Introduction

Upon joining every member of the Society agrees to the Society’s rules and bye-laws, as well as the those of the Rother Fishery Assocaition. TWAPS Rules and Bye-laws may be periodically updated from time to time.

For your convenience you can download a copy of the TWAPS rules and bye-laws (see PDF tab).

If you are a member and fishing one of the Society waters, remember that you must either have a printed copy of the rules and bye-laws, or have them accessible from, or downloaded on, a hand held device (eg. a smart phone) that you have with you at all times.

You must always carry your ID card, membership card and rules whilst at Society waters, as well as the RFA waters. Even if you are just visiting. This can be in the paper form as issued or an electronic version on your mobile, tablet, etc. All documents must be available to view when requested by a current member, on production of their documents, or a Society Bailiff, who only needs to produce their Bailiff identity card.

If you have any queries, or need clarification, please ask a Bailiff, or Committee member (see Club Information page), or use the Contact form.

The TWAPS Rules and Bye-laws were last updated on 27th April 2023.

The Rother Firshery Association‘s Rules can be found on the RFA Rules & General Notes page (opens in a new window).

RULES

1. No member may fish or visit any Society water without having on their person a current membership card, identity card, valid rod licence and access to a copy of the rules. You must always carry your ID card, membership card and have access to a copy of the rules whilst at Society waters. Even if you are just visiting. This can be in the paper form as issued or an electronic version on your mobile, tablet, etc. All documents must be available to view when requested by a current member, on production of their documents, or a Society Bailiff, who only needs to produce their Bailiff identity card.
2. Members fishing waters of any other Club / Society shall acquaint themselves and abide by the host Club / Society rules.
3. At all times each member must have assembled and ready for use a landing net and handle (big enough for the intended species), an unhooking mat and unhooking aids. When sharing a swim with another angler only one landing net and unhooking mat is required. Fishing must be within landing net distance from the water.
4. No members rods to occupy more than 1.5 metres of bank space.
5. Fishing from recognised swims or pegs only. No stalking allowed.
6. Members may only fish with up to two rods and line at any one time. Subject to each separate water’s bye-laws.
7. Only one hook to be used with each rod and line.
8. All fish to be carefully handled and returned to the water dead or alive.
9. Prohibited on all waters: – Barbed hooks (barbless / micro barbed hooks only), boating and netting, except for fishery maintenance, bait boats, (subject to each waters separate bye-laws), swimming, wading, firearms, hand lines, intentional foul hooking, alcohol in any form and any other illegal substances. Pike / perch fishing is allowed by all legal means apart from live baiting of any description. Only commercially bought dead baits may be used. Use of drones by members is banned on all Society waters.
10. No loud radios, fires or barbecues (portable stoves excepted, with the exception of Shorne Country Park where no naked flames whatsoever are permitted).
11. The following baits are banned at all Society fisheries:- Nuts of any description, peas, beans, pulses. Responsible surface free baiting is permitted on all Society waters.
12. The following baits are allowed at all Society fisheries: Maggots, caster and worms. No restrictions. Hemp. 1 pint max. Luncheon meat or similar. 300 grams (1 tin). Pellets. 1 kilo bag. Sweetcorn. 340 grams (1 tin). Ground bait. 1 kilo bag and boilies in moderation. All particle baits must be correctly prepared. Any other baits not specifically mentioned may be used on the hook but not used as a free offering. All unused bait to be taken home. Please do not abuse the above otherwise they could be revoked.
13. Any bait purchased in tinned form should be transferred to a safe container.
14. All Junior and Intermediate Members must be accompanied by an Adult Member (i.e. any Member aged 16 or over) at all times. Shorne Country Park excepted. Junior Members may only fish using one rod and line. Intermediate Members may fish with up to two rods and line at any one time, subject to each water’s bye-laws.
15. Any angler leaving their swim must remove their lines from the water and remove bait from the hooks. They will be deemed to have vacated the swim if gone for more than 30 minutes.
16. No fixed or bolt rigs, leaders of any kind, including lead core, or braid mainline. Braid line may be used at the Blue Lake only, except when fishing for pike on any TWAPS water (see Rule 17). From 1st April 2022, rig tubing must be used when fishing with leads and must be at least 12 inches in length.
17. Maximum line strength of 15lb to be used on all waters except Cobham and Shorne Country Park. At Cobham the maximun line strength is 8lb and at Shorne Country Park the maximum line strength is 12lb. When fishing for pike the following rules will also apply: braid line only (NOT mono), minimum of 50lb breaking strain, MINIMUM lure size of 60mm, barbless (or crushed barb) treble hooks with one barbed hook for holding dead bait, 18 inch maximum wire trace length. The MAXIMUM lure size for perch is 25mm. Annually, the season for pike fishing is from 1st October to 31st March inclusive on all TWAPS waters.
18. No dogs are permitted except registered assistant dogs unless otherwise stated in the individual fishery bye-laws.
19. Where a lock or gate is provided, members must ensure they are secured or closed behind them when entering or leaving the fishery.
20. No transferring of fish between the lakes (except at the discretion of the Committee). Fish not to be held above knee height at any time.
21. No sacking or retention of fish, but the use of a flotation retaining sling is permitted. Please take extra care during low water levels, especially at Inn on the Lake. Keepnets may be used at Paddock Wood or Society river venues at the discretion of the Committee.
22. All wildlife to be given full consideration at all times.
23. The Society accepts no responsibility for injury, death, loss, damage or theft to persons, cars or equipment whilst on the fishery and reserve the right to close all or parts of any fishery at any time.
24. No cutting of any bankside vegetation, shrubs, trees etc. or alteration to any swims without the prior consent of the Committee.
25. A 24hr temporary membership is available. These are limited to 4 per member per season at a cost of ten pounds for seniors and five pounds for juniors. TWAPS Members will be given priority when choosing vacant swims. Temporary Members must be accompanied by a full adult Member when fishing and temporary Members must use the nearest adjacent vacant swim to the accompanying full adult Member at all times.
26. The Head Bailiff may appoint Assistant Bailiffs subject to Committee approval.
27. Bailiffs have the right to inspect tackle and bait being used.
28. Society members are not allowed to take any non-members onto Society waters without prior permission from the Committee or the Head Bailiff, except Shorne Country Park and Campanile.
29. A junior is somebody who is aged five (5) years or older and has not yet reached their twelfth (12) birthday during the current season. An intermediate is somebody who reached their twelfth (12) birthday but has not yet reached their sixteenth (16) birthday during the current season. A senior citizen is somebody who is aged sixty-five (65) years or older.
30. Abusive behaviour will not be tolerated.
31. A fish care kit must be carried whilst fishing all TWAPS waters.
32. Where provided, dip tanks MUST be used to dip landing nets, landing mats (and cradles etc.), weigh slings and keepnets, BEFORE placing nets in the water or starting fishing.
33. Anything not provided for in the foregoing rules / bye-laws will be dealt with by Committee, who shall be empowered to make new, amend or remove existing bye-laws. These to have effect from the date of making thereof, so long as they are not against the terms of the foregoing rules / bye-laws or the Environment Agency (EA) or its replacement body.
34. ALL RUBBISH TO BE TAKEN HOME.

Shorne Country Park

General bye-laws apply plus the following:

1. No vehicles allowed at the bankside other than with permission of the Committee or Park Management.
2. Night fishing is not allowed (except at the discretion of the committee).
3. Juniors do not need to be accompanied by an adult but it is recommended.
4. Juniors are only allowed to fish with one rod.
5. Maximum line strength of 12lb allowed.
6. Naked flames are not permitted, including portable and camping stoves.

Cobham

General bye-laws apply plus the following:

1. The estate speed restrictions must be observed at all times. Any member found speeding is liable to suspension / expulsion from the Society.
2. Parking is within the fenced car park area only and between the yellow markings.
3. Access shall be by the route permitted by the estate and no vehicle shall drive on any grassed area unless authorised by the Committee.
4. Night fishing is restricted to one night per session.
5. Members must stay within the Society’s controlled area.
6. Maximum line strength of 8lb allowed. Maximum weight or lead limit allowed is 1oz or 30g. Maximum hook size allowed is 12.
7. Only ONE rod is allowed to be used at any time on the entire fishery.

Inn On The Lake

General bye-laws apply plus the following:

1. Night fishing is allowed on all lakes. Do not allow lights to disturb residents.
2. Predator fishing is to be allowed by all legal means except live baiting. Only commercially bought dead baits may be used.
3. Barbless / micro barbed trebles only on lures and one barb on each treble on dead bait traces.
4. Access to the lake is by a locked gate. The lock code is on the membership card. This gate must be kept locked at all times.
5. Members may use the hotel facilities. Please remember clean footwear only.
6. Bivvies are permitted in both of the swims 18 and 19 at the same time. 19 is for the Middle Lake only and 18 for the Main Lake only. Access to the gate and path must be kept clear at all times. A bivvy blocking the access will be moved, day or night.
7. The maximum continuous session at the fishery is 72 hours and there is no return for at least 24 hours.
8. A maximum of 2 rods can be used on this fishery at all times, except the Small Lake (Stock Pond) – see Bye-Law 9.
9. The following rule apply to the Small Lake (Stock Pond) only: Maximum line strength of 8lb allowed. Maximum weight or lead limit allowed is 1oz or 30g, 1 rod only. Maximum hook size allowed is 12.

Blue Lake

General bye-laws apply plus the following:

1. All access gates must be kept locked at all times.
2. Entry to the lake is via the gates only. Any other entry is strictly prohibited.
3. Parking is allowed in two areas. Park on the left or right as you go through the main gate or use the limited parking at the pump house on the railway side of the lake.
4. Predator fishing is to be allowed by all legal means except live baiting. Only commercially bought dead baits may be used.
5. Barbless / micro barbed
   trebles only on lures and one barb on each treble on dead bait traces.
6. Keys for the inner gates can be requested using the TWAPS website contact page.
7. No fishing from the cliff area.
8. Bait boats are allowed on this water.
9. A maximum of four rods may be used providing the correct number of E A licences are held.
10. Braid mainline is allowed on this water only.

Paddock Wood

General bye-laws apply plus the following:

1. Access is via locked gates. These must be kept locked at all times outside quarry working hours.
2. Parking in designated area only (See map).
3. Keepnets are permitted. (See rule 21).
4. Night fishing is permitted.
5. A key for the gate can be loaned from TWAPS. Contact Phil Townsend on 07879 854030 to arrange for the loan of a key. Please allow 24 hours notice. Note keys are loaned for a period of 14 days, if a loaned key is not returned within 3 days after the loan period, the Member’s fishing permit will be suspended until the key is returned.
6. To access the River Medway refer to the map.
7. No temporary memberships are available for this fishery.

Campanile Lake

The rules / bye-laws apply plus the following:

1. Parking is in the Campanile hotel car park in the marked bays. That is between the white lines. You must register your vehicle with the hotel before fishing. If you wish to fish overnight, you must register as an overnight guest as car park registration is only for 24hrs, from 12am to 11-59 pm.
2. Access to the lake from the car park is via the pathways at each end of the hotel and not across the grassed areas.
3. Fishing is limited to a maximum of 48 hours per session.
4. Fishing from designated swims only.
5. Hotel facilities are available to members. Clean footwear only please.
6. Strictly NO LITTER.
7. Predator fishing is to be allowed by all legal means except live baiting. Only commercially bought dead baits may be used.
8. Barbless / micro barbed treble hooks only on lures and one barb on each treble hook on dead bait traces.

River Medway

General bye-laws apply plus the following:

1. Close season rules apply. No fishing between 15th March and 15th June inclusive.
2. Gates on all Society river fisheries must be kept locked at all times. Where applicable.
3. Parking is within the designated areas only.
4. Keepnets are allowed.
5. Predator fishing is allowed by all legal means except live baiting. Only commercially bought dead baits may be used.
6. Barbless trebles only on lures and one barb on each treble on dead bait traces.

Disciplinary Procedure

If a Society Bailiff finds any club member infringing Society rules or bye-laws, the following will apply:

• If the offence(s) are not considered serious or intentional enough for a written warning, the Bailiff may issue a verbal warning. If a member infringes a rule or bye-law after receiving a verbal warning, a written warning may be issued and retained on record for two years. The warning will be taken into consideration if any further action or warning is issued to the member within that time.
• If a rule or bye-law infringement is considered severe enough to warrant more than a verbal warning, a written warning may be issued. If a member receives two written warnings in any two year period, they will be suspended from the Society.
• If the rule or bye-law infringement is severe enough to receive more than a written warning to be issued, the Bailiff shall remove the offending member’s club card and instruct the member to pack away and leave the Society water. If the member refuses to do so or breaks any further rules or bye-laws (e.g. is abusive or threatening) any action will be reported and the club shall increase any penalty accordingly.
• When the committee has been informed of any offence, a date will be fixed for a disciplinary hearing. The Bailiff, additional witnesses and member shall be required to provide statements of the offence(s) stating dates, times and offences(s). If the member is deemed to have committed the offence(s), a suspension or expulsion will apply.

For all offence(s), the Bailiff shall be required (at the time of the offences(s)) to make notes of all details of the offence(s) and inform the offending member of what rule or bye-law was broken.

A suspended member may not be present on any Society water during that suspension period and may not attend any AGM during that period. Any further offence(s) in that period may lead to expulsion from the Society.

An expelled member is subject to the same restrictions as a suspended member. At the end of the expulsion or suspension period, the former member may apply in writing to rejoin the Society. It is at the discretion of the committee if the application is accepted.

Related PDF Downloads

Rules & Byelaws

Fishery Maps

Environment Agency Rod Fishing Byelaws – South East Region

Code Of Conduct For Coarse Anglers

NFA Safety Policy