Fly Angling Rules 
Fly Fishing – Angling Rules
- The angler must cast, hook, fight and bring the fish to gaff or net unaided by any other person. No other person may touch any part of the tackle during the playing of the fish or give aid other than taking the leader for gaffing or netting purposes.
- Casting and retrieving must be carried out in accordance with normal customs and generally accepted practices. The major criterion in casting is that the weight of the line must carry the lure, rather than the weight of the lure carrying the line. Trolling a lure behind a moving watercraft is not permitted. The craft must be completely out of gear both at the time the fly is presented to the fish and during the retrieve. The maximum amount of line that can be stripped off the reel is 36.57m (120ft) from the lure.
- Once a fish is hooked, the tackle may not be altered in any way, with the exception of adding an extension butt.
- Fish must be hooked on the lure in use. If a small fish takes the lure and a larger fish swallows the smaller fish, the catch will be disallowed.
- One or more people may assist in gaffing or netting the fish.
- The Angling and Equipment Regulations shall apply until the fish is weighed.
Fly Fishing – Disqualifying Acts & Situations
THE FOLLOWING ACTS WILL DISQUALIFY A CATCH:
- Failure to comply with Equipment or Angling Regulations.
- The act of persons other than the angler touching any part of the rod, reel or line, either bodily or with any device, during the playing of the fish, or in giving any aid other than that allowed in the rules and regulations. If an obstacle to the passage of the line through the rod guides has to be removed from the line, then the obstacle shall be held and cut free. Under no circumstances should the line be held or touched by anyone other than the angler during this process.
- Resting the rod on any part of the boat, or on any other object, while playing the fish.
- Handlining or using handline or rope attached in any manner to the angler’s line or leader for the purposes of holding or lifting the fish.
- Intentionally foul-hooking or snagging a fish.
- Shooting, harpooning or lancing any fish (including sharks) at any stage of the catch.
- Berleying with flesh, blood, skin or any part of mammals.
- Using a boat or device to beach or drive a fish into shallow water in order to deprive the fish of its normal ability to swim.
- Attaching the angler’s line or leader to part of a boat or other object for the purpose of holding or lifting the fish.
- If a fish escapes before gaffing or netting and is recaptured by any method other than as outlined in the angling rules.
- Holding or touching an angler in a manner that assists them in fighting the fish or takes pressure off the angler. Touching or briefly holding the angler to prevent them from falling does not constitute a disqualification.
THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS WILL DISQUALIFY A CATCH:
When a rod breaks (while the fish is being played) in a manner that reduces its length below minimum dimensions or severely impairs its angling characteristics.
When a fish is hooked or entangled on more than one line.
Mutilation to the fish, prior to landing or boating the catch, caused by sharks, other fish, mammals or propellers that remove or penetrate the flesh. (Injuries caused by leader or line, scratches, old healed scars or regeneration deformities are not considered to be disqualifying injuries.) Any mutilation of the fish must be shown in a photograph and fully explained in a separate report accompanying the record application.