Starting fishing again...............

[maggot_corps]

after about 12 years i've started fishing again, i went in november last year and forgot to get a rod licence,what a feckin idiot! the bailiff came round and i gave him my details. Didn't hear anything more, thought it had been forgotten about. Oh no, i got a letter yesterday saying they're gonna send me a court summons. I know the max fine is £2500, this is the first time i've ever been without a licence has anybody on here been in this situation and what sort of fine do you think i'm looking at?

[fishypaul]

hello mate,first of all welcome to the forum,
sorry to hear about your bad luck,it is bad luck,i have not had my licence checked for 3 or 4 years,
i'm sorry i have no idea about fines etc,but don't forget to tell them it was your first fishing trip in 12 years , it might help you
best of luck

[robm]

Hello maggot corps
Welcome back to fishing and to the forum,i got stung for not having a rod licence and got fined £35 being £20 fine and £15 costs,but i,m afraid that was back in 1982 so no idea what the going rate is nowadays.

robm

[baitmaster]

firstly welcome to the forum

i was done by the EA not for not having a licence but because my missus signed them when she picked it up from the post office for me as she was told by the women it had to be signed (crossed wired ) trouble is i never checked and just put them in the wallet .
when i was asked by a EA officer i produced my two licences ads i use three rods and although it was my name and address she had signed it and for that i was done for fraudulant use of a fishing licence (christ sake )
but any way that cost me £50 in a fine so
just hold your hands up don,t fight it and you will probably get a small fine not ever known them to apply the maximum

tightlines
kevin

[robm]

Just been reading March issue of northern angler and came across this snippet.
Licence dodgers forked out more than £600,000 in costs and fines after being found fishing without a rod licence by Environment Agency bailifs in 2006.
On average the 4,400 people caught were ordered to pay £133.

robm

[Greenheart]

I always pay mine by direct Debit. It arrives in the post just before the start of each season. No worries....