Godalming Angling Society

Covid-19 – Update 8: Matches and Night Fishing permitted from 29th March 2021

In line with the ‘Government’s Roadmap out of Lockdown’ and following guidance from the Angling Trust, the Society’s General Committee have agreed the following, effective from 10am on Monday 29^th March 2021:

• Night fishing will be permitted in line with arrangements for each fishery (see Member’s Handbook).
• Matches / competitions will resume.

Day, Guest and Exchange tickets will continue to be suspended until Monday April 12^th, when the Apollo shop should be trading as normal. In the meantime, they are continuing to operate on a ‘phone and collect’ basis.

The relevant Angling Trust guidance (confirmed by the Cabinet Office and Defra), which we are following is:

• Outdoor recreational activities and exercise may take place at night so you may fish into or through the night. There are no time limits on outdoor recreation. However, you may not go on holiday to go fishing or use fishing as a pretext for a camping trip as overnight stays for these purposes remain prohibited until April 12th (Step 2)
• Match fishing will be enabled as an organised outdoor sport from March 29th. Organised outdoor sports will not be subject to the gatherings limits, but should be compliant with guidance issued by national governing bodies to ensure appropriate steps, including risk assessments, are taken to make it Covid secure in line with the law. At this stage, these gatherings must only include participants – not spectators.
• The statutory stay at home restriction will be lifted but the guidance will encourage you to minimise travel outside of your local area. This means avoiding making unnecessary journeys, combining trips and avoiding travel at peak times where possible. People should avoid travelling further than is reasonably necessary to take part in, or during, their activity.
• Tackle shops and other ‘non-essential retail’ can fully open at Step 2 (April 12th) but can continue to offer click/call and collect until this point.
• Throughout, anglers must also ensure they are in possession of a valid fishing licence, adhere to fisheries bylaws including the close season (March 15 to June 15 for coarse fishing on rivers) and have permission of the fishery owner.

The link to the Angling Trust website for more information is:

https://anglingtrust.net/covid-19/

As the roadmap or guidance may change, please keep an eye on our website or Facebook group for future updates.

Keep Covid safe, maintain social distancing (except same household or support bubble), use sanitiser, act responsibly and limit the chances of transmitting the virus.

Society Chairman