The money and fame have inspired hoaxes--a 2.5-pound diving weight was found in a big bass in California--but have also inspired a new band of knights to go in search of angling's holy grail.
The ultimate aim is to create an "ecologically coherent" network of protected areas around all UK coasts, safeguarding important natural habitats while allowing other activities such as recreational angling, commercial fishing, surfing and marine energy to go ahead.