Find out what they fish for
Don't ask. A colleague who sits near them will usually know, and they'll enjoy being in on it more than you'd expect. Ask quietly. Look at the photo on their desk, the lock screen on their phone or what they talk about on a Monday. A carp angler talks about nights. A pike angler talks about cold mornings. A sea angler talks about tides. If they've ever shown you a photo of a fish on their phone, that's the species to buy for, and the photo to print.
The words help too. If a colleague talks about lumps, doubles and the margins, they fish for carp. Angling Times keeps the glossary.
The mug with their fish on it
If someone at work has their catch photo, put it on a mug. It's personal. It'll sit on their desk all year. No photo? Pick a fish from the collection that matches what they catch, or a scene if you're not sure what that is.
Here's what we sell under £20 today, at live prices:
- Poster from the fish collectionA4From £15.99
- Mug from the fish collection11ozFrom £16.99
- Their catch photo, printed as it isPoster, A4From £15.99
- Their catch photo in a house styleMug, 11ozFrom £19.99
Check it against your group's limit before you order. Keep it small. Read fishing mugs first.
A small print for the desk
An A4 poster of a carp or a pike fits a desk frame. It says you noticed. It doesn't say too much. If they hot-desk or work from home, a mug travels better than a framed print, so let their working week decide it. Simple. At 210 x 297 mm, it fits a standard frame from any high street shop. They can choose one that suits their desk. Roll it, don't fold it. A plain black frame from a supermarket finishes it off for very little, and it saves them choosing one.
Getting the photo without asking
Most anglers share their best fish. Look in the team chat. Then ask a colleague who fishes with them for the original file, because chat apps shrink photos.
Upload whatever you find, even if it's small. You'll see the sizes it can manage before you pay, so a small file still works on a mug. If the only copy is a photo of a photo on someone's screen, it'll probably only manage a mug, and that's fine. Our catch photo guide explains why the original beats a screenshot.
If you don't know them well
Easy. Drawn someone from another floor? Choose a fishing scene instead of a species. A dawn swim or a winter river suits any angler, whatever they fish for. It's a safer guess than a carp for someone who turns out to fish for trout.
A mug with one of the species plates on it works the same way, stays inside a small budget and still looks like you made an effort.
If they're new to fishing
A new angler won't have a PB photo yet, and they won't know what kit they need. A scene suits them. So does something warm for those first cold mornings on the bank. If they want to learn more, the Angling Trust lists licensed coaches and places to fish on its Get Fishing map. Mention it on the card. A nudge. Not a present.
Other ideas under a small budget
Hand warmers, a beanie or a neck warmer all get used. Pick dark colours. A waterproof notebook works as a catch log, and our fishing stocking fillers guide has more small ideas along the same lines.
Avoid anything that needs sizing. Gloves and socks are fine. Waders and boots aren't. Keep it light enough to carry home on the train after the party.
What to avoid
Leave out anything that makes a joke of hurting fish, because most anglers return what they catch and care a great deal about how it's treated. Angling Times sets out the basics most of them follow: a mat, wet hands and a quick return.
And skip tackle: the wrong hooks are worse than no hooks. Novelty signs about wives, husbands and fishing trips are best left on the shelf too.
Order in time
Office parties tend to come before Christmas. Each print is made to order, so check the delivery estimate at checkout and the last order dates on our Christmas fishing gifts page. A photo printed as it is goes into production straight away. A styled print waits until you approve a preview, so start that one earlier. Party next week? Buy the mug. If the party's in the first week of December, order the styled print in November so there's time to compare previews.
A group present
Is the team chipping in for someone who's leaving or retiring? A framed print of their best fish is a present they'll keep. A framed A3 or A2 turns up ready to hang. Get the photo from a fishing friend, check the crop together and sign a card from everyone. See fishing gifts for bigger budgets.
A line for the card
A short, warm line works best. Wish them screaming runs, or a lump in the new year, or a winter without a single blank on the river. Our fishing puns and quotes page has plenty, all written fresh and none at the fish's expense. Keep any office in-jokes off the print itself. The card can carry the joke. The print should carry the fish.
Wrapping it
A mug wraps easily, and it survives being passed round the office before it's opened. A poster arrives rolled in a tube, so wrap the tube rather than the print. If the limit allows, add a card that says where the photo came from. Anglers like to know who was paying attention. Keep the venue off the card if the photo gives it away: plenty of anglers keep their waters quiet. Sign it from Santa if you'd rather they never know it was you. Secret.