All specimens will be based on Dartmouth festival weights.  All rules will be strictly enforced Any competitor bringing undersized fish to the ‘weigh-in’ scales will be disqualified.   
 

CONSERVATION: please bring only your best specimen of each species to the scales. Thank you. 
 

One fish one prize. Only listed fish over 50% of specimen weight will be eligible for senior prizes & junior prizes.

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SECTION 1 BOAT

Boat, Anywhere within 1/2 mile off Berry Head to 1/2 mile off Prawle Point - excluding wreck and River Dart.  

 

SECTION 2 SHORE

Area: Tidal reaches River Exe to River Tamar.

 

SECTION 3 RIVER

Boat Only, Tidal Reaches of River Dart, Upstream from a line stretching between Dartmouth Castle to Kingswear Castle.

 

SECTION 4 WRECK
Any wreck inshore or offshore within N.F.S.A. Area 'C' Limits.

 

1. Privately-owned boats may enter the Competition providing the Entrance Fee is paid. It is permissible for only one person to fish from a boat.
    

2. Competitors should be aboard their boats by 8.45 a.m. on the first day of the Festival for a 9.00 a.m. start. Fishing may be continuous until the final weigh in time of 4.30 p.m. on the Monday. In case of bad weather the boatman has the power to decide when to leave or return to port, not the competitor, even though this may result in a curtailment of fishing time. No lines in the water before 9.30 a.m. on start day.
    

3. Competitors must bring their catch in correctly labelled bags to the bag steward at the Band Stand. Weigh in times will be as follows:- Saturday 5.30 p.m. - 6.00 p.m. Sunday 5.30 p.m. - 6.00 p.m. Monday 4.30 p.m. LAST BAGS ACCEPTED 5.00 p.m. Size limits to Regional Standards. All fish to be collected by the competitor within 15 minutes of completion of weigh in. Any fish not collected by this time will be disposed of by the committee.
    

4. Labels can be collected between 7.00 - 9 .30 p.m. on Friday 6th October or between 8.00 - 8.30 a.m. Daily from the Hon. Sec. at the Dartmouth Angling Club, Oxford Street.
    

5. The signal for starting on the first day will be fired from the Starting Point outside the Dartmouth Yacht Club. A five minute warning will be fired. At the start, a boat flying a Blue and White chequered flag will lead the boats out of the harbour. Boats must not overtake this vessel until the flag is Lowered/ to do so will mean disqualification for that day, for exceeding harbour speed limits. The Commodore's decision will be final.
    

6. Any infringement of the Local Rules will be dealt with by the Committee shall disqualify the competitor so offending.
    

7. The power of the Committee is paramount in respect of all matters relating to this competition, and the Committee can delegate the same to the Commodore appointed by them. The Committee reserves the right to reject any entry, in which case all fees will be refunded. Any matter arising during the Festival not provided for in these Rules shall be dealt with by the Committee, whose decision will be final.
    

8. One fish 1 prize, except for individual Day prizes. No Competitor shall be eligible to take more than one prize in each class with one fish.
    

9. No Competitor shall be entitled to hold more than one trophy, except a special, with one species of fish.
    

10. PROTESTS - A Competitor wishing to lodge a protest during the Festival must do so in writing and hand that protest to the Festival Secretary or Chairman within one hour of completion of weigh-in on that day accompanied by a fee of £10.00, the fee to be refunded if the protest is upheld by the Committee.
     

11. Competitors fishing as Juniors must be under 16 years of age on October 1st 2022 and are not eligible for a cash prize.
     

12. Competitors to supply their own bait and fish containers, bait, cast own rod and catch their own fish, assistance may be given to land or net their catch.
     

13. Mackerel and Lesser Spotted Dogfish will be accepted in the Shore Section, Mackerel minimum weight 1 lb, £ 50.00 prize. Lesser Spotted Dogfish minmum weight 2lb, prize £50.00, both these are not eligible for main prizes.
     

14. Onus is on all winners to collect their prizes and trophies.
     

15. Two rods - three hooks maximum may be used.
     

16. Competitors fishing Section 3 are reminded that a total Bass ban applies to River Dart.
     

17. Anglers fishing from pontoons are deemed to be boat anglers.
     

18. Anglers may only fish from areas that are open to all public access. Fishing from restricted public access is prohibited and anglers found to be fishing such areas will be disqualified.

19. All competitors will be responsible for the security of their prizes

NOTES: Section 1. In case of inclement of weather, boats may fish River Dart, but must weigh in fish under Section I.

All rules will be strictly enforced.

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ANY BAG CONTAINING FISH UNDER 50% MAY BE DISQUALIFIED

 

INSTRUCTIONS TO ALL BOATMEN AND PRIVATE BOAT ENTRIES

Competitors will be responsible for paying their boatman direct. Boatmen are requested to see that they are ready to leave opposite the Dartmouth Yacht Club by 9:00 a.m. sharp on the first day. No lines in the water before 9:30 a.m. from any boat for any reason includes bait on the first day Competitors to be aboard their boats by 8:45 a.m. on the first day. The Boatman should inform the Competitors in his boat 15 minutes be-fore starting for home. In case of bad weather, the skipper/boatman has the power to decide when to leave or return to port, not the Competitor, even though this may result in a curtailment of the fishing time. In case of a breakdown a motor boat may tow you home and a suitable allowance will be made. Any infringement of the Rules will disqualify the Competitors.

COMPETITORS MUST ENSURE THAT THE BOAT IS COVERED BY INSURANCE 

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