Jul 30, 2026

Meet Gabriel Alves: Exploring London’s Urban Fishing Scene & His International Fishing Adventures

Hi there,

We love hearing from anglers who take their gear everywhere and find fish in unexpected places. That is exactly why we’re excited to introduce you to Gabriel Alves, a passionate urban angler, content creator, and Rigged and Ready customer and fan of the brand.

Gabriel is 24 years old, born in Brazil and raised in the UK, mainly in London. Fishing has been part of his life since childhood, starting with family trips back to Brazil.

“Fishing was always the main activity I shared with my grandfather and dad. That’s where I first learned the excitement of catching fish and developed a real appreciation for being out on the water.”

After settling in the UK, fishing became more of a distant memory, until around four years ago when Gabriel rediscovered the sport in London’s canals, rivers, and urban waters.

“I truly fell back in love with it, as I began discovering what I needed to fish in the UK and what species could realistically be targeted in a city like London.”

Now, Gabriel shares his fishing journey on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, showing what London has to offer anglers and proving that fish can thrive in the most surprising places.

Follow Gabriel on TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@fishing.with.gabr?_r=1&_t=ZN-96jM6FHGOdK

Follow Gabriel on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/fishingwgabriel?igsh=aGg0cTFvaDBwMHhx

Follow Gabriel on YouTube:
https://youtube.com/@fishwithgabriel?si=ine-zE_9fIexrb-R

CHECK OUT THE FISH RIG TELESCOPIC SERIES

From Canal Perch to Pike, Barbel and Urban Adventures

Gabriel started fishing the Grand Union Canal in Watford with a simple Waggler setup and maggots, catching small silver fish and the occasional perch. Before long, he found himself drawn to predator fishing.

“Catching my first pike was unforgettable. Seeing those menacing teeth and feeling the power, they could produce, even at a small size, completely hooked me.”

His fishing journey later took him to the River Wandle, a small chalk stream in South London with an incredible history and a surprising range of species, including trout, carp, chub and barbel.

FOLLOW GABRIEL ON INSTAGRAM

“Having never caught a barbel before, I couldn’t believe such a powerful fish could live in a stream that size.”

On 21 June 2024, Gabriel caught his first barbel, followed by five more in the same session.

“It was one of those days that completely changes the way you see fishing.”

Gabriel has recently been taking his fishing even further afield, heading to Honduras for a proper tropical adventure. In temperatures reaching 39°C, he fished on the island of Roatán, casting into crashing waves and showing exactly why compact travel rods make so much sense when you want to explore new waters. It is the kind of fishing that looks wild, exciting and unpredictable — hot sun, moving surf, rocky edges, saltwater species and the chance that almost anything could turn up.

Gabriel’s Fishing Adventure to Honduras

He also visited Lake Yojoa, Honduras’ largest natural lake, where the scenery is completely different but just as exciting for anglers. The lake is known for freshwater fishing, with species such as **bass, tilapia, jaguar cichlid and fat snook** found in its waters. For someone like Gabriel, who enjoys searching out unusual and overlooked fishing opportunities, Honduras offered the perfect mix of saltwater adventure and freshwater discovery.

For travelling anglers, Honduras has plenty to offer. Around Roatán and the Bay Islands, anglers can target exciting saltwater species including **bonefish, permit, tarpon, barracuda, snapper, grouper, tuna, wahoo and mahi-mahi**, while inland waters such as Lake Yojoa offer a very different style of fishing. Gabriel’s trip is a great reminder that fishing does not have to be predictable — with the right compact gear, a sense of adventure and a willingness to explore, there are fishing opportunities almost anywhere in the world.

Gabriel’s Rigged and Ready Gear

As a mobile urban angler, Gabriel needs tackle that is compact, reliable and ready to go wherever the fishing takes him. Two of the Rigged and Ready rods he has used are the telescopic Fish Rig 180 and the Fish Rig Max.

Gabriel is also now fishing with the new Fish Rig Super Max, giving him even more versatility for bigger fish, stronger tactics and those unexpected urban fishing opportunities.

Explore the full Fish Rig Series here:

The Fish Rig Series is made for anglers who enjoy the fun, feel and hands-on side of fishing. These rods are light, compact, easy to carry, and designed for mobile anglers who want to fish canals, rivers, city waters, holiday spots and unexpected venues without carrying bulky tackle.

Fish Rig 180 Telescopic Rod

The Fish Rig 180 is a compact telescopic rod designed for anglers who want a lightweight, easy-carry setup for spontaneous sessions, travel fishing, canal fishing, perch fishing, light lure work and general everyday angling.

It is ideal for anglers like Gabriel, who explore urban waters, move between spots, and need a rod that can be carried easily without compromising on fishing enjoyment.

CHECK OUT THE FISH RIG TELESCOPIC SERIES

Feature highlights:

Compact telescopic design for easy transport
Available in 180cm and 160cm options
Supplied with 2 tips for extra fishing flexibility
Ceramic-lined eyes for spin and bait fishing
Great for travel, canals, rivers and urban fishing
Handy for perch, light predator fishing and mixed-species sessions
Designed for anglers who want to Go Anywhere and Fish Everywhere

Fish Rig Max

The Fish Rig Max gives anglers a more capable, versatile option when they want extra strength and confidence for bigger fish, heavier tactics or more demanding sessions.

For urban anglers targeting predators, hard-fighting fish or overlooked city species, the Fish Rig Max is a practical choice when you want a compact rod with more backbone.

Shop the Fish Rig Max

Feature highlights:

The world’s only baitcast-spin telescopic rod
240cm and 210cm options
Supplied with 3 tips for different fishing styles
Cast weights up to 50g
Travel-friendly design with added power
Useful for predator fishing, river fishing, lure fishing, bait fishing and mixed urban waters
Built for adventurous anglers who want dependable kit wherever they go

New: Fish Rig Super Max

Gabriel is now fishing with the new Fish Rig Super Max, the bigger, stronger member of the Fish Rig family.

It is built for anglers who want the same compact Fish Rig convenience, but with extra reach, strength and versatility for bigger venues, bigger fish and more demanding tactics.

Shop the Fish Rig Super Max

Feature highlights:

Telescopic travel fishing rod
9’5” / 8’9” options
Supplied with 3 tips
Designed for lure, carp, feeder, ledger and all-round fishing
Ideal when you want a stronger, more powerful travel rod
Great for mobile anglers who need compact kit with serious capability

CHECK OUT THE FISH RIG TELESCOPIC SERIES

Why We Love Gabriel’s Story

Gabriel’s fishing is all about curiosity, persistence and adventure. From canals and chalk streams to London’s hidden urban waters, he is proving that you don’t need to travel far to find memorable fishing.

“Most of my fishing has centred around London’s urban waters, searching for big, unusual, and often overlooked fish species hidden throughout the city.”

He also hopes his content encourages others to get outside and discover what is possible close to home.

“I hope my journey inspires others to get out there and experience it for themselves.”

That spirit fits perfectly with what Rigged and Ready is all about: compact, capable travel fishing gear that helps you Go Anywhere and Fish Everywhere.