Rule 1 MEMBERSHIP

1.1 Membership.

Is open to all Individuals who have applied for and been granted membership under the rules in place at the time and have paid the appropriate fee.

Membership will only be accepted before commencement of the Round 2 Match. 

 

1.2 Guests.

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

 

Rule 2 GOVERNANCE

2.1 Advisory Committee.

The SLO is governed by a committee of senior shore anglers who will assist in the day to day running of SLO, open competitions, representative team selection and disciplinary matters.

 

2.2 Competition.

Twelve SLO open matches are held throughout the year. Any number of add-on events may be included within the SLO.
A minimum of eight matches must be completed to count as a full season. In the event of match cancellations, resulting in less than 8 matches being fished in one calendar year, the committee will hold the final decision on either league cancellation or extension. Best 9 from 12 to count.

 

2.3 Sponsorship.

SLO will offer advertising in exchange for sponsorship. Sponsors adverts will feature on the SLO website.  

 

2.4 Penalties.

If an entrant has been disqualified for breaking any SLO rule, a note regarding the incident shall be published in the journal. No angler is allowed to enter an SLO 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 SLO promoted competition and in so doing agrees to abided by the rules in force at the time. After the acceptance of the entrant, SLO 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.

SLO 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 SLO.

 

3.4 Abandonment.

In the event of bad weather and/or in the interest of safety, SLO 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 SLO, 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 SLO.

 

3.6 Weigh-in and Match Cards

All competitors have 45 minutes to hand in their match card after the stipulated finish time. If a competitor arrives after this time they will not be allowed to weigh-in. Failure to comply without adequate cause may at the discretion of SLO lead to disqualification. 

 

3.7 Ineligible Species.

Octopus, Crustacean, Squid, Mackerel, Shad, Cuttlefish are ineligible. SLO may bar the catching of other species as instructed by the governing body or local authority.

 

 3.8 Use of Electric Reels and Winches.

Electric reels and winches are not permitted unless dispensation is given by SLO to accommodate a disabled angler who otherwise would not be able to compete.

 

3.9 Easy Access Pegs.

SLO will 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 SLO and agreed prior to the commencement of the competition.

 

 

 

3.11 Match Entry Card.

NEW for 2024 - Cards no longer require the bag / bucket check sign off before the match starts.

All competitors must personally record their own catch in the appropriate column on the MEC with the length of all fish caught witnessed on the MEC by the angler to the captors immediate left or right, or in the first adjacent peg. By prior approval from SLO, a third party may assist wheelchair bound entrants or seriously disabled anglers, with the witnessing of fish landed by those entrants. No entrant can refuse the signing of a legitimately caught fish. At the end of the match a line must be drawn under all entries and signed off by the adjacent peg witness. All un witnessed fish noted on the MEC 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.
All Cards must be presented complete – signed off, and total weight confirmed using the conversion chart supplied by SLO – all unconverted cards will not be accepted until completed.

All fish must have a recorded Full Fish Name,Length, converted weight, &  peg number and initials of the witness. The use of Ditto, Ting, or ::::, will not be accepted as a legitimate fish.

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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. If fish are found they are to be marked in such a way to clearly identify that they were found prior to the commencement of the competition. They must not be brought to the scales by the entrant. The entrant and witness must notify the organiser of such action. If the found fish were brought to the match to deliberately change the outcome of the competition the entrant will be disqualified. All MEC are to be signed by the witness to indicate no fish were found prior to the start of the match.

 

3.13 Witnesses.

All fish landed during the match times must be physically seen and witnessed by the entrant in the peg to your immediate right or left who must certify its capture, length and initial that entry in the appropriate column on the MEC. All Fish must be returned to the water in front of the witnessing angler.

 

3.14 Smoothhound.

All Smoothhound are to be measured and released before re casting, if they are too big to go in a bucket of water. An SLO 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 SLO but not during a season.

 

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3.16 Fish Pools

All Round and Flat Fish pools will only be awarded to sizeable fish. In the event of  no sizeable fish being caught, the pool will roll over to the next match.  

 

Rule 4. SHORE COMPETITION RULES

4.1 Duration.

The start and finish times of each competition will be shown at the booking in by SLO. 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 numbers 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. Braid is not allowed on reels or rigs.

 

4.4 Baits.

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

 

4.5 Restrictions.

SLO 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. SLO recommend that the breaking strain of shock leaders should be a minimum of 10lbs per oz/28g 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 adjacent competitor or match steward 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 SLO. 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. 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 and loosening the hooks.

 

4.10 Minimum Sizes.

SLO shall fix the minimum size of fish eligible to be included in the competitors catch. 

 

4.11  Fish Welfare

It is each angler's responsibility to ensure all 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. Double and family pegs are available on request. / with prior arrangement

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4.13 Fish Frenzy

There is no fish frenzy ruling, at any match, unless otherwise informed by the SLO board prior to match.

 

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 SLO 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 SLO 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. SLO reserves the right to refuse entry without explanation and shall in such a case return the entry fees.

 

4.16 Loss and Damage.

SLO 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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4.19 Young Anglers

Minimum Age is 10, and must be accompanied by an adult. The accompanying adult will draw the peg, and the junior will be given a peg spaced 1 angler apart. The junior must be able to cast and retrieve by themselves, and follow the rules set by the SLO.

** An Angler can compete in the junior competition as long as they are under 16 on the commencement of the first match, and their age remains a maximum of 16 at the year end.

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4.20 Seniors

Any angler aged 55 at the start of the year, may be eligable for entry into the Senior Champion Award.