A FISHERMAN can be forgiven for carping on about his prize catches after appearing in a televised competition.

From thousands of hopefuls, Sam Wadman was reeled in by TV producers to appear in BBC Two’s Earth’s Wildest Waters – The Big Fish.

The 38-year-old, who lives in Brighton with his wife Leila, said: “I’m pretty excited about it really. It’s like the Great British Bake Off, but for fishing.”

Mr Wadman waded into auditions in December last year after seeing the advert in a fishing magazine and called up to get involved.

Filming started earlier this year and went on for several months as the show progressed.

Mr Wadman said: “There were lots of interviews, screen tests, and skill assessments.

“You have to have it all – everyone was a good fisherman, a good personality, the full package.”

The show took place in six countries, with one episode in each country and a competitor getting cast aside at each stage.

He said: “It was a great experience. If you want to find out how I got on, it will all be revealed in the programme.”

Mr Wadman got hooked on fishing from an early age. He said: “I’m a complete fishing nut and have been my whole life. And I love to travel.”

The painter and decorator spends most weekends at home fishing around Sussex.

He said: “I’m an all-rounder. I use all the disciplines available to me and there’s never a dull moment. There’s plenty of variety out there – it’s what you make it, like life in general.”

His travels have taken him to Panama and Costa Rica, where he caught his biggest fish: a tarpon (like a giant herring). He said: “It’s a beautiful fish. It was about 40kg in weight. With fish that size you don’t even take it out of the water.”

His most recent big catch was a European wels catfish (pictured). Another trip to India in 2013 yielded some other whoppers, including a “lively” grouper, a barramundi that “went like a freight train” when he caught it and a black tip reef shark.

He said: “I generally catch fish and release them – I’m not against taking fish for the pot but don’t be greedy.”

To see more of his catches, search for “Sam Wadman Fishing” on Facebook.

Earth’s Wildest Waters – The Big Fish is on BBC Two from Sunday at 8pm for six weeks.