Erne Anglers May Matches

Please carefully read all Terms & Conditions and instructions discussed in the document for competing in the Erne Anglers May Matches. Failure to adhere to any of these regulations could result in your immediate disqualification.

Event Registration

Once your registration is complete you will receive an email confirmation. If you have not received this please check your ‘junk’ box or send an email query. It is vital that information is entered correctly. If you notice an error on your registration, please contact the Erne Anglers Secretary by email at secerneanglers@yahoo.com

Angling Licence and Permit Requirements

To fish legally in Northern Ireland you need a permit plus a rod licence. The permit gives the angler permission to fish in the chosen water while the rod license is for the fishing rod and the game or coarse fish you're allowed to catch. You cannot buy a permit without a rod license.

Anglers can buy a short-term permit and rod license online or from a distributor (like tackle shops). Read the Conditions of Sale for fishing licenses and permits before buying:

Event Staff and Stewards may request to check licenses prior to and during the event. Failure to produce these documents could result in removal from the event.

It is the responsibility of each participant to purchase or hold the correct fishing licenses and permits.

Please note:- All equipment carried by DAERA staff is at your own risk and that neither Erne Anglers or DAERA are liable for any breakages that may occur.

Health & Safety

The organization of this year’s event is under the stewardship of Erne Anglers Angling Club and DAERA Inland Fisheries. While the organisers have a duty of care towards all participants you are reminded that you also have responsibility for your own safety. Do not take unnecessary risks and use only approved routes when accessing your peg.

Draw and Fishing Times

Draws will take place each day at 08:30 a.m. at Fishing Tackle and Bait.

This will be undertaken under supervision and by drawing a peg from the ballot box. Please ensure you have your event registration details with you at each draw.

Anglers must arrange their own transport to their allocated peg. Please do not block any gates, farm roads, or laneways with your vehicle, and safely secure all contents.

Fishing times are from 12.00 pm to 5.00 pm each day. 

IF ANY CHANGES ARE MADE TO THESE TIMES COMPETITORS WILL BE NOTIFIED VIA ERNE ANGLERS FACEBOOK PAGE

Weigh In

There will be a nominated angler to weigh the section in. All anglers have to make sure they are happy with the weight that the nominated person has given them and sign the section sheet to confirm. Once the scales have left the peg and the weigh sheet has been signed weights cannot be changed.

Prizes

Daily prize winners and overall prize winners will be awarded their prizes by cheque presented at the Classic prize gala. A club representative will be at the Prize Gala to hand out the prize Cheques.

Angling Rules as drawn up by the NCFFI

1. Competitors must play and land their own fish without assistance. Competitors who due to extenuating circumstances, i.e. infirmity or illness, require assistance, must contact the match referee prior to the draw.

2. Fishing shall commence at the given signal and prior to that no competitor shall disturb the water in his swim other than to wet ground bait, clear weed, position keep nets, and plumb the depth. In plumbing the depth only simple weight or plummets may be used. No bait is to be introduced at this time.

3. Competitors shall provide themselves with a keepnet - minimum length of six feet and with rings of a minimum diameter of fifteen inches. More than one such net may be used. All live fish are eligible for weighing in, except salmon, trout, eels, and pike. All fish caught shall be returned alive to the water.

4. Competitors must fish from a point not less than three feet from the shortest line between the numbered pegs and the water. The fishing areas shall normally be defined by points mid-way between the competitor’s peg and those of his upstream and downstream neighbors. In running water the swim boundary shall be from the competitor’s peg to the next peg downstream. An angler can wade other than for the purposes of posting his keepnet(s) provided he remains within 3 feet of the water’s edge. If a competitor is in doubt over the location of his fishing site he must seek clarification from the Steward.

5. Fishing shall cease on the signal termination of the contest. If an angler is playing a fish at this moment he will be permitted an additional fifteen minutes in which to play and land the fish.

6. The Appointed section Stewards shall supervise the weighing in of the catch to the nearest subdivision on scales provided by the organizers and shall mark the weight cards of the competitors. No competitor shall leave his peg after the end of the match until his catch has been weighed in or he has declared to the Steward that he does not wish to be weighed in. The Steward will then supervise the return of whatever fish he has to the water. During the competition if circumstances require it a Steward shall have the authority to weigh in fish caught by a competitor and return these to the water after recording the weight to the benefit of the competitor concerned, unless the Referee agrees to their transfer elsewhere provided it shall not be in the swim of any other competitor.

7. The organizers shall appoint Stewards and any other necessary officials. A Competition Referee shall be appointed, whose decision in any dispute arising during the competition, that is during the period between the commencement and conclusion of the contest, shall be final. Should any competitor wish to make a protest against any other competitor he must lodge this, in writing with the Referee within two hours of the end of the match.

8. No competitor shall be weighed in or permitted to leave his peg if litter is found at his peg. Each competitor will, therefore be responsible for the cleanliness of his peg and the bank adjacent thereto.

9. The duration of the matches will be 5 hours.

10. No competitor may win more than one daily cash prize.

11. No substitution of Competitor’s Names without prior permission of the organizers.

12. Competitors drawn at the high and/or low peg in each section on each competition day may be asked to assist with weighing-in and result recording.

13. Competitors are asked to respect the wishes of the Council and use lead-free shots, in the interests of conservation.

These rules are subject to amendment at the discretion of the organizers and the official referee.