Rules of the FFA

1) Members shall:

    a)      Obtain the necessary fishing licenses where required.

    b)      Adhere to bag and size limits and all other regulation pertaining to the locality fished whether such limits and regulations emanate from provincial, local or railways or other authorities or from the owner of the water fished.

    c)       Not fish in any water under the jurisdiction of the Harbour Authorities unless they are in possession of all the necessary permits and shall only fish where they are permitted to do so.

    d)      Strive to conserve fish populations by taking out only the minimum required for food and returning all other fish to the water unharmed:  notwithstanding the aforegoing a member may kill any fish for the purpose of claiming a record.

    e)      Not disseminate any litter whatsoever at any location where they may fish.

    f)       Not light any fires, except with express permission from the land owner or in the duly designated fire place.

    g)      Not picnic with his family on any water where permission has been obtained for fishing only, without the prior permission of the land owner.  Members may take refreshments and lunch for themselves.

    h)      Bag limits are strictly not transferable.  Upon reaching his limit, a member shall cease fishing forthwith and shall not be entitled to continue fishing and thus combine his bag with the bag of any companion who may not have reached his limit.

2)    Members shall observe fishing etiquette and shall at all times behave in an exemplary and courteous manner towards other legitimate users of the water being fished.

3)      It is strictly prohibited for any member to remove any plants or to attempt to hunt or capture any wild life or to interfere with the fauna or flora of the place where he is fishing, otherwise than as may be strictly necessary in the ordinary course of fishing activities.  In particular members shall not be permitted to hack down or break trees and shrubs to facilitate fishing or to retrieve snagged tackle.

4)      Members shall not interfere with any machinery or installations in or around the fishing water concerned or with any farm animals or with any agricultural activity being conducted at or around the relevant water.

5)      It is the duty of every member:

    a)      To observe all rules laid down by the Association, land owner or any other authority having jurisdiction over the water fished.

    b)      To draw the attention of any fellow member not observing such rules to the relevant rules, and in the event of continued non-observance, to report the matter to the Committee.

6)      Should any member, in the opinion of the Committee, be guilty of a breach of any of these regulations or the regulations incorporated, the Committee shall be entitled to take such disciplinary steps against such member as it may deem meet and shall be entitled:

    a)      to impose a fine not exceeding R50-00 on such member;

    b)      to suspend any or all of such member’s privileges of membership for a period of up to six months;

    c)       to impose such fine and such suspension;

    d)      to expel the member from the Association;   

    e)      and, in particular, in the event of a member failing to pay any fine imposed within the time stipulated or to adhere to the suspension of his privileges, to expel such member from the Association without further notice.

7)      An ordinary quorum of the Committee shall be entitled to take disciplinary proceedings by an ordinary majority vote, and the following rules shall be applicable to such disciplinary proceedings;

    a)      The member concerned shall be notified in writing by the Chairman or the Secretary at his last known address, by pre-paid registered post, of the complaint against him.  Such notification shall be given at least two weeks before the hearing.

    b)      Disciplinary proceedings shall be held in camera and, whilst witnesses may be called, no legal or other representation of any nature will be allowed.

    c)       The member concerned shall be given a fair opportunity of stating his case or explaining his conduct.

    d)      The decision of the Committee shall be final and binding and no appeal shall lie from it.

8)      No member shall, on account of his suspension or expulsion, have any claim whatsoever against the Association, and any subscriptions or other monies paid to the Association shall be forfeited upon the expulsion of a member.

9)      The Association observes the rules and regulations as laid down by the International Game Fishing Association of 1301 East Atlantic Boulevard, Pompano Beach, Florida. U.S.A. 3306 (the I.G.F.A.) as amended from time to time, for the purposes of record keeping.  Copies of these rules may be obtained from the association’s Records Officer.

10)   Annual subscriptions shall be paid in the amount fixed by the Committee on or before the end of the month of each year.  Members will be notified by ordinary post at their last known address of the amount of the annual subscription due for each year. However, it is the responsibility of every member to notify the Association of any change of address, and in the event of a member not receiving notification of the amount due for subscriptions, it shall be his duty timeously to enquire from the Association as to the amount payable by him in respect of membership subscriptions.

11)  A member shall not be entitled to exercise any of the privileges of membership of the Association whilst his annual subscriptions remain unpaid. If a member’s annual subscription remains unpaid for a period of more than three months, his membership shall automatically terminate and he shall be obliged to re-apply for membership and to pay the ordinary entrance fee, unless the Committee shall, in its sole discretion and upon good cause shown, excuse him from re-applying for membership and paying such entrance fee or subscription.