GENERAL WATER RULES & INFORMATION 

 

CLUB STATEMENT
The Portsmouth and District Angling Society will not accept nor tolerate any violence, threatening, intimidating or abusive behaviour what so ever towards any of its Members in whatever capacity or at any time. Any such conduct will result in Disciplinary action being taken against the offender which could include the immediate expulsion from the Club and from all of its Venues with immediate effect and in exceptional circumstances may involve the Police and/or Legal proceedings being brought against the offender/offenders by the Club.

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Smoking on PDAS Waters

Due to ongoing issues with cigarette waste and the associated issues around discarded cigarette butts we now expect members who smoke to carry a water container to extinguish butts and remove butts from the water along with any litter. Do not disregard cigarette waste on or around our waters.
Thank you.

PDAS Committee – 11th May 2026

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DC / BANS

Currently, should a PDAS member be found in breach of club rules and subsequently receive a ban following a Disciplinary Committee (DC) hearing, they may be considered for reinstatement. Only once the ban has been served in full and they have submitted their application directly to the PDAS Secretary for the unanimous committee approval, may this membership reinstatement occur. However, the return to the club membership will now be conditional upon the ‘returning individual’ securing a sponsor, which must come from within the current PDAS Full Adult Membership. The ‘sponsoring member’ will assume all responsibility for the conduct of the ‘returning individual’, ensuring that all PDAS rules and regulations are adhered to. Should the ‘returning individual’ breach any further rules that results in another DC hearing, they will face an immediate lifetime ban. In such a case, the sponsor of the ‘returning individual’ will also be required to appear before the Disciplinary Committee in relation to their sponsorship of the ‘returning individual’ and may face disciplinary action themselves in relation to any offences carried out by the ‘returning sponsored individual’.

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FISH THEFTS
Any person found to be stealing fish from any PDAS water will be automatically banned for life from PDAS and reported to the Environment Agency (EA) for illegal fish removal and for prosecution of fish theft.

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The Use of Drones on PDAS Waters – added 9th July 2025
Following on from a question posted on the Facebook Group we have discussed the use of drones on PDAS Waters.

We have decided the following: Taking off and Landing within the confines of a PDAS waters is not permitted by members who are angling. (This rule is with immediate effect, and will be added to the handbook next season)

We understand that we do not own the air space and understand that on public waters we cannot stop them being used, however we can implement the above. And therefore, if you are there in a member and angling capacity, the use of drones is not permitted on any PDAS waters.

Some examples to explain the ruling:

Fred is a member of the PDAS and decides to go fishing at Lakeside. While there, Fred decides to use his drone to look around the water – This is not permitted.

Fred is a member of the PDAS and decides to go for a walk around Lakeside in a non-fishing capacity, he decides to fly his drone to look around the water – We have no control over this.

PDAS Committee 9th July 2025

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Junior Night Fishing

GENERAL WATER RULES

1. Ignorance of these rules cannot be used as an excuse for breaking them, and are all subject to disciplinary action.

2. Paid up full or junior members ONLY allowed to fish, and juvenile members only when accompanied by adult or associate (non fishing) members at all times. Juniors up to and including the age of 17 years may only night fish when accompanied by an adult or associate member.

4. Maximum stay on all waters is 24hrs unless otherwise stated in an individual water rule. At the end of this period, you are required to leave the venue for a minimum of 24 hours. Night starts at 21.00hrs and ends at sunrise.

5. For health and safety reasons the club has banned the consumption and possession of all alcohol and recreational drugs from all waters listed in the club handbook.

6. Any member who is asked to cease fishing, or leave the water, by a bailiff or landowner must do so immediately.

7. Membership cards must be carried at all times. Failure to produce the same to a bailiff or any other member of the Club when requested will render that person liable to be asked to leave the water. All members must be in possession of a valid rod licence. Members must show their EA licence when asked by a club Bailiff or they will be refused permission to fish.

8. Running, shouting and the use of inappropriate or bad language likely to cause offence to members, the general public and landowners, and any other action deemed likely to bring the Club into disrepute is strictly forbidden.

9.  (a) No unauthorised use of any boat, this includes bait boats.
(b) Absolutely no alterations to swims, bank sides and water levels.
(c) No damage to hedges & trees.
(d) No bonfires, BBQs or coal disposable barbecues (only portable gas BBQ allowed).
(e) No wading, swimming on all Club waters
(f) The use of Mallets/Hammers is banned on all club waters.

10. No swim is to be occupied by either an angler or their tackle for a period longer than 60 minutes whilst un-fished. This rule allows you to reserve your swim, but not other swims for friends etc.

11. (a) Members are responsible for all litter found in their swim. All litter found in a swim on arrival must be cleared before starting to fish and all litter must be taken away from the
venue when leaving.
(b) Absolutely no excrement to be left on any water or its surrounds. Any members found leaving excrement will be booked and face disciplinary action.

12. No rods are to be left baited in or out of the water should you leave your swim for any reason.

13. No fishing other than from defined swim stations. No fishing outside of the boundaries shown on water maps.

14. No fishing 2 hours before matches, please check match fixtures before a visit to the water.

15. Audio/Visual equipment may be used only if earphones or headphones are used.

Fish Welfare and Tackle

16. No fish coarse or game to be taken away from any water, all fish to be returned safely to water from which they were caught.

17. No keep nets to be used except in bonafide matches or for fishery management purposes. The retention of carp, pike and barbel is permitted for a maximum of 30 minutes provided they are retained in adequately sized purpose built sack.

18. No fish are to be allowed to come into direct contact with the ground.

19. Pike fishing CAN BE carried out between 1st October to 31st March but only when the following rules are obeyed.
(a) Treble hooks when used must be barbless or semi barbed.
(b) Minimum breaking strain of line must be 15lbs.
(c) A wire trace must be used of at least 18inches in length when live or dead-baiting.
(d) When live-baiting, only fish caught at the same venue on the same day may be used. No live fish can be taken from a venue or brought to a venue. No live-bait can be over 6ozs in weight.
(e) When dead baiting, only sea fish may be used.
(f) Tackle shall include a pair of forceps a minimum of 12 inches long and a pair of side cutters capable of cutting hooks.
(g) No types of gag, gaffs, lip (Boga) grips or tailers to be used.
(h) Junior and Juvenile member’s are not allowed to fish for pike unless accompanied and supervised by an experienced adult member.
(i) Braided mainline is allowed only for lure fishing (including drop-shotting and spinning) and pike fishing with a minimum breaking strain of 60lb to be used when dead or livebaiting.
(j) When pike fishing a bite alarm or float must be used at all times, unless lure fishing.

20. Be aware that you can be asked to remove your tackle from the water at any time by a Club Bailiff to check that hooks, baits and/or rigs comply with club general and individual water rules. Failure to do so will result in you having to leave the water immediately and disciplinary action.

21. (a) Unhooking mats must be used at all times (including matches) on all waters. Unhooking mat must be of an appropriate size for the targeted species.
(b) No nut baits on any water.
(c) No pre-baiting on any water, and do not discard any excess bait on any waters.
(d) 1 kilo maximum of any mix of bait per visit e.g., boilies, corn, trout pellet, hemp, groundbait, etc, unless stated otherwise in an individual water rule.
(e) All particle seed baits must have been soaked and boiled before use.
(f) All hooks must be micro-barb or barbless.
(g) Disgorgers must be carried and used when required.
(h) All treble hooks must be semi barbless.

22. No more than two rods to be used, per angler except where otherwise specified in individual waters rules. Even then more than one rod may only be used when it does not encroach on water required by another angler. No casting over halfway on stillwaters, unless you are fishing opposite a non-defined fishing bank.

23. Braided mainline is banned on all Club waters, this does not affect the use of braid for a terminal tackle and for spod and marker rods. Please note rule 19(i)

24. No fixed rigs, only free running leads or feeders to be used.

25. No tilley lamps at any time. Torches must not be shone outside swim station area e.g. on or across the water, but may be used for safety reasons when entering or leaving a swim stations.

26. Landing nets of an appropriate size for targeted species must be set up for each individual angler, at least one net minimum size of 20in.

27. NO TENTS, Only authentic angling shelters are permitted on any water.

28. Ensure you are booked in before visiting Soake or Brownwich. Abuse of the booking system on these waters will result in disciplinary action being taken.

29. The otter gate at Soake Pond must be locked at all times, and not just shut. This is vital to safeguard the fishery. Anyone caught leaving it unlocked will be reported to disciplinary committee.

30. No firearms of any sort are allowed on PDAS waters, including air guns and rifles. The only exception are those bailiffs who are engaged by the committee for fishery and predation management purposes.

31. Any water may close at short notice for Fishery Management purposes.

32. No interfering with cormorant lines on any water. They are there from September to April to protect the fishery.

33. Fish must not be handled with a dry cloth under any circumstances.

34. Fish care solution to be carried at all times and used when required.

The Committee reserve the right to alter any rules as they may see fit and to close any water at any time without prior notice. Revised 01/01/2024
Footnote: It may be worth remembering that many of these rules are designed to protect the fish stocks and your fishing, and some to protect the club from losing a fishery, however more have been because of problems and poor behaviour we have suffered in the past. Please fish and behave responsibly to help us reduce the chance of these rules increasing.

The Committee reserve the right to alter any rules as they may see fit and to close any water at any time without prior notice. Revised 01/01/2024
Footnote: It may be worth remembering that many of these rules are designed to protect the fish stocks and your fishing, and some to protect the club from losing a fishery, however more have been because of problems and poor behaviour we have suffered in the past. Please fish and behave responsibly to help us reduce the chance of these rules increasing.

NOTICE TO ALL MEMBERS

COVID NOTICE – The Covid crisis can cause changes to our club including temporary rules, swim closures and toilet availability. Please check our website and read signage posted on waters.

GUEST & DAY TICKETS –
Day Tickets are not available currently. This may change during the season. Check the web site or contact the secretary for updates.
Guest tickets are available on all other waters with the exception of Brownwich, Soake Pond, CRF 3 and 4.

GATE & CAR PARKING – Access to car parks and some Club waters is via the Club combination locks. The code is readily available from the Secretary, (secretary@portsmouthdas.club) on production of your Club membership number (codes are subject to change if required).

BAILIFFS REPORTS – All bailiff’s are asked to report all incidents which break the Club rules, including individual water rules. These reports are written and include details which are available to the bailiff including, location, date/time, member membership no(s) and offence(s). These reports do not necessarily invoke a disciplinary hearing, but can be held on file, to be considered if other offences are committed.

DRY NETS – Members are both requested and advised that in the best interest of our fisheries that all nets, including carp sacks and unhooking mats, should be washed and fully dried before re-use. A net fully dried in the sun should not transfer disease’s that may occur from time to time in our and other fisheries. So please dry your nets fully between fishing sessions.

DISCIPLINARY – Members found guilty at a Disciplinary committee hearing and banned from PDAS will not be eligible to be proposed onto the PDAS Management Committee at any time, post re-joining PDAS and will be liable for the Disciplinary meeting incurred costs £50.