away from the home if customers opt for ‘away from the home’ personal belongings cover.
Halifax uses full postcodes to calculate insurance premiums.
For details about Halifax General Insurance, phone 0800 028 2498 or visit www.halifax.co.uk/insurance
