Be on your guard...

[Rob M]

"Rod licence blitz catches 68 illegal anglers

Over the May Bank Holiday last weekend, Environment Agency officers in Cambridgeshire visited 88 waters and caught 68 anglers fishing without a rod licence.

In total, enforcement teams made checks on 868 waters across England and Wales between 30 April and 2 May and caught over 800 illegal anglers who are cheating honest anglers and not playing the sport fairly.

Fishing without a licence is an offence and those caught fishing illegally will face tough penalties, including fines of up to £2,500 and a ban from fishing.

Environment Agency Fisheries Officer Mick Robinson said, "We checked almost 90 locations and over 900 rod licences between Saturday and Monday. 68 anglers were given tickets to produce a valid licence. People who fish without a licence are cheating the system and their fellow anglers. We will continue vigorously with our blitz programme to bring rod licence evasion down.

"All rod licence money gets ploughed back into fisheries work which benefits all anglers, fish stocks and the waterside environment, and we will continue with our efforts to safeguard this essential income."

Rod licence money has recently been used in Cambridgeshire to install fishing platforms on the Ely Ouse at Queen Adelaide and at Houghton Mill. Fish refuges have also been installed at Block Fen and Barnwell Pit on Cambridgeshire Fish Preservation and Angling Society Waters.

During the blitz, an officer patrolling the River Cam spotted an angler fishing on the opposite bank. He flagged down a passing boat, hitched a lift and issued the angler with a ticket for fishing out of season. Enforcement officers were also pleased to see that more ladies were seen out fishing than in previous years, demonstrating what a popular and inclusive sport fishing can be.

Mick went on to say "Our staff are better equipped than ever. With access to databases at the switch of a mobile phone, enforcement officers can verify address and licence details – including whether they purchased a licence the previous year. All this makes catching licence evaders an easier process."

From: http://www.coarse-fisherman.co.uk/

Rob

[dan the fishing man]

dnt make no difference to me mate, i already got my new 1

[Norfolkboy]

I hope everyone else has as well.

[gullyworm]

Stick to sea fishing stay away from the darkside.

[FlyingFox]

I aint got one yet


lol thats ok cause i aint started going yet this year...hehe

wont be long though!! carps and bream up the river ..............in between mulleting of corse

[fishypaul]

blimey rob,you are now talking like a true coarse angler

[pingu]

too add to this when i went out yesterday the baliff didnt ask about licence he just wanted my money!!, surely he should check??

[tjnorton]

Surley if everyone bought a license this might help keep the prices down!Plus if you have a license then you have nothing to be worried about.

Also i think baylifs need to ask to see licences and not just money, that if they can be bothered to get out of bed before lunch!!! know what i mean pingu?

tj

[socko]

Good I hope they do clamp down on rod licence cheats in fact the should be publicly flogged(just after the national lottery on a Saturday night )

I hope you do realise that if you show someone your licence thay have to produce theirs, if not then you can report it so its alwys woth carrying your licence.

Also asking a strange bloke to show you his after you have shown him yours might end up in a punch in the nose if you dont explain.

[Rob M]

I think by the title of the thread I may have given the impression that I was giving notice to people without licences, I meant to say always have your licences with you when fishing

Rob