We want to encourage and foster the next generation of saltwater fly fishing anglers so on Friday 30th August 2024, we would like to welcome anglers under the age of 18 to join us at Langstone Quays Hotel and compete in our Youth Competition - new for 2024! 

Our new Youth Ticket allows entrance to watch our Friday morning presentations and grants entry to our Youth Competition on Friday afternoon where they will be competing for the Longest Catch prize. Our youth anglers will be assigned a fishing mark to enjoy for their time fishing, which is separate to the main competition. 

We also understand that some Youth Ticket holders may want to stay for the whole weekend after the Youth Competition on Friday. Our Youth+ "top-up" tickets allow an under 18 access to all of the Friday morning presentations, entry to the Youth Competition on Friday afternoon, and still be able to enjoy all the activities of a regular Festival or Competition ticket on Saturday and Sunday, including the Saturday social event.

As we get closer to the event, we will be updating this page with the Youth Ticket Schedule, however, if you have any questions ahead of the event check out our Orvis Saltwater Fly Fishing Festival FAQs page, or contact our team at customerservice@orvis.co.uk.

All ticket holders, including Youth ticket holders, must provide their own kit for the weekend, see our Kit List for advice and recommendations.

Youth and Youth+ ticket holders must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times during their attendance to any of the Orvis Saltwater Fly Fishing Festival activities.

YOUTH COMPETITION RULES 

Entrants to the youth competition must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times during the event.

Participation of any pastime near water requires care and attention to maintain safety. We ask that you make careful preparations for the event, consider the correct footwear and clothing, use correct sun protection, wear protective glasses (sunglasses are appropriate) and a hat.

Be aware of your surroundings and take note of the times and states of the tide. Hayling and Church Norton have some rip tides. Please read the Guidance Notes and Suggested Marks carefully before venturing down to the shoreline.

Please handle fish carefully, with respect, and, catch and release (C&R). A knotless mesh net should be used wherever practical.  Within this challenge, we are also trying to focus more on the quality of fish caught and not the quantity of a single species.

FISHING WILL BE WITHIN:

• The marks designated for the Youth Competition by the Orvis Team. This information will be published ahead of the event.
• Anyone with a catch submitted to the competition and found to have caught outside of the designated area will be disqualified.

SCORING & RECORDING FOR PRIZES

• Prizes are based on the longest fish. (Note: Shore-caught species only)
• In the event of a tie on the first place and/or runner-up, scoring will revert to total length of all fish caught and registered by the angler. We therefore advise that all fish over the required size limit should be registered.
• In the event of a tie that is not otherwise provided for in the rules, the appointed judges will assign placing at their sole discretion.
• Each fish is measured to the nearest 0.5cm.
• The measurement taken is from the front of the mouth to the end of the tail.
• The minimum size for bass and mullet is 25cm and for garfish 30cm. For all other species, the minimum is 20cm. Fish that do not meet the minimum size for their species cannot be registered.
• Competitors will receive a scorecard which must be completed for each individual catch that is to be registered. Only fish recorded correctly can be registered.
• Each fish is to be measured against a standard measure and photographed with the festival ‘token’ in view. 
• Anglers must provide their own measuring tool.
• The Orvis Saltwater Fly Fishing Festival official token must be in each photo to be a valid entry.

OTHER CONDITIONS AND RULES:

• Youth participants must be under the age of 18 on 30/08/2024.
• Fish caught by those taking part in the youth competition will not be eligible for registration in any other competitions.
• Fishing shall be with any conventional fly rod of any length, either single or double-handed. Lure or beach casting rods are not allowed.
• Fishing shall be with fly only. The fly can be any length that is castable, weighted or unweighted, and with any size hook.  Any fur, feather, or material can be used either natural or artificial.
• A maximum of two flies may be used on any cast.  The two flies are required to be a minimum of 1 metre apart.
• All flies shall be tied on single hooks. Doubles or trebles are NOT permitted.
• We recommend the use of barbless flies, especially for anything larger than size 12.
• No fly shall contain any metal spinning component, but weighted heads are permitted.
• Orvis kit WILL NOT be available to borrow or hire over the competition. All competitors will need their own rod setup.
• Competitors shall NOT fish within 30 metres of another competitor.
• Fishing shall be from beach, rock, salt marsh, or coastline.
• Fishing is NOT PERMITTED from any of the following: jetty, pontoon, harbour wall, marina, outlet pipe or any man-made structure protruding from the shoreline (no matter how short).
• Fishing is NOT PERMITTED from any boat, kayak or canoe and boats may NOT be used to reach fishing marks.
• It is NOT PERMITTED to use a boat to get to a mark, with the exception of any public ferry.
• Restricted areas such as nature reserves and military areas will be presented on a clearly marked map at registration.
• Any competitor who goes into a restricted area will be immediately excluded from the competition. There is a zero-tolerance policy.
• Please avoid handling fish where possible.
• Minimise the amount of time the fish is out of the water. Please support the fish with a net, fish gripper, or a finger in the mouth. With the other hand support the belly of the fish with a wet hand or use a fish glove.
• It is at the discretion of the competitor how much time they spend travelling and how much in actual fishing.
• Wading is permitted at the competitor’s discretion and responsibility. Wet wading is also permitted.  Buoyancy aids or life vests are suggested and encouraged but are not compulsory.
• All competitors shall be responsible for their own insurance and indemnities.
• Scorecards must be handed to the Orvis team at the stated times – late cards will NOT be accepted for ANY reason at all – please allow sufficient travel time.
• In the case of any formal complaint, the judge’s decision will be final and binding.