GENERAL COMPETITION RULES
1. Times of starting and finishing a competition and any special conditions of the day shall be decided by the Steward prior to leaving HQ or on arrival at the venue.
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2. Members travelling independently and wishing to take part in the competition must report to the Steward on arrival at the venue to ascertain any special arrangements.
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3. A sweepstake will be run at each outing or competition and it is the responsibility of each member to enter if he or she desires. But no member will be allowed to do so once he or she has commenced fishing. The sweepstake prizes will be allotted as follows: Less than 15 anglers in a match, only pay out on 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. For 15-29 anglers there will be 1st, 2nd and 3rd places, plus two section winners. For more than 30 anglers there will be 1st, 2nd and 3rd places, plus three section winners.
4. Each trophy shall be held for one year only and no trophy can be won outright. All trophies must be returned to the Match Stewards by 1st March each year in a clean condition.
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5. If anglers have any queries with the rules, they should speak to the Match Steward. The Match Stewards decisions are final. Competitors failing to observe these rules face possible disqualification.
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EXTERNAL TEAM COMPETITIONS
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1. The Executive Committee endeavour to send teams or individuals to fish both the Kent Championship and RFA Championship.
2. Members can apply to fish in external competitions, but the final decision on team selection and individual entries will be the prerogative of the Match Steward(s).
3. From time to time Club matches are also fished against other Clubs and organisations as arranged.
SPECIAL FRESHWATER COMPETITION RULES
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1:- When fishing Club Waters, Club Rules must be observed.
2:- When fishing Commercial Waters or Waters outside the Clubs control venue rules must be obeyed.
3:- When fishing a water with no island. No fishing further than halfway across even if the pegs opposite are not occupied. If the competitor is uncertain ask the Match Steward for a decision.
4:- Anglers should not leave their peg area with a baited line left in the water.
5:- Surface fishing with floating baits is permitted if the fishery rules allow but no feeding of floating baits.
6:- No feeding can take place until the start of the match has been announced.
7:- When the end of the match has been announced and an angler is playing a fish he should let the other anglers know by saying “fish on” and has 10 mins to land the fish for it to count.
8:- Using one species of fish as a live bait to catch another is not permitted.
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9:- All fish are to be kept alive in a keepnet of a type approved by the EA until weighed by the Steward and then immediately returned to the water. A large specimen fish may, by special arrangement with the Steward, be weighed immediately and promptly returned to the water.
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10:-Where a match is fished on waters containing both carp and silver fish, anglers must use two keepnets.
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11:- The following fish are barred from qualifying for freshwater competitions. Game fish (out of season), sea fish including Mullet.
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If anglers have any queries with the rules, they should speak to the Match Steward.
The Match Stewards decisions are final.
Competitors failing to observe these rules face possible disqualification.
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SPECIAL SALTWATER COMPETITION RULES
A - BEACH FISHING
(1) Only fish caught with rod and line from pier, jetty or beach to count for Club shore competitions.
(2) Hand lines are barred from all competitions.
(3) Only one rod may be used with a maximum of three hooks except when Mackerel fishing.
(4) Shellfish are barred.
(5) Three Mackerel only, to be allowed to be weighed in for each competition.
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B - BOAT FISHING
(1) For sea boat competitions positions on the boat to be drawn prior to fishing as organised by the Steward on the day.
(2) Only one rod to be used at any one time.
(3) No hand lines.
(4) No more than three hooks are to be used, except when Mackerel fishing.
(5) Shellfish are barred.
(6) Three Mackerel only, to be allowed to be weighed in for each competition.
(7) For any specimen fish landed that in the opinion of the Steward is not suitable for weighing, the skippers estimated weight is counted. This includes record claims.
(8) Any member booking a place on a boat trip is liable to pay the full cost of the booking unless they are able to find a replacement.
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C - Only sizeable fish may count for weighing in, and no fish to be retained under the following sizes. All fish are to be measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail except Skates and Rays, which are to be measured wing tip to wing tip:
All other species - 20cm or as designated by the relevant Authorities.
TROUT FISHING SPECIAL RULES
1. Members must fly fish, or fish with a natural bait in a trout fishing style rather than a coarse fishing style, between 3rd April and 16th June inclusive. This only applies to the Hamsell and Sandhill Farm sections of the Eridge Stream.
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2. Members are permitted to take away only one brace (two fish) of trout from Club waters for table use per visit. Each fish must be in excess of 10in or 25cm in length measuring from tip of snout to tail fin.
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PIKE ANGLING
1. Junior members must not fish for Pike unless accompanied by a senior member.
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2. Wire traces must be used – minimum-breaking strain 15lb.
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3. Line strength - minimum-breaking strain 15lb.
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4. Snap tackle type rigs must not consist of more than two treble hooks with a maximum size of 6, and must be semi-barbed / barbless. However, larger size hooks (preferably de-barbed) are permitted on plugs, spinners, spoons, etc., as these types of baits are seldom taken deep into the throat of a fish.
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5. Landing nets must have a minimum arm length of 36in, or 30in diameter for round nets.
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6. No gaffs to be used.
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7. Unhooking mats must be used.
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8. All Pike anglers must be equipped with suitable forceps and a deep throat disgorger.
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9. All Pike must be returned alive to the water as quickly as possible.
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10. Short-term retention of Pike (whilst cameras, weighing slings, etc., are made ready) in suitable Pike tubes or sacks is permitted.
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11. When releasing / returning Pike to the water, all anglers must be prepared to support / cradle tired fish in the water margin (in their correct orientation), until sufficiently recovered to swim away strongly.
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12. Methods of bite detection employed must be positive / quick indicating and runs must be struck promptly to lessen the risk of deep hooking.
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13. No baited rods to be left unattended at any time.
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14. Any unused baits must not be thrown into, or left at the water at the end of a session.
