Shore competition how it works?

[Crab Salad]

Hi folks
I have fished pike trout course competitions previously and was just wondering how a shore competition works in general eg how fish are weighed/recorded and what way points are usually allocated is there more points for certain species ect ect. Any info would be great as I might enter my first shore comp this year thanks in advance.

[rushnaldo]

Yeah alot of clubs might use different minimum sizes etc but its mainly minimum 15cm or 18cm up to 25cm for some clubs. 18 mainly. You just get a witness to measure and if its say 23cm in length then he signs your score card as a witness and thats it. Some give bonus points for different species. Dogs and congers may be a set score not measured. Fish are released after measure and witness.

[Crab Salad]

Thanks so as far as I can make out it is all done by length measurements rather than weight and points are given for all fish above 150cm and the lad beside you on the next peg has to witness you measuring each fish caught and sign it off sounds like a lot of running around and pestering the lad up from you each time a point scoring fish is landed am I getting this right???

[donal domeney]

Thanks so as far as I can make out it is all done by length measurements rather than weight and points are given for all fish above 150cm and the lad beside you on the next peg has to witness you measuring each fish caught and sign it off sounds like a lot of running around and pestering the lad up from you each time a point scoring fish is landed am I getting this right???

The 150cm above should be 15cm

Ask the club to supply you with a match card and competition rules when you join it will give you a chance to familiarise your self with the set up.
Clubs would vary their minimum fish size to suit their own areas and needs. Some clubs would give a fixed number of points for undersize fish with a limit on the number of these that can be counted.

Fish are allocated points per full cm + 5 points per fish. A fish of 23.5cm would be 23 + 5 = 28 points

Species like dogs and conger are often allocated fixed points.

Some species are ineligible Sea Trout, Salmon, Weaver, Greater and Lesser sand eel Mackerel, again ask the club for a set of rules.

If you do get into it have a bucket of water next to you when fishing. When you catch a fish place the fish in the bucket and cast out the new trace. Remove the hook put the fish back in the bucket and bring it with the scorecard to the nearest angler. Once measured release it and fill the bucket again for the next fish.
You will find that the fish has a better chance of surviving. Too many dead fish floating around because a lot of anglers don't care.
It should be a compulsory rule in all clubs

Finally don't be afraid to ask club members questions

[Dave78]

thanks for asking the question crab salad , I've been looking for info myself .

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[Crab Salad]

Thanks lads that has cleared up a few things for me... I had seen a match take place on kilcoole beach years ago and wondered what the buckets were used for and 15 cm makes more sense alright I didn't even think when i was typing away hopefully ill build up the courage to enter one soon thanks again.

[corbyeire]

Agreed Donal, it should be part of a counting a score - unless keeping it to eat - then it should be properly disgorged after setling in the bucket after catching - then placed back in after measurement and then placed back in the water - with the water in the bucket - not these 20 metre lobs you see

[beachbuddy]

I thought that buckets with water for retaining fish prior to recording length etc were compulsory for all ifsa competitions from 2015 onwards,or am I totally mistaken.Eitherway if not compulsory all conservation minded individuals and clubs should make it part of the course .

[roger de dodger]

You fish one rod but can set up another with a lead link attached but it must not be facing seaward if put on the tripod, match cards need signing off at the end a line under the last fish a signature and the no of fish, the first dogfish needs to be measured in case of a tie, but only receive,s the normal points for dogs
And yes it can involve a lot of running around especially if whiting turn up in numbers