The World Pike Fishing Cup at Holbina: the story of the competition
Between 2015 and 2018, Holbina's private lake hosted Pike Challenge, the World Pike Fishing Cup: an international competition for two-angler teams fishing from boats, catch and release. Here is what happened at the first editions, from public sources.
2015: the first edition
The first edition took place from 21 to 25 May 2015, with 18 teams. The trophy went to Daiwa France, followed by Rapala Romania and Strikepro Romania.
2016: 21 teams from 10 countries
At the second edition, on 21–22 May 2016, 21 teams from 10 countries competed. Teams were ranked by the combined length of their largest pike: ten in the first 13-hour round and five in the second 7-hour round. Only pike that left the official measuring point alive could score.
The winners were Telekom Himalaya (David Neacșu and Ionuț Ioniță) with 1,150 cm, followed by Givadi Romania (Dorin Popa and Richard Pavel) with 1,130 cm and Fox Rage France with 1,088 cm. The biggest pike of the competition measured 98 cm.
2018: the fourth edition
At the fourth edition, in May 2018, crews from nine countries fished two rounds of 14 and 7 hours through rain, storms and sun. Luigi and Mihai Ionescu, father and son from Romania, won, and the biggest pike, at 109 cm, was caught by the Croatian crew Ervin Vanoser and Ervin Vanoser jr.
The then governor of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, Mălin Mușătescu, called it the most important international pike fishing competition in Romania.
What it means for anglers today
You fish the same private 1,200-hectare lake the teams competed on, under the same principles: artificial lures and catch and release. Access is exclusively for overnight guests.