“MEGA MATCH THIS” COMPETITION MATCH RULES

 

THE RULES BELOW ARE TO BE APPLIED IN CONJUNCTION WITH LOCAL FISHERY RULES
THE FOLLOWING RULES ARE SUBJECT TO THE BYELAWS OF THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY AND ANY WRITTEN LOCAL RULES APPLICABLE TO THE FISHERY

1. All participating anglers must register their attendance and pay pool monies immediately on arrival at the venue and show their entry ticket. (Pools are Optional).
2. 2. Participating anglers are only allowed ONE (1) draw for a peg.
3. The qualifying match must be a pegged down competition. All pegs used in the match must be of a state to give competitors a practicable and reasonable chance to fish their swim.
4. All competitors must ensure that they are familiar with the fishery rules. Ignorance is no excuse.
5. Where Fisheries have a requirement for anglers to “DIP” their nets, this must be done before registration. All nets must be dipped where required (including landing nets and stink bags).
6. All anglers must lay their nets out behind them on arrival at their drawn peg and not put them into the water until 15 mins before the start of the match. (this also applies where fisheries provide the nets).
7. The draw time for ALL qualifying matches shall be 09-00 unless circumstances on the day dictate otherwise. All anglers must make every effort to arrive at least 30mins prior to the commencement of the draw.
8. All anglers must ensure that their peg draw is recorded next to their name at the draw.
9. All qualifying matches will be of 5 hours’ duration. Start time will be 11-00 and finishing time will be 16-00. (The start time can be varied if the draw is delayed or other circumstances on the day prevent anglers having sufficient time to get to their pegs and tackle up).
10. Every competitor must fish from within one metre either side of his/her drawn peg.
11. No competitor may move his/her peg or exchange his/her peg or draw card with another without the organiser’s official consent.
12. If there are no empty pegs on either side, anglers may only fish as far as half the distance between his/her peg and the anglers on either side. If there is a single empty peg on either side, Anglers may fish as far as the empty platform edge nearest to them on either side. If there is more than one empty peg on either side, Anglers may fish the maximum pole length permitted under these rules or allowed by fishery rules, providing that distance is no greater than halfway between him/her and the next angler.
13. Where competitors are drawn on opposite banks, the limit of their swim is an imaginary line midway between each bank.
14. Competitors may not create any artificial bankside cover.
15. A competitor must not cause annoyance to or seek to interfere with another competitor or use mobile phones (except in the case of an emergency) during the course of the competition and must act in a sporting manner at all times.
16. No competitor may leave his/her peg during the match other than to answer the call of nature or an emergency and/or severe weather conditions. If severe weather occurs (thunder and lightning) the organiser, in the interests of competitor’s safety, will temporarily suspend the match until it is deemed safe to resume. Lost time as a result of this action will NOT be added.
17. Competitors shall have in use, one rod or pole, (one line and single hook at one time) but may have other poles or rods and tackle assembled behind them where possible providing that tackle is not baited.
18. When pole fishing, a Float (to be used as a bite indicator, not elastic) must be used at all times. Over shotting is not allowed. Jiggers are allowed but a stop shot must be positioned above the float. Minimum “LASH” length is 6 inches.
19. The use of electronic fish finders is not allowed.
20. All fish caught are eligible for weighing except Game Fish, Pike, Zander and Crustaceans.
21. Competitors must retain all fish in keepnets which comply with the relevant EA Byelaws. Competitors must take every practicable step to keep their fish alive and, after weighing them, must ensure their careful return to the water.
22. Competitors must land all fish over 4 ozs using a landing net. Fish are not to be dropped into the keepnet but transferred to the keepnet using the landing net.
23. Before the commencement of the match no competitor must groundbait, or loose feed his swim, nor break the water surface, but is allowed to wet a line, plumb the depth and test the float, mix and wet groundbait, clear his/her swim of surface weed or obstructions and position his/her equipment. A ledger weight may be cast to find depth and distance (feeders cannot be used for this purpose). NO Pole cups of any kind are allowed over the water before the commencement of the match.
24. Groundbait and loose feed may be thrown in by hand (subject to fishery rules) or by the use of one or two handed catapults, throwing sticks, swim feeders, bait droppers and bait cups. No other mechanical means of projecting groundbait is allowed. No bait shall be introduced with a pole cup or bait dropper attached to an extra rod/pole whilst continuing to fish.
25. Any bait, subject to local fishery rules may be used, except live or dead fish, spinning baits and other artificial lures
26. The maximum length of poles permitted is 16 metres.
27. Floating poles are not allowed.
28. Floating baits either hook or feed are not allowed.
29. Spodding is not allowed.
30. Competitors shall not present their baited hooks into their swim by any means other than the pole or rod to which the line is attached.
31. Competitors must strike, play and land their own fish from the confines of their own peg.
32. Hand lining the fish is not permitted, this includes elastic and line. Also, not allowed is the practise of trapping elastic with the hand down the length of pole sections. This does not apply to the use of Pulla bungs and similar devices.
33. Should a competitor still be playing a fish hooked before the finishing signal is given, they will be allowed 15 mins after this signal to land the fish.
34. Competitors are responsible for ensuring their pegs are clear of litter and no competitor shall have their catch weighed in who has litter on the banks of their swim.
35. No bait or equipment can be given to any competitor during the course of the match. Competitors withdrawing from the match are not allowed to give their groundbait or hook bait to or approach another competitor during the remainder of the match.
36. Each competitor will be responsible for ensuring the correct weight of their catch is called and recorded and sign the weigh sheet to that effect.
37. In the event of a tie for first place in qualifying matches there will be a “fish off” for one (1) hour to decide the winner. The anglers concerned will be re-allocated pegs located close to the venue headquarters in order for the fish off to be properly adjudicated. Pegs will be allocated within the same vicinity on the same lake. The pegs used will be determined by a re-draw. The first angler to draw will be decided by the flip of a coin. At the end of this one hour (1) period the angler with the highest weight will be declared the winner.
38. Objections/complaints must be made in writing, on the official complaint form, to the organiser no later than one hour after the end of the match. All objections/complaints must be supported by a witness who has witnessed the offence and has signed the complaint form to verify that the facts stated are correct. Unwitnessed and unverified objections/complaints will be rejected.
39. The organisers decision on ALL matters is final.
40. Breach of any of these conditions or any unacceptable behaviour likely to cause damage, nuisance, injury or to bring the competition into disrepute shall render the offender to disqualification and enable the venue or event organisers to eject the offender from the event.