Checklista för fisketävling – arrangemang & tävlingsregler

Here you will find practical checklists for those who are going to organize a fishing competition. The lists are designed to serve as a simple support, both for the rules that govern the competition itself and for everything surrounding the event. The idea is to give you a clear overview of what is important to remember, regardless of whether you are planning a small club meeting or a larger competition. Use them as inspiration, adapt to your circumstances and create a safe and fair event.

We start by giving advice about ourselves the arrangement – all the practicalities that make the competition run smoothly and be a positive experience for all participants. Further down the page you will find a separate list of points to consider when designing competition rulesTogether, the two parts provide a comprehensive picture of what is required for a successful fishing competition.

If you want your competition to follow Anglers' rules You can read more on their page: https://www.sportfiskarna.se/Tavling/Regler. There you will find everything from how the classes are divided to safety, membership and what applies in the event of protests. By incorporating their guidelines, you will have an event that feels both safe and professional for the participants. It is up to the organizer to decide how they want to relate to the Sportfiskarna – here on this page we collect advice and guidelines for all types of competitions, regardless of what the association recommends.

Checklist for the event.

Determine the purpose of the competition (fishery conservation, charity, prize money).
Choose competition concept (individual, team, one day, multiple days).
Choose a date (avoid clashes with other competitions).
Take play times and water temperature into account.
Check nature reserves and bird protection areas. (Area on map, date, etc.)
Consultation with the County Administrative Board if necessary.
Check your fishing license and get permission for the competition from the FVO.
Choose a competition area with good accessibility.
Secure ramps and launch sites.
Check parking options.
Determine logistics for start and finish.
Arrange a place for check-in and award ceremony.
Make a budget of expenses and income.
Determine entry fee (per team or per participant).
Set the maximum and minimum number of participants.
Determine whether the fee will be refunded if the competition is canceled.
Include costs in prices.
Include costs for measuring boards.
Arrange sponsors for prizes and materials.
Appoint a sponsor manager in the competition management.
Arrange goodie bags (if desired).
Plan marketing on social media and in fishing apps for competitions.
Create a Facebook page or group.
Advertise in fishing forums.
Register for the competition at fishy.nu
Write a nice invitation with rules.
Limit locations initially to create pressure.
Build interest before registration opens.
Have a simple payment control system.
Arrange a reserve list in case places run out.
Decide whether the organizer is allowed to participate (usually no).
Have at least three people in the competition management.
Appoint a formal competition director and an independent jury and describe their decision-making mandate.
Appoint a photographer for the start and award ceremony.
Appoint a results manager.
Determine system for results management (app, text message, paper).
Test the system before the competition.
Prepare any measuring boards well in advance.
Hand out any measuring boards at check-in.
Hand out number tags to boats, if necessary.
Conduct a skipper's meeting before departure.
Prepare the skipper's meeting with a clear agenda.
Consider a PA system for the skipper's meeting.
Choose starting form (common, running, flying).
Plan for safety at the start.
Make sure all participants have floatation equipment.
Plan the finish line with a clear check mark.
Collect all the measurement boards after the competition.
Prepare the prize podium, prize table and sponsor flags.
Double-check the results list carefully before awarding prizes.
Have clear safety procedures: first aid on site, functioning communication and an outage plan in the event of a thunderstorm.
Describe the protest procedure with a written protest within a short, fixed time limit after weigh-in/finish.
Specify sanitation/cleaning requirements for the area and how caught fish are handled if harvesting is permitted (e.g. food fish according to local regulations).

Checklist for competition rules

Decide whether the competition is individual or team-based (e.g. 1–3 people per team).
Specify which species are allowed to be counted (pike, perch, pike-perch).
Define the minimum length of fish (e.g. pike 60 cm, perch 25 cm).
Define if maximum dimensions apply (for certain species or waters).
Specify whether all fish must be released (Catch & Release).
Exclude protected areas and demand gentle, rapid release of protected fish.
Specify the number of fish that will be counted per participant/team (e.g. 5 longest pike).
Clarifies whether the same fish can be reported multiple times (usually no).
Enter the minimum number of starters for a class/category to be counted (and what happens if the number is less than that).
State that all fish must be photographed on an official measuring board.
Specify which measuring board models are approved (e.g. official competition board or certain brands).
Decide that the entire fish must be visible in the picture.
Specify that the mouth should be against the stop on the measuring board.
Specify which side of the fish should lie down (right or left).
Allow careful adjustment of the tail fin (but not pinching).
Describe that the length is rounded down to the nearest whole cm.
Please note that unclear images are not accepted.
State that manipulation of images is prohibited.
Indicate whether the competition requires a number tag/tag in the picture (or not, the organizer decides).
Specify whether only live photos via the app are approved (or whether photos from the phone's gallery are accepted).
Specify whether GPS data from images should be collected (or not) and clarify who will receive the information and why.
Require the photo to be taken directly in the competition app (or via camera + upload if allowed).
Make it clear that reporting only takes place via app (or text message + photo if app is not used).
Specify that catch should be reported immediately (or no later than the same day).
Specify the time period for reporting (e.g. 8:00 AM–5:00 PM).
Please note that fish caught outside the competition area are not accepted.
Please note that fish caught before the start or after the end are not accepted.
Specify how equal results are separated (e.g. longest fish decides, tips, Fishy.nu has several "tiebreak" mechanisms to choose from)
Specify penalties for incorrect measurement (e.g. -2 cm deduction).
Specify penalties for late arrival (e.g. -1 cm per minute).
Specify whether sumping or hauling is permitted (if yes, maximum time).
Specify whether trolling is allowed (usually no).
Indicate whether live/dead bait is allowed (often no).
Enter the maximum number of rods in the water (usually 1 per person).
Allow spare rods but not in use at the same time.
Specify which methods are allowed (spinning, fly, jigging, angling).
Specify which methods are not permitted (nets, longlines, otter boards, live fishing).
State that echo sounder/real-time transducer is prohibited (or permitted) and if so, whether it may not be taken on the boat.
State that the fish must be hooked in the mouth.
Enables equipment checks before and during the competition.
Prohibit the transfer of caught fish between competitors and limit unauthorized assistance during fishing.
State that help from fellow competitors is allowed (but not that they catch your fish).
Please note that the fish must be in good health when photographed.
State that hooks, lines and trash must not be left in nature.
Specify the distance between boats to be maintained (e.g. 30–50 m).
State that fishing from private piers is not permitted.
State that fishing from bridges may be prohibited (state clearly).
Require compliance with sea rules and local speed limits (state what applies in the invitation/skippers' meeting).
Ban alcohol and drugs throughout the competition and give the competition management the mandate to reject participants.
Set requirements for good behavior and prohibit disruptive behavior in the start, finish and competition areas.
Allow rule violations during emergency rescue operations and describe how this is reported to the competition management.
State that a life jacket or flotation device is mandatory.
Please note that participants fish at their own risk.
State that the organizer is not responsible for any injuries or accidents.
State that participants are responsible for having a valid fishing license and that the rules of the fishing area must be followed.
State that local rules apply in addition to the competition rules.
State that the competition management has the final say in all matters and that decisions cannot be appealed.

That's all! The lists may seem long and detailed, but see them as inspiration and a helpful checklist rather than a must. The more time you have to think through it in advance, the smoother the competition will be and the less risk of problems or sourdoughs that take energy during or afterwards. Plan well in advance, do it your way – and remember that the most important thing is that it should be fun. Good luck with your event!