Rules

SAMF COMPETITION MATCH RULES – JUNE 2008

1. All SAMF matches should be pegged and conform to the weight/measure system. All fish to be measured down to the nearest CM (minimum size 18cms).
2. To benefit from the public liability insurance all persons fishing a SAMF match should be paid up members. The organisers shall not be held responsible for any loss, accident or damage occasioned to any competitor, official or member of the public.
3. Anglers must have their bag searched by an adjacent angler before the start of the competition. The match card must be signed in the correct place by the checking angler and their peg number recorded.
4. 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. Anglers may cast from any point equidistant from theirs and the adjacent peg, but must then return to their peg. Any angler that leaves 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 that days competition.
5. The organisers will signal the start, and finish, of the competition. Anglers are permitted to wet their lines without bait up to 20 minutes prior to the commencement of the match.
6. An angler is permitted to have spare rods set up with reels lines and baited traces attached, but can only have one line in the water at one time.
7. Spare baited traces are allowed and no more than three hooks may be attached to any trace. Treble hooks count as three hooks. Anglers must attend their own spare traces, assistance in any form such as unhooking fish or baiting up is not allowed.
8.  Restrictions on bait, tackle or methods, if applicable, will be notified to participants by the organisers. Feathers and lures are not allowed.
9. Anglers wishing to use ‘power casting’ styles should use a minimum of 50lb breaking strain shock leader. Furthermore it is recommended that the breaking strain of the shock leader should be a minimum of 10lb per oz of weight used. In the interests of safety competitors will be advised if any type of casting is banned. Anglers are permitted to cast immediately after landing a fish, however the retrieval of this cast is not permitted until the anglers fish is recorded by the steward or the adjacent angler on their official match card.
10. Assistance may be given to land a fish but no one other than the competitor 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 the pier or promenade wall, providing it can be lifted clear of the surface and not pulled through the water towards the angler.
11. The deliberate foul hooking of fish is not permitted, however foul hooked fish are allowed. In the event of a fish being hooked by two or more competitors then the one whose hook is in the mouth is deemed to have caught the fish otherwise they are not eligible for weighing in. Neither are fish caught on lost traces allowed. 
12. As soon as a fish is caught it must be put in a bucket of fresh seawater (contaminated or bloody water must be changed) and taken in the bucket of water to the adjacent angler to be measured, witnessed and recorded on the match card. All fish are measured from the tip of their snout with mouth closed to the end of the tail fin. All rays are measured across the wings.
13. Care should be taken in the unhooking of fish. A wet rag should be used to handle fish and anglers should use a disgorger or similar tool to assist deep hooked fish. Care in handling fish should be a consideration at all times.
14. It is each angler’s responsibility to ensure all undersized fish are returned to the water immediately. Any physical attempt to extend their length will lead to disqualification. Fish that are kept for the table must be of minimum ministry size for the area and should have their tails cut, witnessed by the neighbouring angler.
15. Anglers should, where possible, go to their right to have their fish recorded. In the unlikely event that the angler on the right is your pairs partner or team member, then you must go to your left to have the fish recorded.
16.  Anglers must comply with any request from a neighbouring angler to check and record their fish details accurately on their match card. Common sense dictates this should be done at a convenient moment e.g. not when the angler is reeling in or casting out! !
17. Details on the match card should be recorded in ink. Pencil is not acceptable.
18. Anglers must be in possession of their match card at all times during the competition and it is their responsibility to ensure that the details are recorded accurately. The exchanging of cards with a neighbouring angler is not allowed.
19. At the end of the competition anglers must have their match card underlined immediately underneath the last recorded fish, total weight/length/ points recorded and signed as a witness by the adjacent angler. Competitors have one hour, or a period specified by the organisers, for bringing their own completed match card back to the HQ.
20. Competitors are responsible for keeping their match cards in a good, legible, state and that the details are accurate. Damaged or unreadable cards may be disqualified.
21. Any complaints must be submitted to the organisers, in writing, within one hour of the end of the competition. A protest fee of £10 must accompany the complaint, which is returnable if the objection is upheld. The decision of the organisers will be final in the event of any dispute not covered by these rules.
22. Weavers, mackerel, sea trout, salmon and all shads are banned.
23. Competitors must produce their match card on request by a match official or steward at any time during the competition.
24. Any angler reported leaving litter or throwing litter into the sea during or after the competition will be disqualified.
25. All anglers are stewards. It is in everyone’s interest to see that correct procedures are adhered to, to ensure fair play.
26. As well as the aforementioned rules, the rules of fair play will apply. Anglers must conduct themselves in a manner within the spirit of the sport.

The organisers reserve the right to refuse entry to any angler, and any failure to comply with these rules could render you liable to disqualification from the competition on that particular day. Furthermore any angler found cheating will be immediately expelled from the Federation.