1. (a) Competitors must at all times comply with the North Canterbury Fish & Game Council Rules current at the time of the Competition as held at the Official Weigh-In Station and certified by Rakaia River Fishing Promotions Inc., except where rules 2 & 3 below override these rules. All Competitors should hold a valid NZF & GC Licence. By law this must be carried with you at all times.
(b) Senior Competitors must be 16 and over on 1st October 2023 and Junior Competitors must be 15 and under on 1st October 2023.
Please Note due to the change in licence categories by Fish & Game, some Junior fishing licence holders will be Senior Competitors.
(c) An application to compete (Registration) must be accompanied by the entry fee of $95 for Senior or $20 for Junior and be received and paid on line by Friday 16th February 2023. After this, a late penalty fee $10 is payable.
Entries are limited to 750 Senior & 150 Junior. The Committee cannot be held responsible for any lost entries. If you do not receive your confirmation email registrations@rakaiasalmon.co.nz
The Committee reserves the right to close entries prior to, or accept entries after, the official date. These decisions will be made at their discretion.
2. NO FISHING is permitted up river of the NZF&GC white posts below Lake Coleridge, or at Tentburn.
3. No fishing from boats is permitted east of a straight line drawn across the narrowest point at the river mouth or mouths.
4. All fish must be caught in the Rakaia River, which includes the surf for 500 meters either side of the river mouth, except Kahawai (see rule 12).
5. Fish must be caught by and presented for weighing by the Competitor personally. NOTE: No Salmon will be accepted under 400mm in length.
6. At weigh-in Competitors will be required to produce their Fishing Licence, season bag limit card, (except when presenting a Kahawai), Entrant ID card and to sign a declaration stating the time of catch, that the fish was caught in accordance with the rules of the Competition, and agreement of the weight recorded.
7. Salmon & Trout must be whole (Not Gutted). Fish with net marks, foul hooking marks, deterioration or frozen will not be accepted. After weighing, the fish must be gutted for inspection. The Committee reserves the right to retain any fish for the duration of the Competition.
8. The official weigh-in station is the kitchen area of the Rakaia Community Centre. NO fish are to be taken into the hall. Please come to the area opposite the old Post Office. Hours are Friday and Saturday 10am to 9pm and Sunday 9am to 11.30am. No fish may be presented outside these times. Records will close for presentation of fish at 8pm daily. Fish presented after this time will be included into the next day’s records. The Committee reserves the right to extend the daily time for presentation of fish to 9.30pm when river conditions cause the abandonment of the next day’s fishing. This will enable all fish caught to be recorded. This decision to be made at 8pm on each day.
9. At the conclusion of the Competition, a Prize Presentation will be held at the Community Hall at 1pm. If fishing is cancelled on the Sunday, the Prize Presentation will be held at 11am.
10. (a) In the event of a tie for any prizes awarded on weight, a draw will be made. The loser of such a draw will receive the next prize on the list, and neither party needs to be present to claim their prize in this draw.
(b) Daily Drawn Prizes i.e. Spot Prizes, Superdraws, Lucky Draws and Lucky Weights are open to all Senior Competitors present at the Social Functions each evening from 7.30pm. This will include Heaviest Salmon Daily from any day that is declared unfishable. To be eligible to claim a Drawn Prize, Competitors must be present at the time of the Draw.
(c) One prize per person per Draw or Category per day.
11. Trout Competition
(a) The Senior trout competition is catch and release only. We will not be accepting any trout to be weighed. Instead you need to submit a photo of your fish with your entry ID card clearly displayed in the image. You will need to enter as if you were weighing a fish, show the image, present your licence and sign the declaration that the fish was caught within the rules.
(b) The Juniors can still weigh in a fish but are restricted to one trout, per day and a minimum length of 300mm.
12. Kahawai Competition.
This category is open to all Senior and Junior entrants. Kahawai must be presented gilled and gutted. There will be separate prizes for this category. Kahawai must be caught between the marker posts at the North and South Rakaia huts and the river mouth. Entrants entering fish in this category must comply with all the rules herein where applicable.
13. Lucky Drawn Prize winners may be required to answer a simple question.
14. Any protests must be in writing and delivered to the Secretary prior to 10am on Sunday 25th February 2024. The decision of the Committee shall be binding. Provided that, in the event of the Committee determining at any time after that fixed for lodging of protest, that a serious breach of the rules has occurred, it may, at its discretion, reclaim and re-award any prize.
15. Official Entrant Numbered ID Cards or Visitor Passes must be displayed at all times while in the Social Area. If they are not visible you will be asked to produce them. Failure to comply with this rule may result in persons being asked to leave the venue. Extra Visitor Passes are available at $5 per person per evening.
16. Rakaia River Fishing Promotions Inc. have sponsored this Competition in the interest of all who enjoy salmon fishing in the Rakaia River. Jet boaters are asked to observe normal fishing etiquette and recognise the rules of the river. They are also asked to pay the ramp fee at the Rakaia Huts, as this is a private ramp.
17. (a) Junior Competitors must also abide by these rules. Rule 10 excepted.
(b) Junior Competitors must be present at the Final Prize Presentation to claim any Drawn Prize. Prizes won in the Heaviest Overall Categories will automatically be awarded to the successful angler.
(c) Junior Competitors must be able to provide proof of age, if requested.
18. Prizes are not redeemable for cash, firearms, ammunition or alcohol. Prizes that have been presented in voucher form are not transferable.
19. All Competitors enter this Competition at their own risk. The organisers of this competition shall have no liability to any competitor for loss, damage or injury arising out of the competition howsoever caused.
20. In the event of the river being declared unfishable by the Committee, alternative entertainment may be arranged. Nightly Social Functions will continue with all Heaviest Fish Prizes for that day being declared Drawn Prizes.
21. In the event of insufficient entries being received to make the Competition viable, entry fees will be refunded. Such a decision will be made prior to Monday 19th February 2024.
22. Any breach of the above rules will result in disqualification from the Competition and the Committee may bring action for any infringement whether civil or criminal.
23. This Competition is organised and administered by Rakaia River Fishing Promotions Inc. and all entitlements under the Competition arise with and are enforced by that society.
24. Full prize list published on the web site (www.rakaiasalmon.co.nz) in March 2024.
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