Fishing Rules

 

GERROA BOAT FISHERMANS CLUB LTD

FISHING COMPETITION RULES AS ADOPTED EFFECTIVE 1 JANUARY 2021

  1. ELIGIBILITY         

All financial members and their guests are eligible to enter ordinary fishing competitions. Major trophies and competition awards are for members and juniors only. For the purpose of these rules, member’s children and grandchildren are classified as juniors up to the age of eighteen years. The skipper of each boat shall be a financial member of the Gerroa Boat Fishermans Club Ltd. The same rules apply generally to beach, rock and estuary fishing.

 

  1. REGISTRATION

The skipper of each boat shall be responsible of registering his/her boat and crew with the radio operator between the hours of 7:30 am and 9:00 am. The boat must be on the water at 9am to be eligible to weigh in on a competition day. Failure to sign on before 9:00am will result in disqualification from the competition for that fishing day. This does not preclude fish being weighed in in accordance with Clause 6 (b).

 

  1. METHODS OF SIGNING ON

 

The Skipper calls GERROA BASE on Channel 74 (VHF) between 7:30 am and 9:00am and advises

The boat name and call sign.

The number of persons on board and their badge numbers.

Any visitors or juniors.

Beach, Rock and land based estuary anglers are not required to sign on with the radio operator but must weigh in at the same time as all other competitors.

If the skipper cannot reach the radio operator the skipper may log on as above by SMS or Email to a member of the Fishing Committee. This provision is to be used strictly as a back up only when radio communication is unable to be made.

 

  1. CANCELLATION OF COMPETITIONS

In the event of less than 3 boats logging on and still on the water at 9:00 am, the competition will be automatically cancelled for that day.

Competitions may be cancelled by the Fishing Committee if it is considered unsafe for a majority of boats.

In the event that scheduled competitions during the months of October to March inclusive are cancelled due to poor conditions or less than 3 boats participating on both the Saturday and Sunday, the competition will be moved to the Saturday and Sunday in two weeks time. During the months of April to September there will not be a comeback weekend if the competition is cancelled.

 

  1. COMPETITION BOUNDRIES

All boats must be launched from a ramp no further north than Kiama and no further south than Jervis Bay. In the case of moored boats they must leave from no further north than Kiama and no further south than Jervis Bay.

 

 

  1. COMPETITION TIMES
  • Any fish weighed in on a competition day shall be caught on that day and is to be brought to the weigh master before:
  • 00 pm for Saturday, Sunday and public holiday competitions.
  • OR in the event of a special competition, by closing time as proclaimed by the fishing committee.
  • Fish may be weighed in for the club Record Board on any weekend from the club opening time on Saturday until Club closing time on Sunday (or Monday in the case of a gazetted long weekend). The fish must be weighed in by the angler and a witness that is a club member. All columns in the weigh in book MUST be correctly filled in or the fish will be disqualified.

(c) Annual competitions shall commence on 1st January and shall conclude 31st December each year.   

  1. WEIGHMASTER

It will be the duty of the weigh master to supervise all entries, weighing of fish, recording all catches on competition days and to determine the winners.

 

  1. WEIGH IN RULES
  • All fish to be weighed in whole.
  • The only fish eligible to be weighed in for the club record and points are;
BREAM DRUMMER FLATHEAD FLOUNDER GROPER GURNARD
KINGFISH LEATHERJACKET LUDERICK MORWONG MULLOWAY PIGFISH
SALMON SNAPPER WHITING NANNYGUI TAILOR ROCK COD
TREVALLY PEARL PERCH GAME FISH ( all species excluding Sharks )

 

  • Bag limits are to comply strictly with those determined by State Fisheries (copies available from the club)
  • Size limits are those set by State Fisheries EXCEPT where the State Fisheries minimum legal size is under our Club’s minimum weigh in size of 35 cm or 38 cm for all Flathead. Exemptions to the Clubs minimum weigh in size exist for Bream, Luderick, Whiting, Nannygai, Flounder & Tailor where the minimum length for these species is 30cm.
  • The Junior’s board will be as per the State Fisheries for length & bag limits.
  • Fish caught by a Junior to be included in Boat Catch weight must comply with minimum weigh in lengths required for Members.
  • To support “catch and release” practices, Fish to be weighed in can be measured in length and released as follows. For all species where the NSW Fisheries has (or may in the future) publish “Length / Weight” charts, fish may be measured and released.

The Fisheries charts will be used to establish the weight for all competition purposes. Fish must be (i) measured from the fork of the tail to the end of the lower jaw (as per Fisheries length to weight charts), (ii) photographed on the measuring mat, sticker or rule, (iii) be witnessed by the skipper or other club member prior to release and authenticated when weighing in.

  • Anglers presenting fish to be weighed in that are under the N S W Fisheries minimum length will render that Angler and boat disqualified from the competition for that day.

 

  1. TROPHIES & POINTS SCORING – DAILY COMPETITIONS

On each competition day trophies will be awarded for fish caught as part of the day competition for:

  • Heaviest Flathead
  • Heaviest Other Fish
  • Best Average Boat Catch. Calculated as follows.
  • One person onboard- total catch divided by 1.5
  • Two persons onboard- total catch divided by 2
  • Three persons onboard- total catch divided by 2.5
  • Four persons onboard- total catch divided by 3
  • Five persons onboard- total catch divided by 3.5
  • Best other Total Boat Catch (irrespective of the number of persons on board)
  • Heaviest fish by a Junior (Juniors as defined in clause 1)

 

  1. TROPHIES AND POINT SCORING _ ANNUAL COMPETITION

On each competition day points are awarded as follows. Daily competition points accumulate towards major Annual Trophies.

  • 2 Points for the heaviest Flathead and 1 point for the 2nd heaviest Flathead
  • 2 Points for the heaviest Other Board Fish and 1 point for the 2nd heaviest Other Board Fish
  • 1 Point for the heaviest of each Board Fish species caught
  • Champion Boat points are awarded for the best average catch calculated in accordance with clause 8 (c) and for fishing on the competition days as follows. Note that to be eligible for points the boat must be logged on and must be on the water at 9am (Refer Clause 3)

4 Points for the best average boat catch

3 Points for the second best average boat catch

2 Points for the third best average boat catch

1 point for each boat that is logged on and is on the water at 9am

 

Competition Bonus Points at the end of the year

  • 1 additional point for each record board fish that is recorded as the best of each board species for the year
  • 2 further additional points for each record board fish that creates a new all time club record (ie. 3 additional points in total)

 

 

  1. ANNUAL TROPHIES
  • Record fish of each species caught during the year for the record board (See Cl 6 and Cl 8 above)
  • Club Champion – Winner of the point score competition
  • Champion Boat – Winner of the best average catch point score competition
  • Best Total Boat Catch
  • Reef Champion – point score
  • Flathead Champion – point score
  • Junior Boy Champion – Each fish on the Juniors board as at the 31st December attracts 2 points. The Junior Boy with the most points from the Juniors board as at the 31st December each year will be the Junior Boy Champion. In the event of a draw the person (out of those in the draw) with the heaviest fish on the board will be the Junior Boy Champion.
  • Junior Girl Champion – Each fish on the Juniors board as at the 31st December attracts 2 points. The Junior Girl with the most points from the Juniors board as at the 31st December each year will be the Junior Girl Champion. In the event of a draw the person (out of those in the draw) with the heaviest fish on the board will be the Junior Girl Champion
  • Perpetual and Memorial Trophies
  1. TROPHIES- OTHER

Special trophies will be awarded during Christmas, Easter and other times as may be notified.

Unclaimed trophies will be kept at the club for 6 months after which they will become property of the club.

 

  1. CLUB RADIO

The club radio operates on Channel 74 (VHF) on competition days between 7:30 am and 9:30 am. Boat to boat conversations must operate on Channel 74 (VHF)

 

Safety Notes

  1. It is the responsibility of each boat owner and/or skipper to ensure that all safety equipment as required by legislation or other regulation is available for all crew members.

 

  1. It is also advised that it is the responsibility of each boat owner/skipper to seek their own advice, and to ensure that adequate insurance covers ( typically, but not exclusive to, property, accident, third party, public liability) are maintained at all times as the Gerroa Boat Fishermans Club Limited accepts no such responsibility.

 

  1. The club radio operates for competition purposes only and is not intended for search and rescue operations. Skippers must make their own decision to join an appropriate search and rescue organization. (e.g. Shoalhaven Volunteer Marine Rescue – details available at the club )

 

 

GERROA BOAT FISHERMANS CLUB

OPERATIONS OF THE FISHING FRATERNITY – THE FISHO’S

Part 1 – NAME

These operations cover the fishing fraternity of Gerroa Boat Fishermans Club. Herein, the fishing fraternity are referred to as the Fisho’s

PART 2 – OBJECTIVES

  1. To promote and foster amateur fishing & to establish and encourage safe practice in small boats in the open sea

 

  1. To conduct organize, supervise and participate in all activities connected with amateur fishing in the club

 

  1. To conduct organize and supervise fishing competitions among members
  2. To assist generally in the promotion, conduct and propagation of boat fishing in the district of Gerroa.

These objectives or any proposed objectives of the Fisho’s cannot be modified in the future in such a way as they would conflict with the objectives of Gerroa Boat Fishermans Club as stated in its’articles of association.

 

PART 3 – MEMBERSHIP

Membership is open to individuals who accept the objectives and fishing competition rules of the Fisho’s, are financial members of Gerroa Boat Fishermans Club and accept this document as being the operations of the Fisho’s.

 

Individuals wishing to enter competitions and fish with the Fisho’s must advise the Fishing Committee such that they can be made aware of the operations of the Fisho’s and the competition rules under which the Fisho’s operate

 

PART 4 – DISCIPLINING MEMBERS

Disciplinary issues will be handled by the Fishing Committee

PART 5 – MANAGEMENT BY THE FISHING COMMITTEE

The Fisho’s shall have its affairs controlled and managed by

the Fishing Committee comprising the office bearers and up to three other committee members

The office bearers shall consist of the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer.

 

The office bearers and other members of the Committee

shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Gerroa Boat Fishermans Club held in October each year.

The names of members to be presented to the GBFC Annual General Meeting in October each year shall be voted on and determined by members present at the Fisho’s AGM held in September each year.

Any casual vacancy occurring in the Committee may be filled by a member appointed by the Committee until the next election in September. Where insufficient nominations are received any vacant position remaining on the Committee shall be deemed to be a casual vacancy and the duties carried out by the other office bearers

Each member of the Committee shall hold office from the date of the election or appointment until the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting in September

 

Retiring committee members are eligible for re-election

 

The committee shall meet as often as necessary to

conduct the business of the Fisho’s

The committee shall elect a representative to liaise with the Board of Gerroa Boat Fishermans Club

 

The quorum for meetings of the committee shall be 3 of the committee members

Questions arising at any meeting of the committee shall be decided by the majority of votes of those present and eligible to vote. In the case of an equality of votes the person appointed to the chair of the meeting shall have the second and casting vote

 

Notice of committee meetings shall be given at the previous committee meeting or as by any other means as the committee may decide

 

PART 6 – GENERAL MEETINGS

The committee will convene the Annual General Meeting which will be held on the Saturday afternoon of the competition weekend in September at 3pm.  A General Meeting will be held on the Saturday afternoon of the competition weekend in March at 3pm. If the Fishing Committee feels it is needed then a General Meeting can be called at any time other than the March meeting. Notice of meetings will be placed on the notice board at least 21 days before the meeting

 

Where a special resolution (See Clause 8) is to be proposed, notice of the special resolution shall be advised to members at least twenty one (21) days before the meeting. The method of advising members is to place the information on the Gerroa Boat Fishermans Club Notice Board

 

In the case of the Annual General Meeting the following business will be transacted whether specified or not

 

  1. Confirmation of the minutes of the last Annual General Meeting
  2. Receipt of the Committees report upon the activities of the Fisho’s in the last financial year
  3. Consideration and voting on Special Resolutions.
  4. Election of Nominees for office bearers and up to three other members of the Fishing Committee for referral to and voting at the G B F C October Annual General Meeting.
  5. Receipt and consideration of a statement from the committee ( Treasurers Report ) which gives a true and accurate indication of the financial position of the Fisho’s for the last financial year covering it’s Income & Expenditure
  6. General Business

All members at the meeting must sign the attendance book stating their name & membership number.

 

Voting at meetings shall be by show of hands. Decisions shall be made by simple majority vote except for those matters which must be decided by special resolution where three quarters majority of those members present and eligible to vote is required

 

All voting will be in person. There shall be no proxy voting

 

In the case of an equality of votes the person appointed to the chair shall have a second and casting vote

 

Nominations of candidates for election as office bearers or other Fishing Committee members must be made to the existing Fishing Committee at least fourteen days before the Annual General Meeting in September.

 

The Committee will advise of the nominations received by way of a list of positions and names of the nominees to be placed on the Notice Board at least 14 days before the Annual General Meeting.

 

PART 7 – OFFICE BEARERS

The Chairman or in the absence of the Chairman, the Secretary or the Treasurer shall act as chairman at each general meeting and of each meeting of the Fishing Committee

 

If the Chairman and the Secretary and the Treasurer are unwilling to act, the members present at the meeting shall elect one of their number to act as the chairman

 

The Secretary shall keep records of the business of the Fisho’s including the competition rules, minutes of all General & Fishing Committee meetings and file of correspondence. These records shall be available for inspection by any member and shall be held in the custody of the Secretary

 

The Treasurer shall ensure that all monies received are paid into the Bank Account. Payments shall be made through a petty cash system or by a cheque signed by two (2) signatories or by debit card (limit $1,000) authorized by the Fishing Committee, namely Chairman , Treasurer or Secretary

 

The Treasurer shall ensure that correct books and accounts are kept showing the financial affairs of the Fisho’s. These records shall be available for inspection by any member and shall be held in the custody of the Treasurer.

 

PART 8 – SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS

A special resolution may be passed at an Annual General Meeting

or at a General Meeting to Change the objectives, operation or competition rules of the Fishos’ subject to :

  1. The objectives of the Fisho’s must be aligned with and cannot be in conflict with the objectives of Gerroa Boat Fishermans Club as stated in it’s Articles of Association.
  2. Changes to fishing Competition Rules shall take effect from the 1st January in the year following the meeting that adopted the change.

A special resolution shall be passed in the following

Manner:

Special Resolutions not generated by the Committee shall be submitted to the Fishing Committee a minimum of 28 days before the meeting

Members must be advised by way of the Gerroa Boat Fishermans Club Notice Board that a special resolution is to be considered at the Annual General Meeting in September or at a General Meeting at a given date. This notice must come from the Fishing Committee

The notice must give details of the proposed special resolution/s and give at least twenty one days notice of meeting.

At least three quarters majority of those present and eligible to vote must vote in favour of the resolution for it to be passed.

PART 9 – MISCELLANEOUS

  • The funds of the Club shall be derived from donations, raffles, grants and such other sources approved by the Board of Gerroa Boat Fishermans Club.

 

  • The Fisho’s is a non profit organization and the income will be applied for the purposes of promoting the objectives as stated, no dividend or bonus will be paid out to the members.

 

  • The colours of the Club shall be Black and Orange

The emblem of the Club will be a Sea Horse Orange in Colour surrounded by a white Life Buoy with the words Gerroa Boat Fishermans Club Ltd on same.

  • Award and Management of Memorial and Perpetual Trophies shall be carried out in accordance the Protocol for same adopted by the Board of The Gerroa Boat Fishermans Club at its’ meeting of 2ND September 2016.
  • All correspondence or other communications issued by or on behalf of the Fisho’s Committee shall be signed off as follows:

Committee Member Name

Fishing Committee Secretary ( Chairman or Treasurer as appropriate)

Gerroa Boat Fishermans Club Ltd.