BYE LAWS

  1. Club Affiliations
    Portishead Small Boat & Sea Angling Club shall be affiliated to The Angling Trust and the Bristol Channel Federation of Sea Anglers.

  2. The Presentation Evening
    The Presentation Evening will be incorporated with the April meeting. All cups and trophies should be returned by the AGM in January.

  3. General Competition Rules
    1. Booking in
      Booking in will be at the Reel Fun Tackle Shop from the times announced.
    2. Cancellation
      The Competition and safety officers will make the decision if the competition is on at 10 am on the day prior to the competition and a notice will be posted at Reel Fun. Although the committee members concerned take into account all the current weather forecasts and likely sea conditions before deciding if a competition is to go ahead as planned it is up to each individual skipper to make the final decision as to whether the conditions are safe enough for his boat and crew. As you will know weather and sea conditions can change incredibly quickly and while it might still be safe for larger boats to go out skippers with smaller boats or skippers new to our waters may find themselves in trouble. Remember the old adage "IF IN DOUBT DON'T GO OUT" that way there will always be another day tomorrow!
    3. Lockings
      You must make your own arrangements for lockings unless told otherwise.
    4. Safety Tags
      Each boat will be given a safety tag to be worn by the skipper and must be returned to the Reel Fun or to the weigh-in station by the time of the last fish to the scales. Failure to do this will raise the alarm as to your whereabouts. If you have returned to the marina and have not returned your tag by this time you will be disqualified from the next competition unless you have a good explanation given in writing to the committee for their consideration at the next committee meeting.
    5. Fishing Limits
      All fishing shall be within the clubs waters. (See Club Constitution 2 Boundaries.) Club boundaries may be limited on competition days for safety reasons.
    6. Fish Sizes
      Fish sizes to BCFSA minimum and specimens to apply, except minimum size for cod at 20 inch, dog fish at 2lb 4oz and thornback ray 10lb. (See Bye Law number 18.)
    7. Safety Officer
      You will be informed who will be Safety Officer for the day (and the name of safety boat / boats) before the start of the competition and he/she will be contactable on VHF Channels 8 and 16.
    8. Safety Equipment
      All boats must be equipped with the following. Navigation lights, compass, fenders and mooring ropes, VHF radio, charts, tow rope, tool kit, life jackets for all persons on board, first aid kit, spare anchor, chain and rope sufficient for the area being fished, in-date flares and a black ball which must be displayed as high as practical while fishing at anchor during daylight hours. (A white all-round light should be displayed during the hours of darkness.)
    9. Tackle
      A maximum of two rods and up to four hooks in total to be used per angler, with a maximum of three hooks on a single rod. A treble counts as one hook as does a double. No deliberately foul hooked fish will be accepted at any competition. A third rod may be made up but without terminal tackle attached and must not be visible in the fishing area of the boat. It is recommended that this spare rod be stored in the cabin or wheelhouse to avoid any confusion about the number of rods in use.

  4. Minimum Persons on boat
    Solo anglers are permitted

  5. Top Cod Competition
    This is the clubs major competition. Prizes for the heaviest cod caught (Minimum size 20 inch). The number of prizes will be decided on the day of the competition depending on the number of anglers competing.

  6. Monthly Competitions
    Competitions will be held most months at the discretion of the fish recorder and the committee. The format of these competitions will be decided by the fish recorder ie, total weight, number of species, selected species etc and be posted in Reel Fun Tackle Shop at least one week before the competition takes place.

  7. Fish of the Month Competition
    This competition is open to all club members fishing from a boat belonging to a club member. A prize will be awarded to the member who weighs in the best percentage species based against the BCFSA Specimen List caught in our club waters. (See Club Constitution 2. Boundaries.)

  8. Scales
    Scales for weighing fish and the current claim sheet are kept in the marina office, make sure the scales are set to zero and the claim sheet is filled in and witnessed correctly. (If you find any problems with the scales please report it to Steve at Reel Fun Tackle Shop.)

  9. Speed Restrictions
    Please observe the "dead slow" speed limit and do not create excessive wash within the confines of the marina. The marina office can be contacted on VHF channel 80, please do not use channel 16.

  10. Lock Safety
    Please observe the following instructions when using the marina lock. Brief your crew. Only enter the lock when instructed to do so. Enter and depart at dead slow speed. Proceed as far forward in the lock as practicable. Secure your vessel with bow and stern lines and springs.

  11. Safety Notice
    Please be aware of fellow anglers fishing from the pier when leaving or returning to the marina. Please give as wide a berth as depth of water permits or at least make the anglers aware of your presence and give them enough time to retrieve their lines.

  12. Radio Procedure
    Radio Procedure for small vessel traffic around Avonmouth. Callsign "BRISTOL VTS" Working frequency VHF Channel 12. Report you own crafts position when leaving the marina and on arrival back at the marina. Report your own crafts position when you pass the English and Welsh grounds when leaving or re-entering the channel. Monitor Channel 12 to learn the whereabouts and intentions of other vessels. Club rules require that all boats are fitted with a VHF radio but in the event of radio failure you can contact Avonmouth Signal Station by mobile telephone on 0117 9822257, passing on your own telephone number on the initial call.

  13. Skippers Decision
    It is the skippers decision to proceed to sea. Please ensure the safety of your vessel and crew. Monitor VHF Channel 12 for shipping movements and at all times while in the King Road channel. The area of water used by the club for competitions etc are controlled by Bristol VTS, and their instructions must be adhered to at all times.

  14. CG66 Form
    All skippers are advised to complete a CG66 Boat Registration form.

  15. Boat Insurance
    All boat owners must include boat insurance details on the club membership form. All vessels must carry full comprehensive and public liability insurance to the value of £2 million. Failure to be insured nullifies membership of the club.

  16. Club Insurance
    The club will carry third party insurance to the value of £1 million to cover club activities.

  17. Disclaimer
    The Club and its Officers will in no way hold itself / themselves responsible for any member involved in an accident or incident in any location wherever, on land, foreshore, marinas or at sea, for injury or damage sustained to that person or property or persons or any member of the public.

  18. BCFSA Minimum/Specimen Size List Appendix to Bye Law 18. Silver Eels
    Silver Eels (Anguila Anguila). From a line between Avonmouth and Beachley Head, eastward, Severn Trent Water Authority require a freshwater Licence if this species is retained.