ISAC Fishing Club Rules

INDIVIDUALS SEA ANGLING CLUB

Rule 1 MEMBERSHIP.

1.1 Member. Individuals who have applied for and been granted membership under the rules in place at the time and have paid the appropriate fee. Members will receive a monthly journal and can receive further information via e-mail if so registered. A Member will be covered by the Angling Trust (AT) Affiliated Club Insurance and Fish Legal protection where applicable.

1.2 Life Member. Is bestowed upon all Individual Shore Champions of the Southern Premier League (SPL). These members will receive for life the entitlement of a Member.

1.3 Honorary Member. Is bestowed upon all sponsors of the SPL throughout the period of their promotional support.

1.4 Guest Member. Non Members are permitted to fish any SPL competition and must abide by these rules at all times. Guests are permitted to win any cash prize on offer at each match but are not permitted to win any end of season sponsor or cash award.

Rule 2 GOVERNANCE.

2.1 Chief Executive Officer. ISAC is owned and operated as a small business venture by the CEO.

2.2 Advisory Committee. The CEO may enrol any number of senior shore anglers onto an Advisory Committee (AC) who will assist in the day to day running of ISAC, SPL competitions, representative team selection and disciplinary matters.

2.3 Competition. ISAC is the sole promoter of the Southern Premier League. Twelve SPL open matches are held throughout the year. Any number of add-on events may be included within the SPL.

2.4 Sponsorship. ISAC will offer advertising in exchange for sponsorship. Sponsors adverts will feature in the ISAC angler journal. This publication is printed after each round and sent into the homes of all members and entrants competing within the SPL. Sponsorship awards will only be awarded to members at the end of each season.

2.5 Penalties. If an entrant has been disqualified for breaking ISAC rules a note regarding the incident shall be published in the journal. No angler is allowed to enter an ISAC competition whilst an investigation into a disciplinary matter is being carried out against them.

Rule 3 COMPETITION GENERAL.

3.1 Entry Conditions. Any category of angler may enter an ISAC promoted competition and in so doing agrees to abided by the rules in force at the time. After the acceptance of the entrant, ISAC have no obligation to return the entry fee should the entrant wish to withdraw from the competition. If entry cannot be accepted because of lack of space the entrant shall be notified and the entry fee returned.

3.2 Right to Refuse Entry. ISAC reserves the right to refuse entry without explanation and shall in such case return all entry fees.

3.3 Late Entries. Late entries may be accepted at the discretion of ISAC up to 30 minutes after the start of each competition and may incur extra fees.

3.4 Abandonment. In the event of bad weather and/or in the interest of safety, ISAC have the power to abandon the competition at any stage between the start and finish time. In such a case individual entry fees, less any legitimate competition expenses incurred by ISAC, will be passed forward to the next match. Any fish caught during an abandoned competition will not count. All entrants will be awarded 5 points. Matches cancelled prior to the start time due to bad weather will be rearranged.

3.5 Duration. The start and finish time of each competition will be fixed by ISAC.

3.6 Weigh-in. All competitors have one hour to weigh-in their catch after the stipulated finish time. If a competitor arrives after this time they will not be allowed to weigh-in. Every competitor who has not been previously disqualified must weigh-in their catch when required or if they have caught nothing report accordingly. Failure to comply without adequate cause may at the discretion of ISAC lead to disqualification. Weigh-in times may be extended by ISAC when large numbers of fish have been caught.

3.7 Ineligible Species. Octopus, Crustacean, Squid, Mackerel and Cuttlefish are ineligible. ISAC may bar the catching of other species as instructed by the governing body.

3.8 Use of Electric Reels and Winches. Electric reels and winches are not permitted unless dispensation is given by ISAC to accommodate a disabled angler who otherwise would not be able to compete.

3.9 Easy Access Pegs. ISAC have the right to provide close or easily accessible pegs to accommodate disabled anglers who otherwise would not be able to compete.

3.10 Casting Assistance. A competitor may cast for another angler who is deemed incapable of casting due to physical disability provided that such an arrangement is requested from ISAC and agreed prior to the commencement of the competition.

3.11 Match Entry Card. All competitors must record their catch in the appropriate column on the MEC. The length of all fish caught must be witnessed by the angler to the captors immediate left or right, or in the first adjacent peg. At the end of the match a line must be drawn under all entries and signed off by the adjacent peg witness. The number of fish on the MEC must match those in the competitors bucket, lost fish will be disqualified. MEC must not be retained by another entrant during the match. Paper peg numbers may be used for overflow purposes or when MEC are lost, so long as the adjacent peg witness signs and agrees that the record is correct. MEC are to be kept as dry as possible throughout each match. Fish added to the MEC before or after time will be disqualified.

3.12 Peg Area. Entrants peg area, fish box, bag and bucket must be checked within 15 minutes of the start of the competition by the entrant to your immediate right or left in order to ensure no fish have been brought to the match prior to the start. At this time you must remove your peg from the beach.

3.13 Witnesses. All fish must be physically seen and witnessed by the entrant in the peg to your immediate right or left who must certify it's length and initial that entry in the appropriate column on the MEC.

3.14 Smoothhound. All Smoothhound are to be measured and released in all competitions. An ISAC weight to length scale will be used to verify the weight of each sizeable Smoothhound at the scales. This chart may be updated annually by ISAC but not during a season.

3.15 Top-Ups. Under minimum sized fish are granted 1 ounce, 0.028g per fish of any species and are known as Top-Ups. These are to be recorded in the appropriate column on the MEC and returned to the water immediately after witnessing. Sizeable fish that have shrunk prior to presentation at the weigh-in will not count as Top-Ups.

3.16 Local Scales. Any exceptional fish i.e. Tope, Spurdog and Sting Ray may at the discretion of the captor and Match Organiser be weighed on local scales held by any entrant on the beach and recorded on the MEC. Both the captor and witness must agree to the weight of the fish which must be noted under the entry on the MEC. The fish must be returned to the water immediately after weighing.

Rule 4. SHORE COMPETITION RULES.

4.1 Duration. The start and finish times of each competition will be printed on the Match Entry Card by ISAC. Anglers are permitted to wet their line with a plain lead up to 15 minutes prior to the commencement of the match. At the end of the competition, all competitors must take their line immediately out of the water. Competitors must not start fishing prior to the published time.

4.2 Equipment. An angler is permitted to have any number of rods set up with reels, line and traces attached but can use no more than one rod with a combined total of three single hooks during the match. Pennell rigs are deemed as two hooks. Reels must be operated by hand and reels designed to be cranked by both hands at the same time are prohibited. The use of fishing poles is permitted. When fishing into darkness the competitor must have a source of light.

4.3 Terminal Tackle. Any amount of spare baited traces are allowed but no more than three hooks may be attached to any trace. A treble hook counts as one hook but no more than one treble hook and two single hooks may be used in a rig with the exception of plug type spinning lures which are permissible when used alone.

4.4 Baits. All baits, feathers and/or lures may be used, unless notified otherwise by ISAC. Ground baiting and the use of artificial oils is permitted.

4.5 Restrictions. ISAC may draft rules prohibiting the use of any tackle or method that is likely to cause danger, damage or discomfort to any competitor or other person.

4.6 Casting. Anglers wishing to use 'power casting' styles should use a minimum of 50lb breaking strain shock leader. ISAC recommend that the breaking strain of shock leaders should be a minimum of 10lbs per oz of weight used. In the interest of safety, competitors are advised that any form of dangerous casting is prohibited. Anglers are permitted to cast immediately after landing a fish. However the retrieval of the cast is not permitted until the anglers catch is recorded on the MEC. Casting is only permitted within the entrants pegged area. A slanting cast which endangers and disturbs other competitors is prohibited.

4.7 Weights. Anglers may use any shape of weight as long as they do not drift into the lines of adjacent competitors after casting. In extreme weather conditions, heavy or grip/breakout weights must be used.

4.8 Assistance. Assistance may be given to land a fish but no-one other than the competitor may handle the rod. In the event of a big fish capture the entrant is allowed to enter adjacent pegs to land the fish. Other competitors must not disturb that angler whilst the fish is brought ashore. When a gaff or landing net is used for landing a fish, only the match steward or adjacent competitor may help and at the same time go into the water.

4.9 Hooked Fish. The deliberate foul hooking of fish is not permitted however, accidental foul hooked fish (in its body and not in the mouth) is allowed by ISAC. In the event of fish being hooked by two or more competitors the fish will be awarded to the competitor whose hook is in the mouth of the fish. If both competitors have a hook in the mouth or the fish is on a lost trace it will not count towards either anglers weight. Each entrant must include with his equipment a suitable device for measuring fish, loosening the hooks and for killing the fish.

4.10 Minimum Sizes. ISAC shall fix the minimum size of fish eligible to be included in the competitors catch. Any fish brought to the scales and found to be undersized will be disqualified and not recorded as atop-up. Persistent offenders to this rule will be disqualified. It is each entrants responsibility to ensure all fish brought to the scales are sizeable. ISAC will provide a Master Measure and adjudicator for anglers to have their catch checked prior to presenting the fish to the scales. However the onus of responsibility is on the angler.

4.11 Undersized Fish. It is each angler's responsibility to ensure all undersized fish are returned immediately to the water. A competitor's fish may be kept in water but any physical attempt to extend their length will lead to disqualification.

4.12 Position. Fishing will be from a peg within a zone allocated by means of a draw. Anglers must fish from no other peg number. The redrawing of pegs is not allowed unless a freelance angler or obstruction has occupied the peg number prior to the entrant reaching his mark. Where possible pegs will be spaced at least 20 metre's apart with peg 1 to the left looking seawards. A maximum of 25 pegs will be placed in each zone. Double and close proximity pegs for disabled anglers are available on request.

4.13 Compulsory Weigh-in. At the end of the competition entrants have one hour to bring their own catch and MEC to the weigh-in. ISAC may retain all fish until after the weigh-in.

4.14 Protests. Any misunderstanding of the rules must be brought to the immediate attention of the organiser for clarification. Should an entrant believe he/she may have broken any rule they must not bring their fish to the weigh-in. Protests must be submitted to ISAC in writing within one hour of the end of the match. A Protest Fee of £10 must accompany the letter, returnable if the objection is upheld. The decision of ISAC will be final in the event of any dispute not covered by these rules.

4.15 Entry & Disqualification. Any angler found breaking the rules will be disqualified. ISAC reserves the right to refuse entry without explanation and shall in such a case return the entry fees.

4.16 Loss and Damage. ISAC shall not be held responsible for any loss, accident or damage occasioned to any competitor, their angling equipment, vehicle, official or member of the public.

4.17 Litter. Any angler found leaving litter on the beach or throwing litter into the sea during or after the competition will be disqualified.

4.18 Fair Play. As well as the aforementioned rules, the rules of fair play will apply. Competitors must conduct themselves in a manner within the spirit of the sport.

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