General rules in the Perch branch (Sports anglers' rules)

Requirement:

All organizers of sanctioned perch fishing competitions must do their utmost to take the welfare of the fish into account. In short, this means:

• Drive slowly and do not disturb the bottom in sensitive and shallow playing environments.

• Adjust the timing of the competition and/or exclude sensitive areas from the competition area, keep in mind that special rules may apply in and around nature reserves.

• Be as considerate as possible of other wildlife, such as nesting birds. Do not approach nesting birds.

• Avoid placing the competition area in an area where another competition has recently taken place.

If in doubt, the organizer should ask the District Competition Manager, the Anglers Association or the County Administrative Board.

In the event of an emergency, contact must always be made with the competition management as soon as possible.

All competitors must continuously wear a life jacket, buoyancy suit, buoyancy vest or other buoyancy garment from the time the boat leaves port until the boat is back in port.

Applicable sea rules and speed regulations must always be followed.

General rules:

The organizer/competition leader always has the opportunity to adjust the general competition rules below for the current competition.

*The organizer will hold a captain's meeting before the competition, where at least one person from each team must be present. There, the competition area, competition rules, sea rules, protected zones, prohibited zones, competition time, etc. will be reviewed.

*The anglers recommend that all competitions are conducted as C&R where all caught perch are immediately, after capture and documentation, released in a manner that is gentle on the fish. The minimum recommended size is 25 cm, but the organizer determines the minimum size that is considered appropriate for the competition in question.

**In competitions where sumping is permitted, the sump must have a volume of 50 liters or more. A maximum of five perch may be in the sump at the same time and it is permitted to replace fish in the sump during the competition. In this type of competition, the fish must be weighed. Dead fish or one that shows clear signs of illness may not be weighed in. In this type of competition, weighing must take place as quickly and gently as possible after the boat has arrived in port and the fish must be returned with the greatest consideration.

*Results are based on length in cm and documentation is done by taking a photo against a measuring board. Any centimeter started is rounded down. The measuring board must be placed flat and horizontal and the tail fin may be adjusted carefully with a finger but not pressed together as the fish may be damaged. The fish must be placed carefully on the measuring board and the fish must not be pulled lengthwise. The fish may be held with one or, if necessary, two hands while the measurement and documentation are taking place. One hand may not be held on the tail coil (resulting in a 2 cm deduction). When taking a photo, it must be clearly visible that the nose is against the edge (otherwise a 2 cm deduction is given) and that the length can be clearly determined. The team measures its five (unless the organizer specifies otherwise) longest perch, which gives a total length. In individual competitions, the three longest perch are measured (unless the organizer specifies otherwise), which gives a total length. In the event of the same total length, the longest fish decides.

*Spinning (including jigging and dropshot), reel fishing, jerk fishing, fly fishing and ice fishing are permitted unless otherwise stated at the captain's meeting. Natural baits, trolling or so-called hangers are not permitted. Scented substances, only those sold in fishing shops, may be used. Drift fishing is permitted

Only fishing with one rod per person is allowed, but you may have more rods ready-rigged in the boat.

*Minimum distance to the nearest anchored fishing boat is 25 m (one cast length). Anchored boat has contact with the bottom via line anchor or Tallon. Front-mounted engine with anchor function running does not count as anchored boat.

*Fishing is only conducted from a boat and landing is not permitted except for natural needs or in an emergency. When landing, all fishing equipment must be left in the boat.

Team competition: Teams of 2-3 people.

Individual competition: Always at least 2 people in the boat.

Local deviations may occur.

Classes: One class.

Food fish may of course be taken and then the fish should be killed immediately. The recommendation is to avoid killing large specimens, perch over 7-8 kg should be released back.

Special rules DM and SM

SM and DM competitions may not be held directly adjacent to the game and or in areas that are particularly sensitive.

To participate in the Swedish Championship, Swedish Championship and other competitions that qualify for the Swedish Championship, individual membership with Sportfiskarna is required.

SM, DM, and other competitions that are SM qualifying, must be sanctioned.

Other competitions should be sanctioned. SM, DM, and other competitions that are SM qualifying, are always conducted as team competitions with teams of 2-3 people. For DM or SM competition, the competition time is required to be at least 4 hours.

 In SM, DM, and other competitions that are SM qualifying, at least two of the team members must participate in both the qualifying competition and possibly SM.

Update 2018-09-20:

As an individual competitor, you may only participate in one DM in one district per qualifying year in the discipline.

At least one of the team members should be a member or have a club affiliation in the district you are trying to qualify for. This is while the DM competitions are setting a recommendation but may in a few years be established as a rule with the exception that when no DM is held in the district, you may then participate in another district's DM.

Qualifications for SM

• Swedish Championship medalist
The three medal-winning teams from the last SM final are directly qualified for the SM. If any of these teams cannot participate, the fourth-placed team will not be added, but the place will lapse.

• DM
From the Swedish Championship, 20 % of the TEAM will qualify for next year's Swedish Championship.

A minimum of 10 teams are required at the DM for a team to qualify.

The number of teams that qualify is counted downwards, e.g. at 36 teams, 3 places are awarded, at 58, 5 places are awarded.

If any of these teams cannot participate in the Swedish Championships, or are already qualified through medal placement at the previous Swedish Championships, the fourth-placed team will be added, etc. If the team also qualifies via the SPL or another qualifying competition, the place in the competitions that are not the Swedish Championships will be forfeited.

• SPL
 The 15 teams that are the highest ranked teams in the SPL, Swedish Pearch League, after the end of the season, are qualified for the Swedish Championship. If any of the 15 teams cannot participate in the Swedish Championship, the place will not go to the next team, but will be forfeited. The same applies if the team qualifies via the Swedish Championship medalist or Swedish Championship categories.

Other qualifying competition
Anglers also have the opportunity to sign contracts with organizers in addition to the above and agree on how many championship places these competitions have to award.