CHGFC RULES

FISHING RULES

The Coffs Harbour Game Fishing Club adheres to the rules of GFAA and NSWGFA

(Refer to the Official Australian Game Fishing Journal)

1. Coffs Harbour Game Fishing Club monthly competition days are first fishable Saturday of every month except May and November. (First and second Saturday only). Refer to rule 6.
2. Coffs Harbour Game Fishing Club monthly competition in May and November are held on the designated weekend for Northern Zone Overnight Competitions. On the May and November “Northern Zone overnight competitions”, the monthly “In hours” competition will start 7am Saturday and finish 5pm Sunday. Overnight fishing is permissible but not mandatory. Sched boats will commence 7am each day and sign off at 4pm (5pm daylight saving). Outside these hours, all vessels should log on with VMR Coffs Harbour.
3. Northern Zone Overnight Competitions are held in May and November on a date to be announced by Northern Zone Chairman through the newsletter.
4. The Northern Zone Challenge can be fished any or every weekend, but only one day of each weekend. The day must be nominated before going fishing.
5. If the CHGFC monthly competition is called off, Boats fishing the Northern Zone competition on the 3rd, 4th, or 5th weekend must notify the committee before commencing fishing. Not applicable to May or November. Only one day in a month can be designated for Northern Zone competition.
6. If CHGFC Monthly competitions are cancelled due to bad weather for the whole month, a ‘catch up’ competition date is to be announced by the committee. This will ensure that there are twelve ‘in hour’ monthly competitions.
7. In the event of bad weather and in the absence of committee members on the day, competitions are to be called “on” or “off” by three skippers, two of whom should be fishing trailer boats. Fishing can be postponed at any time before 9am. After 9am, the competition will be cancelled. Any fish caught or hooked before cancellation, will be eligible.
8. All boats fishing in the CHGFC competitions must leave from and return to Coffs Harbour Port. Entering other ports during competitions causes disqualification of any fish caught. (Health and safety reasons exempt.)
9. Boats must sign on with the Sked boat of the day, before starting fishing. All fish caught before this will not count for ‘in hours’ competition.
10. For CHGFC Monthly competitions, fishing commences at 7am and lines up at 4pm. Lines up during Eastern Standard Daylight Saving time is 5pm.  Lines up for Northern Zone competition is 5pm. All boats must sign off with the Sched boat when they return to port.
11. Anglers and boats are allowed to fish out of port for six days only but must notify the committee before commencing.
12. Anglers and/or boats must fish at least two CHGFC ‘in hours’ competitions to be eligible for end of year trophies.
13. Any one fish may not be entered into more than one competition except for Northern Zone and CHGFC club events.
14. Billfish must be tagged with Marlin only tags to be eligible.
15. Sharks must be tagged with S tag to be eligible.
16. Tag cards and capture sheets must be handed in within seven days.
17. Tag cards are to be filled out correctly.
18. Captures must be noted on the official capture sheet filled out correctly to be eligible.
19. Fish should be weighed by the weigh master or a person conversant with the scales using the certified scales only.
20. Any committee member that misses two consecutive meetings without prior notification will forfeit their position automatically.
21. Club meetings are the last Monday of each month. All members welcome. There must be at least three committee members to make a quorum.
22. Monthly newsletters including CHGFC and Northern Zone point scores will be issued to all CHGFC members.
23. There must be at least two CHGFC members per boat to be eligible to fish ‘in hours’ competitions.
24. There must be at least three CHGFC boats fish to constitute an ‘in hours’ competition.
25. That it is mandatory for all Coffs Harbour Game Fishing Club boats to have both 27mg and VHF radios by 1 January 2009.
26. Coffs Harbour Game Fishing Club Safety Officer to include in the safety check list, requirement for details of insurance and that safety inspection needs to be completed by 1 September 2008.
27. If a vessel has been away representing the Coffs Harbour Game Fishing Club at a sanctioned tournament, it may leave said port to return and fish the first fishable Coffs Harbour monthly competition on the date following. Fishing must be within Coffs Harbour Game Fishing Club grid sheet and comply with all other monthly competition day regulations to be eligible for monthly competition “in hours” points. Trailer boats can also put in elsewhere on the way home from a sanctioned tournament but must continue to Coffs Harbour region and return to Coffs Harbour Port that day.

BY-LAWS

1.  NAME
The Game Fishing Section shall be known and operate as the Coffs Harbour Game Fishing Club.

2. LOGOS

The use of the clubs name and logos must be authorized by the elected committee of the day.

3. COMMITTEE

The committee of the Coffs Harbour Game Fishing Club shall consist of:

President

Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer

Five Officers

4. G.F.A.A. & N.S.W.G.F.A. BY-LAWS & FISHING RULES

The Coffs Harbour Game Fishing Club agrees to abide by the constitution, by-laws and fishing rules of the governing bodies above.

5. MEMBERSHIP

• Provisional member: Status of provisional member will exist on receipt of the appropriate application for membership form accompanied by the fees set at the time.
• Provisional membership will allow all fishing privileges together with entitlements to all trophies and prizes in all competitions conducted by the club.
• A provisional member may represent the club in open competition.
• A provisional member must first be accepted by the Board of Directors of the Coffs Harbour Deep Sea Fishing Club Ltd. before they have full membership and voting rights of the Coffs Harbour Game Fishing Club.
• Only full members of the Coffs Harbour Game Fishing Club can vote on any business in connection with the club.
• Honorary Membership: Honorary membership may be extended to a visiting member of another Affiliated Club to enable them to fish in club events but they will only qualify for trophies and prizes of the day. Honorary membership will not be extended to any person on more than two occasions before they will be required to obtain full membership. **
• Boat operators will be allowed to receive applications for membership but conditions apply. The name of the applicant must be lodged before fishing commences with one of the following.

1. An independent member of the committee.
2. Duty sched boat operator of the day.
3. Clubs duty radio operator - VJN 509

All other conditions of membership apply. The Captain of the vessel accepts full responsibility for the collection of and payment of fees.

Life Membership: Life membership will be awarded at the discretion of the committee of the day and must be voted on at A.G.M.

6. ELECTIONS

Elections shall be in accordance with the Constitution of the Coffs Harbour Deep Sea Fishing Club Ltd. and shall be held by the end of September each year.

7. DELEGATES

The club will reimburse the direct cost incurred by delegates in representing the Coffs Harbour Game Fishing Club at authorized meetings and conferences on presentation of receipts and with the approval of the committee. i.e. Travel, accommodation, meals.

8. CLUB BUSINESS

All club business for N.S.W.G.F.A. or G.F.A.A. must first be authorized by the committee and forwarded by the Secretary and or Delegates as directed by the committee.

9. TROPHIES

a.  PERPETUAL TROPHIES: Perpetual trophies and conditions for awarding same can only be changed by the members of the club at a meeting at which a motion for change has been put.

b.  OUT OF PORT TROPHIES: Two out of port trophies will be fished for -
1. Highest Pointscoring Fish
2. Highest Pointscoring Tag & Release
Only six days per angler will be counted for out of port fishing.

c.  OUT OF HOURS TROPHIES:

1. Heaviest Marlin
2. Heaviest Shark
3. Heaviest Yellowfin Tuna
4. Heaviest Other Game Fish
5. Highest Pointscore Tag & Release
6. Champion Boat Capture
7. Champion Boat Tag & Release
8. Champion Male Capture
9. Champion Lady Capture
10. Champion Junior Capture
11. Champion Small-fry Capture
12. Champion Male Tag & Release
13. Champion Lady Tag & Release
14. Champion Junior Tag & Release
15. Champion Small-fry Tag & Release
c. PRESIDENTS TROPHY: To be awarded to the person / persons, from the assessment of the President, for services or in recognition for contributions to the Coffs Harbour Game Fishing Club and game fishing in general.

d. REPLICA TROPHY: A replica trophy will be awarded annually to trophy winners. Trophies will be accepted from individual donors but conditions for awarding trophies must be ratified by the committee.

f. QUALIFICATION: To qualify for club trophies all capture and Tag & Release claims must be lodged on the appropriate capture certificate or tag & release card to the weighmaster or in the box at reception of Deep Sea Fishing Club Ltd. and must be lodged within seven [7] days of the capture or tag. Claims posted must be postmarked within that 7 days. To qualify for end of year trophies a member must fish at least two monthly in hours competitions out of the port of Coffs Harbour.

g. IN HOURS COMPETITION TROPHIES:

1. Most Meritorious Billfish
2. Most Meritorious Shark
3. Most Meritorious Other Game Fish
4. Heaviest Billfish
5. Heaviest Shark
6. Heaviest Other Game Fish
7. Grand Champion Boat Capture [highest points billfish, shark, other game fish]
8. Champion Boat Capture [highest pointscore]
9. Champion Boat Capture Billfish
10. Champion Boat Capture Shark
11. Champion Boat Capture Other Game Fish
12. Champion Boat Tag & Release [highest pointscore]
13. Champion Boat Tag & Release Billfish
14. Champion Boat Tag & Release Shark
15. Champion Boat Tag & Release Other Game Fish
16. Grand Champion Angler Capture [highest pointscore billfish, shark, other game fish]
17. Champion Angler Capture [highest pointscore]
18. Champion Male Capture Billfish
19. Champion Angler Capture Shark
20. Champion Angler Capture Other Game Fish
21. Champion Lady Capture Billfish
22. Champion Lady Angler Capture Shark
23. Champion Lady Angler Capture Other Game Fish
24. Champion Junior Angler Capture Billfish
25. Champion Junior Angler Capture Shark
26. Champion Junior Angler Capture Other Game Fish
27. Champion Small-fry Angler Capture Billfish
28. Champion Small-fry Angler Capture Shark
29. Champion Small-fry Angler Capture Other Game Fish
30. Grand Champion Angler Tag & Release [highest pointscore billfish, shark, other game fish]
31. Champion Angler Tag & Release [pointscore]
32. Champion Male Angler Tag & Release Billfish
33. Champion Male Angler Tag & Release Shark
34. Champion Male Angler Tag & Release Other Game Fish
35. Champion Lady Angler Tag & Release Billfish
36. Champion Lady Angler Tag & Release Shark
37. Champion Lady Angler Tag & Release Other Game Fish
38. Champion Junior Angler Tag & Release Billfish
39. Champion Junior Angler Tag & Release Shark
40. Champion Junior Angler Tag & Release Other Game Fish
41. Champion Small-fry Angler Tag & Release Billfish
42. Champion Small-fry Angler Tag & Release Shark
43. Champion Small-fry Angler Tag & Release Other Game Fish

h. CAPTURE CERTIFICATES: Will be awarded for the following -

Captures of two to one ratio
Club Records
Tag & Release of 5 different species including 1 marlin and 1 shark.

10. RECORD CLAIMS

The club will reimburse a member the cost of submitting their first State or Australian record claim application if successful.

11. DISPUTES

The aim of the club is to foster comradrie between members and there will be no formal procedures for protest within internal competitions. Should individuals or teams competing in club events need clarification of rules, the committee of the day shall adjudicate on the rules and their decision will be final. Disputes shall not be communicated by radio but lodged with the committee immediately following the days competition. All disputes are to remain the sole business of the committee only and should not be discussed in public.

12. RECORDS AND BOOKS OF C.H.G.F.C.

The records, books and other documents of the Coffs Harbour Game Fishing Club shall be open to inspection, free of charge, to any member of the club at any reasonable hour.

13. I.G.F.A.

The club shall retain membership of the International Game Fishing Association.

14. NON SANCTIONED CLUB EVENTS

Any member involved in fishing in a non sanctioned clubs event , their captures will not be eligible to be weighed and recorded by the Coffs Harbour Game Fishing Club.
When members are fishing a Coffs Harbour Game Fishing Club competition day and have entered the aforementioned competition the fish must be weighed into the Coffs Harbour Game Fishing Club. If those fish are weighed into another club all competition points will be disqualified for the season.
NB

** Members from visiting NSWGFA affiliated clubs may fish a monthly competition day but points are not awarded to the boat for the annual point score.

*** To be eligible for annual point score, visiting NSWGFA affiliated club members must joint CHDSFC and pay full CHGFC fees (affiliation and insurance) ie $65.00 (5/9/08)

NORTHERN ZONE RULES

1. Fishing days will be the first Saturday OR Sunday of the first full weekend except for the Club’s first nominated Zonal day of each month OR the Club’s first competition Saturday or day of each month thereafter. Boats can only fish one Northern Zone Day per month except for the Overnight Tournaments to be held in twice per fishing yea, coinciding with the full moon, when boats can fish all weekend.

If any Club boats fish Saturday for Northern Zone point score and the weather turns bad for Sunday, then only Saturday will count for Northern Zone points for that month. If the entire weekend is not fishable, then it will carry to the following weekend except for the Overnight Tournaments, which are not transferable.

Fishing days will begin in July of each year and finish in June the following year.

2. Fish must be captured or tag & released from the Clubs’ homeport or in a NSWGFA sanctioned Tournament.

•a. This competition is only to be fished out of Northern Zone Ports.

•b. In addition to NSWGFA sanctioned Tournaments, a boat may fish a maximum of two (2) Northern Zone Competition days in another Northern Zone Club’s port

3. Captures and Tags must be lodged by mail or fax to the Northern Zone Chairman within the month of capture and/or tag & release.

•a. Northern Zone Chairman must notify each Club within 14 days of the end of each month of the current point score updates.

4. Each Club is to nominate its five (5) best captures plus five (5) highest point scoring Tag & Release boats (on form supplied)

5. Northern Zone Competition Point score for Capture will be awarded as follows:

200 points for the highest point scoring capture each day

180 points for the second highest point score capture

160 points for the third highest point score capture

Etc.. Etc…

These points are only for determining Champion Club Overall.

6. Points will be awarded as per current NSWGFA Point score. Maximum Point scores will apply.

7. Tag & Release points will be awarded as per current NSWGFA Point score.

8. Non-compliance with the rules will result in loss of Capture and/or Tag & Release points.

9. Northern Zone Levy - $2.00/Club Member. This levy to be paid by Clubs on NSWGFA registered Membership Numbers and will be payable in June of each year just completed. Capped at a maximum of $200.

CLARIFICATION OF NORTHERN ZONE DAYS by Northern Zone Chairman

Boat can only fish one Northern Zone Day per month that day being the Coffs Harbour GFC comp day (according to our rules.) If that day is postponed until the next weekend, so is the Northern Zone Day. If the comp is called off, Rule 5 states:

‘If the CHGFC monthly competition is called off, boats fishing the Northern Zone competition on the 3rd, 4th or 5th weekend, must notify the committee before commencing fishing. Not applicable to May or November. Only one day in a month can be designated for Northern Zone competiton.”

Northern Zone: Is fished one day every month (ie comp day) and 2 x overnight weekend (1 in May and 1 in November)

Boats however may fish one day Northern Zone Challenge per weekend but cannot include the Northern Zone Day.

NORTHERN ZONE CHALLENGE

The Coffs Harbour Game Fishing Club pays $20 per boat per year which allows anglers to fish every weekend if they like between September to May to accrue points on behalf of the CHGFC in the Northern Zone Challenge. Each month the Score Recorder will submit the best day (only one day) for each vessel to the Northern Zone Chairman.