Bye-Laws - Taunton Angling Association

Bye-Laws 2024/2025
1. Association membership can only be issued to bona-fide holders of EA rod licence.
2. The subscription for the 2024/2025 season will be as follows:
 Senior Season Permit = £55.00 (3 rods £65.00)
 Junior Season Permit (up to 15 years inclusive) = £5.00
 Senior Weekly Permit = £20.00
 Senior Daily Permit = £7.00
 Junior Daily Permit = £4.00
 Senior Citizen/Disabled Permit (see bye-law 4) = £45.00
 Wych Lodge (members) = £4.00 (Wych Lodge tickets available from Taunton Angling Centre)
 Wych Lodge (non-members) = £7.00 (Wych Lodge tickets available from Taunton Angling Centre)
3. Full Senior Season Permit holders may purchase a permit to allow the use of three rods on the River Tone and West Sedgemoor Drain provided one swim is in use and the member holds an EA 3 x rod licence. The extra cost for this option will be £10.00.
4. Subsidised Club permits costing £45.00 each are available to senior citizens and to persons registered as disabled, proof of age/disability may be required.
5. In consideration of regular attendance at Executive Committee meetings during the previous season, an Executive Committee Member shall be entitled to a free season permit except in the event of missing 3 consecutive meetings in which case all Executive Committee Member rights and privileges will be forfeited.
6. All fishing must be fair rod and line. When fishing TAA waters a full senior member can use three rods on the River Tone and West Sedgemoor Drain, providing a three rod permit is purchased (additional cost £10.00) and only one swim is used at any one time (one swim being ten meters either side of the angler). Rods shall be placed such that the distance between the butt ends of the rods does not exceed three meters (as per EA bye-laws), the member must be in possession of the EA 3 rod licence.
7. Fishing is allowed from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset. All anglers must be off the venue one hour after sunset and are not allowed back on the venue until one hour before sunrise. Under no circumstances are any angler, other than Maunsel and West Sedgemoor Drain night permit holders, allowed on any venue between these times.
8. Night fishing is only permitted at Maunsel pond and West Sedgemoor Drain (NOTE: West Sedgemoor Drain night fishing is only between the designated section identified on the venue map) Anglers must be in possession of a night licence (application form and prices are on the TAA website www.taunton anglingassociation.co.uk). The Association reserves the right to refuse any application. Night fishing at Maunsel pond is only allowed for a maximum 48 hrs in any one session, no return within 24 hrs. Night fishing is not allowed under any circumstances 24 hrs prior to a match/event organised by the Association. Any angler who contravenes this rule will immediately forfeit their night fishing permit and no refund will be given.
9. The River Tone and the West Sedgemoor Drain are closed for ANY type of fishing from March 15th to June 15th inclusive.
10. All fish must be returned alive to the water. Any fish deaths must be reported. No fish to be taken away without express permission of the owner. To do so may give rise to a criminal prosecution under Schedule 1 of the Fish Theft Act 1968.
11. Any member wilfully disturbing wildlife or game will be expelled at once.
12. Members must take care when entering a field set up for mowing. Any member reported wilfully damaging grass, hedges or banks is liable to be expelled from the club. Digging of any bank is strictly prohibited.
13. No vehicle may be parked on land adjoining club waters without prior permission of the landowner.
14. Any person intending to fish a swim MUST clear all litter in the immediate area BEFORE FISHING. Any person found fishing in a spot containing litter shall be deemed to be responsible for the same and will be liable to forfeit his/her membership of the Association pending a hearing by the Executive Committee.
15. 28 days’ notice in writing to the Secretary must be given prior to the Annual General Meeting to affect any amendment to the bye-laws.
16. All Executive Committee Members are Official Club Bailiffs.
17. All matches will be at the discretion of the Executive Committee. Sweepstake matches being allowed at the sole discretion of the Match Secretary.
18. No member may carry an offensive weapon onto the fishing grounds nor may they use any article in a threatening manner. No member shall behave in an aggressive manner towards any person who is legitimately on the fishing grounds.
19. Members are responsible for the behaviour of any non-member accompanying them on the fishing grounds.
20. Unless prior consent has been gained by the Executive Committee, no member shall fish club waters, or be in the company of others fishing club waters, whilst carrying or in the possession of tanks, aerators or similar means with which to transport fish. For the avoidance of doubt, “in possession of” for the purpose of this rule is defined to include equipment stored in vehicles which have been used to travel to the water, or parked adjacent to it.
21. The loss of a membership ticket is the responsibility of the member. No replacement will be issued by anyone, other than the Treasurer – such issue to be solely at his discretion.
22. No alcohol is to be consumed on club waters.
23. Strictly no dogs allowed whilst fishing any TAA water.
24. Fishing is only permitted from the bank, not from boats, kayaks, etc.
25. No fishing within 30m (100ft) of overhead power lines.
26. Any member fishing the Bridgwater and Taunton canal must comply with Canal and River Trust’s “Better Towpaths for Everyone” policy https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/refresh/media/thumbnail/8535-national-towpath-policy.pdf
27. Any member fishing the Bridgwater and Taunton canal must comply with Canal and River Trust Bye-Laws
28. All members should ensure they follow the “Check, Clean and Dry” guidance to stop the spread of Invasive Aquatic Species. 404797_InvasiveAquatics_A4Poster_art (defra.gov.uk)
29. Any member fishing the Bridgwater and Taunton canal must comply with the Canal and River Trust “waterway Code for Anglers and Boaters”. 44024-waterway-code-for-boaters-anglers-and-unpowered-craft.pdf (canalrivertrust.org.uk)
30. No fishing in a lock and within 25 metres of a lock wall approach or movable bridge.
31. All members must produce for inspection their membership ticket at the request of any Canal and River Trust staff and comply with any reasonable directions given by Canal and River Trust Staff.
32. All members must produce for inspection their membership ticket/card at the request of any Taunton Angling Association club bailiff and comply with any reasonable directions given by the bailiff.
FISH WELFARE
33. Pre-baiting is only permitted if ALL anglers at the venue have been first asked and agree.
34. Nut baits are not to be used for pre-baiting and must be used sensibly whilst fishing.
35. The minimum size of keepnet for fishing in club matches shall be 2 meters long by 1.2m circumference.
Mesh must be knotless with internal circumference of 25mm or less. Keepnets must be made of fish friendly mesh.
36. No salmonids/trout to be retained in a keepnet. No carp to be retained in a keepnet or carp sack except under match rules.
37. All anglers must be in possession of a suitably sized landing net. All fish must be treated with care whilst on the banks. No fish to be placed on the bank. An unhooking mat or landing net must be used during the un-hooking process.
38. The following rules apply to all anglers when pike fishing:

(a) Anglers must always use a wire trace (minimum 18 inches long).

(b) The minimum main line strength must be 15lb mono, or 30lb braid.

(c) Anglers must use a fit-for purpose unhooking tool such as a larger pair of forceps/long nose pliers and be in possession of side cutters.

(d) Anglers must have a landing net with arms of 36 inches or a round frame of 30 inches.

(e) Anglers must use a suitably sized unhooking mat.

(f) Under no circumstances must boga grips or gaff be used (these are banned on all waters).

(g) No deadbaits to be used for pike fishing before September or after March 15th.

(h) The use of live baits is strictly forbidden.

All anglers are encouraged to visit the Pike Anglers Club website for information on fish care, safe tackle and rigs. https://pacgb.com

39. No pike to be retained in keepnets.

40. No angler is to leave his rods unattended with a baited hook in the water (maximum 25yds from rods)
41. Anglers must use barbless, whisker or micro-barb hooks on still waters (ponds and lakes) controlled by the club. These waters are Wych Lodge Lake, Maunsel Ponds and Pines Pond. Under no circumstance are you allowed to use fully barbed hooks on these waters. The association reserves the right to check your tackle at all times. Any angler using fully barbed hooks will be asked to leave the venue and a written warning will be issued. If caught on a subsequent occasion, the angler will be banned from the club for a period of one year.
42. The use of bait boats on all club venues is banned.
43. No automatic rod holder strike devices to be used on any venue. This Includes the OMC Magic Twig.
(a) No Junior member/day angler is allowed to fish Maunsel Lake 2 unless accompanied by a Senior member/day angler aged 18 or over who is also fishing, and at a ratio of 1 to 1’

(b) All anglers fishing Maunsel Lake 2 for carp must be in possession of a 42inch landing net.

(d) All anglers fishing Maunsel lake 2 for carp are to be in possession of antiseptic carp care treatment which is to be used following a capture on hook holds, sores, lifted scales etc.

(e) All anglers fishing Manusel lake 2 for carp are to be in possession of unhooking mat with a minimum size of 1.0m x 0.5m and thickness of 40mm protection on the base.

(f) All anglers fishing Maunsel Lake 2 for carp are to be in possession of a retaining sling in order to safely weigh and return fish back to the water.

(g) Any angler found to be breaking the above rules will lose their ticket and membership.