Port Sunlight Angling Club

1. Members shall do nothing in any way, including by use of social media, to endanger or tarnish the good reputation of the club. Ref. Club Social Network Policy
2. Members must have their Current Membership Card with them whilst fishing or visiting club facilities and when fishing affiliated or away venues when taking part in Club away matches. Additionally, members, fishing must have a Valid Environment Agency Rod license.  Both should be available for inspection when fishing or visiting club waters on request of a Bailiff or Committee member, who must show their own card or Bailiff I.D.  Failure to do so will result in members asked to leave the water/property and the case reported to the committee for review, which may result in further action being taken.  Affiliated Club bailiffs have the right to ask to see your current membership card in compliance with the respective affiliated Club Rules/Byelaws.

NO CARD! NO FISHING or VISITING! Respect bailiffs or officials if you are asked to leave, not having your card is not their fault.

          Remember!

Any member after showing their own card can ask anyone else on club waters to produce their membership card to verify that they are a member!

3. Any Committee member may at any time ask for any other member to surrender his card to them.
4. All forms of transport must be parked at the designated car parks or parking areas. Parking anywhere else prohibited. No vehicles (including cycles and motorbikes) of any description may be taken on to private land or parked on the verges except for the Roadside where bicycles only can be parked inside the pond access gate. Bicycles may also be parked inside the Stork and Hesketh access gates after pushing the bicycle across the field (No riding across the field) The only exception will be through the express permission of the PSAC Committee.
5. The approach to Club waters shall be by access approved by the landowner/farmer only. Crops, fences, and hedges must not be damaged. Gates must not be left open.
6. There will be an arbitrary Close Season on the Club waters March 1st until May 31st inclusive in any year. All Club waters will be open during this period unless designated closed by the Committee. The use of keep nets is banned during this period except for bona fide Club matches. On

affiliated river waters the official close season of March 15th to June 15th inclusive each year applies

7. No member shall be on the Club facilities (including car parks) before:
8. 4am- 1hr after Sunset in the case of the Stork and Roadside.
9. 6am- 1hr after Sunset in the case of the ponds accessed from the Club hut and car park.
10. 24hr fishing at the Fireman’s and Carp Pond. 24hr fishing is also allowed on the Stork Pond however, at the request of the farm manager you must post your plans on the Members Only Facebook Group before you fish. In all cases you must arrive and leave in daylight hours. No juniors unless accompanied by an adult member.
11. Non-members must not be brought on Club waters, unless with prior permission of PSAC committee.
12. Junior members between the ages of 6 and 13 must fish in close proximity to their parent/guardian or responsible member, apart from official club matches following permission from a member who holds parental responsibility for them.
13. Members must have a suitable disgorger with them and a landing net with handle, set up prior to fishing.
14. Barbless hooks only to be used on Club ponds. (Micro barbed hooks may be used on canals and Rivers)
15. Members can only fish from designated swims.
16. Fishing with two rods, or a rod and a pole are allowed on all waters except on the Fireman’s and Roadside Pond where only one rod or pole is allowed.

14   Fish must not be held within a dry cloth and all fish returned to the water which they were caught.

15. Care should be taken when holding fish for photographs. Keep down low rather than standing and return the fish to the water quickly particularly in warm weather.
16. All fish larger than 4lb must be returned immediately and must not be retained in keep nets or carp sacks. The exception is on club matches on club waters when the retention of larger fish is at the Match captain’s discretion. However, Barbel must not be retained in keep nets at any time.
17. Regulation knotless keepnets are allowed, to retain fish under 4lb, during pleasure angling sessions except for Barbel which must be returned to the water straight away. however, fish must be spread between two keepnets on the Firemans with a maximum of 50lb per net with fish retained for no longer than 5 hours this also applies to Club Matches. The duration that fish are kept in keepnets should be limited during periods of hot weather.
18. The Committee would recommend the use of an unhooking mat when fishing for Carp or fishing pools that contain Carp.
19. Terminal tackle must not be left in the water when vacating your peg, even temporarily or to land a fish for another angler.
20. Braided lines in all forms are banned on club waters
21. All nuts are banned, there are no other bait bans, however, loose feeding and ground baiting must be done in moderation.
22. Any member on Club waters or Club outings will be held accountable for litter in their immediate vicinity, all rubbish must be taken home and not left in any part of the club car parks.
23. Metal cans of any kind (Bait or Drink Cans) are not allowed on club waters.
24. All portable audio devices must be played through earphones.
25. Firearms, air weapons, pointed knives with a blade longer than 3 inches and any other offensive weapons are banned from Club waters.
26. Dogs are not allowed on Club waters
27. The Committee may organise matches at away venues. If numbers are limited, they will be filled on a first come first served basis by booking through the Clubmate booking system. Any member who fails to turn up at an away venue without cancelling through the Clubmate Booking System or advising the Match Secretary or Match Co-Ordinator will be liable to pay any match fees incurred.
28. Fires at club waters are prohibited on Club waters. Except at official working parties.
29. The introduction, transfer and removal of fish and plants is strictly prohibited without the permission of the Committee

30   Work on waters. Ref. Official Work Party Safety

1. On days of official, published working parties, members who are not taking part in the work are not allowed on Club land until after 1pm. (During short notice working parties only the ponds being worked on will be closed to members for the duration of the work as directed by posted notices).
2. No work to be carried out on any Club water by ordinary members outside of an official work party without permission from the appropriate Work Party Coordinator/Water Manager. All work by ordinary members must be agreed and scheduled through the appropriate Work Party Coordinator/Water Manager before undertaking any works with work restricted to that agreed only. There should be no Lone working and a competent member approved by the appropriate Work Party Coordinator/ Water Manager must be in attendance. Power tools should only be used by members instructed by the Club in their safe and proper use.

• Lone working on club waters to be carried out by authorised committee members only after notifying another committee member that they will be working, where they are working and the type of work taking place. Contact details whilst working should be provided and notification given when they have finished.

1. Lone work to be restricted to work done with hand tools, strimmer’s, and lawn mowers etc and using appropriate personal safety equipment. Chainsaws or Brush Cutters are not permitted during lone working.
2. Any member found in breach of the Bye Laws will be brought before the Committee to explain their actions and might be subject to disciplinary action as the Committee see fit. Ref Club Disciplinary Procedures

Note

• Any member can report another to the Committee for breaching Bye Laws.
• We do not issue Guest Passes under any circumstance.
• On Affiliated Club Waters refer to their rules and close seasons, posted online.
• The Committee might allow individuals to override these bye laws for the benefit of the club, e.g., Control of vermin/predators and work on waters.

Updated Jan 2023