THESE RULES SUPERSEDE ALL OTHER PREVIOUS RULES
RULE 1
The name of the club shall be The Harwich Angling Club.
( Hereafter called the Club. )
RULE 2 Objectives
To procure and manage fisheries for the benefit and enjoyment of its members, and
to ensure
the practice of fair angling at all times, to protect the public waters
of the district and to take all appropriate steps to benefit the sport.
RULE 3 Officers and Committee
The Officers and Committee of the Club shall consist of a President, Chairman,
Secretary, Membership Secretary, Treasurer, Match Secretary, Healh & Safety
Officer, minimum of two Bailiffs, Fisheries Officer, and no more than 6 committee members.
RULE 4
50% of the Officers and the committee shall be appointed for a period of two
years at the
A.G.M., at a date to be announced.
RULE 5 All Committee members shall attend monthly meetings, any member missing two consecutive meetings will be asked to resign their post, at Committees discretion.
RULE 6
The Club financial year shall be from 1st March to last day of February. A statement of accounts,
which have been independently audited, shall be presented to the members prior to the A.G.M.
RULE 7
That any member desiring to make any alteration to the rulebook must give the Secretary two weeks
notice in writing prior to the A.G.M. and such alterations must be duly seconded.
RULE 8
That any alterations to the rulebook shall be decided upon by the club at the A.G.M. or E.O.G.M.
If anything arises which is not provided for in these rules, the same shall be laid before the
committee
who shall have full power to act and their decision shall be binding, any such action shall
be voted on
by members at the next A.G.M.
RULE 9
That all members of the club shall be entitled to vote on any resolutions at the A.G.M. or E.O.G.M.
RULE 10
That an E.O.G.M. may be called by a requisition to the committee of a notice signed
by 20% of members,
no other business shall be transacted at such a meeting, all members to receive
fourteen days notice of an agenda of such a meeting.
RULE 11
That every member of the club shall be furnished with a copy
of these rules and it shall be considered
their duty to report any infringement to a committee member
without delay.
RULE 12
That in the case of infringement of these rules, a member shall be liable to a suspension or expulsion
from the Club, depending on the committee after a full investigation. The member shall have the right to
give a full account of the alleged infringement.
RULE 13
That any member found transferring their membership card, security codes or parking permits to any other
person or otherwise abusing the privileges granted by the Club, or acting in a manor deemed to be
detrimental to the Club, shall be held responsible for their actions and may be expelled by a resolution
of the committee.
RULE 14
That any person wishing to become a member should apply to the Membership Secretary. A joining fee
will
be paid at the current rate, and such subscriptions shall be laid down by the Club. Acceptance of
membership shall be deemed as acceptance of all the Clubs rules. The Club reserves the right to refuse
membership at its discretion.
RULE 15
All members shall pay an annual subscription fee. Any change to the annual subscription fee’s along with
all
other types of tickets, membership fee’s etc, shall be proposed by the committee of the Club, and
any such proposal’s
will require the endorsement of the members present at the AGM.
RULE 16
The Clubs membership will commence on the 16th June each year. All existing members must renew their
membership by
1st July each year or a new joining fee will be payable.
RULE 17
Junior membership will cease at the end of the year in which the member reaches the age of 16 years.
Juniors who reach 16 years between Jan 1st and June 16th wishing to assume senior membership.
Such members must relinquish junior rights.
RULE 18
Membership shall be limited to 350 full members.
RULE 19
Current membership cards must be obtained before fishing Club waters. Members are warned to ensure that
they have a proper rod licence to cover the water they are fishing. All Club waters are governed
by the
Environment Agency By Laws. All Club members shall be considered to have the power of bailiff
on all
Club waters. Any person found fishing in Harwich Angling Club waters without being duly authorised
may be prosecuted by law.
RULE 20
All vehicles must be parked in the places indicated and in a position where they cause no obstruction.
And must have a parking permit displayed in a prominent position
RULE 21
Removal or introduction of any fish is strictly prohibited without the approval of the committee.
RULE 22
Fishing is only allowed from proper swims or numbered pegs.
RULE 23
Anyone found leaving litter in the swim, or in any area under control of the club, or adjacent to any such
area, or fishing with litter in the swim or nearby, shall come before the committee and will subject
to disciplinary action.
RULE 24
Fishing is only allowed from dawn to dusk on Club waters. However where Night Fishing Permits are allowed,
fishing must cease at 24:00hrs on the night before any open match.
RULE 24a
Members may obtain a permit to night fish Bradfield Lake by paying an additional fee as proposed by the
committee, and endorsed by the AGM. This Night Fishing Permit will allow the member to fish in the season
in which it is purchased for a maximum period of 24 hours at any
one time. This permit, along with said
members, membership card must be shown on request to
any other Harwich Angling club member.
RULE 24b
Members who obtain a night fishing permit for Bradfield Lake, must keep noise and lighting
down to a
minimum and under no circumstances light any type of fire. Must make the necessary
arrangements for
toilet requirements and not foul any area around or adjacent to the lake.
RULE 25
Fishing is not allowed in any other manner than with rod and line, or pole. No member shall
have more than
two lines in use at any one time.
RULE 26
That all types of braid be banned from use on all club waters, while fishing the pole or whip.
RULE 27 (See also Match Rule W)
When pleasure fishing for Carp(excluding Crucians) they are to be returned to the water as soon as possible. If considered a ‘Specimen’ fish, it must be kept in a carp sack until witnessed and
returned to the water, as soon as possible.
RULE 28
No bait shall be taken to the waters edge in any type of metal or glass container. But must be taken in a
recognised non-toxic plastic bait container.
RULE 29
All forms of nut baits are banned on club waters.
RULE 30
Bloodworm & joker may be used from October 1st to March 15th, limited to half kilo, for both match and
pleasure angling.
RULE 31
Pre baiting in the close season is banned (except in Bradfield Hall Reservoir)
RULE 32
No person may erect any tent or camp on any bank, but may use a recognised ‘Bivi type shelter’.
Members
using any such shelter must ensure that they do not put the welfare of the fish in the water
being
fished, or any other wildlife in jeopardy.
RULE 32a
No person shall cause any wilful damage to the banks or herbage on fisheries controlled by the Club.
No member shall at any time light a fire on or adjacent to the bank.
RULE 33
No member is allowed to carry a gun or be accompanied by a dog unless special permission is granted by the committee.
RULE 34
The use of radio controlled equipment is forbidden on all club waters, as is the playing of
audio equipment.
RULE 35
A Junior member must be accompanied by Parent, Relative or Nominated Adult (who is a member of the Club
-see Rule 35a) when fishing any Club water.
RULE 35a
The Parent, Relative or Nominated Adult accompanying a Junior Member must either be a Member or a Non Fishing
Member.
RULE 36
There will be no close season at Bradfield Hall Reservoir
RULE 37
Bradfield Hall Reservoir ,Barbless hooks must be used at all times.
RULE 38
All sections of club waters are available for all types of Official matches, with the exception of
Bradfield Hall Reservoir which will between 16th March & 15th June shall only be used for club
matches.
(i.e. not team or open matches ) and between these dates only one half of the Reservoir shall be used for
matches.
RULE 39
That all sections of the Club waters to be used for Official matches are to be stated on the fixture list,
and all venues be adhered to for any reason other than water conditions, i.e. level or weed.
RULE 40
Specimen fish
Any fish to be entered for the specimen cup, must be weighed on scales which are made available for
checking by the committee, and the weighing in of fish to have been witnessed by a Senior Club Member.
RULE 41
That no angler shall discard unused bait of any kind into the water at the end of any fishing session.
RULE 42
Any gate which must be opened to gain access to any Harwich Angling Club controlled water, must be re-closed
after entry, and also on exit, and likewise if fitted with a Harwich Angling Club lock.
This
must be re-locked after entry, and again on exit.
RULE 43
If at any committee meeting of the Harwich Anglng Club, a resolution is passed calling for the dissolution
of the Club, the Secretary shall immediately convene a Special General Meeting of the Club to be held not
less than one month hereafter to discuss and vote on the resolution.
If at that special general meeting, the vote is carried by at least two-thirds of the members
present at the meeting, the Officers and Committee shall thereupon, or at such a date as shall
have been specified in the resolution, proceed to realise the assets of the Club and discharge
all debts and liabilities of the Club.
After discharging all debts and liabilities of the Club, the remaining if any assets shall not be
paid or distributed amongst the members of the Club, but shall be given or transferred to some other voluntary organisation having similar objectives to those of Harwich Angling Club.
RULE 44
That anyone intentionally fishing for carp or pike on any Harwich Angling Club waters, should be
equipped
with a large landing net, an unhooking mat and forceps for unhooking of at least 10 inches in length.
RULE 45
When photographing any fish held in hand, anglers must be kneeling and holding fish over a wet unhooking mat to reduce risk of damaging fish.
When unhooking fish, mats must be wet.
RULE 46
RULE FOR FIXED LEAD, DEATH RIG SETUPS
The use of fixed leads, death rigs is not permitted on any of the club waters. A fixed lead setup is any setup that will leave a lead attached to the fish if a breakage occurs.
A setup where the lead CANNOT be dropped, can include helicopter, inline or pendant setups.
For a helicopter rig if there is an issue where the rig and/or the lead can’t be ejected in the event of a break off, then it is a fixed lead setup.
An inline lead setup where the lead CANNOT slide off the mainline is a fixed lead setup.
A pendant lead set up where the tail rubber is pushed on too far, or is glued in place is a fixed lead setup.
RULE 47
Dock River Set aside land (uncut grass):-
From the start of the growing season until the 1st July. Anglers and members attending work parties must drive along track cut by farmer, please park as close to reeds as possible leaving sufficient room for other anglers to pass without driving on the Set aside land (uncut grass)
RULE A
All matches must be peg down competitions. Pegs will be set not less than 12.5 Metres apart
RULE B
On drawing a peg, each competitor will proceed to the corresponding peg. This will remain their peg
throughout the competition and until the weigh-in is finished
RULE C
Competitors may not move or exchange their pegs without the consent of the Match Secretary or appointed Officer
RULE D
Competitors may use only one rod or pole, one line and a single hook atany time (except in carp or pike matches
when 2 rods are allowed. Likewise in pike matches 2 hooks per line maybe used.)Other rods etc. maybe
assembled for use providing that they are not baited.
RULE E
Only baits allowed under club rules are permitted.
RULE F
Competitors may not groundbait or loose feed the swim before the competition begins. They may wet
groundbait, plumb the depth, place keepnets and bank stick and clear weed from the swim.
RULE G
All fish will be weighed in at the competitors peg. No catch will be weighed in if more than 10 metres
from the peg
RULE H
Competitors must strike, play and land any fish in their own swim. A fish being played in any other
swim will be disqualified.
RULE I
If any person abandons their peg and decides to cease taking part in the competition, they must not fish
for pleasure within the stretch of water that has been booked for the said match
RULE J
Any angler may eade out, provided that the water does not at any time extend above the knee.
RULE K
A competitor who has hooked a fish before the final whistle will be allowed a further 15 minutes to
and the fish.
RULE L
Sea fish, Pike, Zander, Minnows and Sticklebacks are not eligible for the weigh in, subject to the
Match Secretary's or appointed Offiers discretion.
RULE M
Any person found with litter in their swim will not be allowed to weigh in.
RULE N
Any compaints about the behaviour of another angler or dispute regarding the weights or infringments of
the match rules must be made to the Match Secretary or appointed Officer/Steward before the results are
announced.
RULE O
No lines are to be left unattended in the water or baited on the bank.
RULE P
Competitors must be present at the draw or they maybe inligible to fish
RULE Q
The match Secretary will be responsible for the number, date and purpose of each competition to be held.
A list of events will be forwarded to each member. They will also be responsible for the selecting the
Team to represent the Club where necessary. The Match Secretary may appoint Officers and/or Stewards if
necessary and they shall act with the authority of the Match Secretary
RULE R
A points system will be determined by the Match Secretary prior to the start of the season. This will
determine the Fisherman of the Year.
RULE S
Competitors must be at their peg at the weigh in or they may be disqualified
RULE T
People required to do the weigh in will be decided at the draw.
RULE U
A peg fee will be charged for all home and away matches.This will be decided by the committee.
RULE V
The decision of the Match Secretary, Assistant Match Secetary, or appointed Officer/Steward will be final.
RULE W
That any carp caught during matches when allowed, must be kept in a separate keepnet from all the other
types of fish.