The event is held annually each spring in Farnborough and attracts almost 20,000 enthusiastic anglers.

The acquisition complements and strengthens Bauer’s angling media business, which already interacts with 600,000 anglers each month through its portfolio of magazines, digital editions, social media and websites.

This includes last year’s new launch, Carpfeed magazine and www.carpfeed.com, as well as the Angling Times, Improve Your Coarse Fishing, Sea Angler, Trout & Salmon and Trout Fisherman brands.

The Big One will form part of Bauer’s growing specialist events portfolio, which includes the London Motorcycle Show, the MCN Festival and Your Horse Live.

Vince Davies, who launched and owns the event, will continue to work for Bauer as Event Director.

Commenting on the acquisition, Patrick Horton, Managing Director of Sport & Entertainment at Bauer Media, said: “I’m delighted we are acquiring the biggest event in angling and equally delighted that Vince will continue to work with Bauer Media on the show.

“It’s a brilliant event that celebrates the best that fishing has to offer and has great potential in the new, permanent event space in Farnborough. We look forward to putting the weight of Bauer’s angling media behind the event to make it bigger and better.”

The 2018 show will take place on March 24-25 in a new space at Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre.