SAMF Competition Match Rules (June 2020)

  1. All SAMF matches should be pegged and conform to the length to points, measure and release system. All fish to be measured down to the nearest centimetre (cm), minimum size 18cm. Weavers, mackerel, sea trout, salmon and all shads are not permitted to count. Only natural baits are allowed. Feathers, lures or any form of bait additive is not permitted. Restrictions on bait, tackle or fishing methods, if applicable will be notified to participants by the organisers prior to registration. Anglers must have their bag searched by an adjacent angler before the start of the competition, with the match card signed and their peg number recorded as confirmation in the correct place by the witnessing angler on the angler’s match card.
  2. To benefit from the public liability insurance, all anglers fishing a SAMF competition should be; paid-up members of SAMF and comply with the SAMF risk statement. The organisers shall not be held responsible for any loss, accident or damage occasioned to any competitor, official or member of the public. Non SAMF members are advised to have their own public liability insurance.
  3. Fishing will be from a peg allocated by means of a draw. Anglers must fish from no other peg number or position. The redrawing of pegs is not allowed. The organisers will signal the start and finish of the competition. Anglers are permitted to wet lines without bait up to 20 minutes prior to the start. Anglers may cast from any point equidistant from their and the adjacent peg, but must return to their peg. Any angler leaving the venue, taking their fishing tackle with them will have deemed to have finished the competition and will not be allowed to take any further part in the day’s competition. If an angler needs to temporarily leave their peg, e.g. use facilities, then they should reel in their line and not recast until returning.
  4. In the interests of safety, anglers will be notified if any casting restrictions are in place, however at all times anglers must cast safely, considering proximity of others, weather conditions etc. Anglers must use a suitable shock leader, working on the principle of 10lb for every 1oz of weight being used, e.g. 6oz casting weight requires a 60lb shock leader as a minimum. The leader must be of suitable length to achieve at least 6 turns on the reel and extend to include the rig being used.
  5. Anglers are permitted to have spare rods set up with reels, lines and baited traces attached, but can only have one line in the water at any one time. Spare baited traces are allowed, no more than 3 hooks per trace, a treble hook count as three. Anglers must attend their own traces, assistance in any form such as unhooking fish or baiting up is not allowed.
  6. Assistance may be given to land a fish, but no one other than the angler may handle the rod. In pier competitions assistance to land a fish with a drop net is permitted, as is hand-lining the fish up a pier or promenade wall, providing it can be lifted clear of the surface and not pulled through the water to the angler. Deliberate foul hooking of fish is not permitted, however foul hooked fish are allowed to count. Fish hooked by two or more anglers or caught on lost traces are not permitted to count.
  7. As soon as any fish is caught it must be placed in a bucket of fresh sea water, (contaminated water must be changed), and taken to an adjacent angler to be measured, witnessed and recorded on the angler’s match card, before the next cast is retrieved. Anglers should, where possible, go to their right to have their fish recorded. All fish are measured from the nose to tail, except all rays, which are measured across the wings. Flat-fish are permitted to be measured with their mouth open. Once signed in the fish should be returned in front of the witnessing angler.
  8. Care must be taken in the handling of fish, particularly unhooking, measuring and returning the fish back to the water. Anglers must have a disgorger to assist the unhooking of fish. It is each angler’s responsibility to ensure all fish are returned to the sea as soon as possible. Any physical attempt to extend the length of a fish is forbidden. Fish retained must be of minimum ministry size for the area and should have their tails cut, witnessed by the adjacent angler.
  9. Anglers must comply with any reasonable request from a neighbouring angler to check and accurately record fish on their match card. However, anglers should apply common sense and choose a convenient time, e.g. not when an angler is reeling in or casting out. Anglers must be in possessions of their match card at all times during the competition. It is their responsibility to ensure the details are recorded accurately. Anglers must produce their match card on request by a match official or steward at any time during the competition. The exchanging of cards and the use of ditto’s is not permitted. Competitors are responsible for keeping their match card in good, legible condition. Damaged or unreadable cards may not be able to be counted. Details on the match card must be recorded in ink, pencil is not acceptable.
  10. At the end of the competition anglers must have their match card underlined immediately underneath the last recorded fish, total points/length etc, and signed as a witness by the adjacent angler. Competitors have one hour or a period specified by the organisers for handing in their own completed match card at the designated collection point.
  11. Angler’s must not leave litter on the beach, throwing litter into the sea during or after the competition is not permitted.
  12. Any protests or issues identified during a match not covered by these rules must be submitted to the organisers, in writing, within one hour of the end of the competition. The issue will be considered by the organising committee and a decision made. All anglers are stewards, it is everyone’s responsibility to see the rules are adhered too and to ensure fair play. Anglers must at all times conduct themselves in a manner within the spirit of the sport.