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Rod Licence Cheats Caught in Bank Holiday Blitz

By FishingMagic 08/06/2012 09:50:00

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Over the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend Environment Agency officers in the Midlands caught a number of rod licence evaders.

This enforcement activity is part of a national rod licence blitz at fisheries that are known to have a higher-than-average rod licence evasion rate. Officers in the Environment Agency's Midlands Environmental Crime Team checked 1417 anglers over the course of the weekend and 121 offences were recorded.

Environmental Crime Team leader Al Watson said:

"Every licence evasion means less money to spend on protecting and improving the nation's fisheries. Anglers will spend a lot of money on fishing tackle, day tickets, bait and travel, so it is disappointing that they fail to buy a £27 rod licence. At 52p per week it is great value.

Anglers risk losing their equipment when they avoid buying a licence. They can easily buy one from a Post Office, on-line or by telephone. If anglers sign up to buy their rod licence by direct debit, we will automatically post their new licence each year in time for the new season - there is no excuse.”

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Comments (9 posted):

dangermouse on 08/06/2012 10:17:39

Quite interesting figures there with almost 10% of those checked not having a licence. A mate of mine had his licence checked a couple of weeks ago and he was fishing on the canal. EA guy said that this year they`re making a special effort as regards licence checking. Aside from the fact it was good to see an EA bailiff on the bank it also gave my mate a chance to report the illegal fishing and fish taking we`ve seen in our area. The bailiff was unaware of any incidents and took down details and promised to look into it.

maceo on 08/06/2012 10:24:23

I'll be interested to see if they come down my way. Still never ever had my licence checked, but buy one religiously - even though it's sometimes a bit of a struggle to get the money together.

beerweasel on 08/06/2012 10:32:58

Unfortunately the fine these individuals will get won't be much more than £100. That won't even pay for the cost of prosecution. I still think that they should be tied to a tree and thrashed with the top section of a mark IV. :mad:

Titus on 08/06/2012 10:43:56

Ron The Hat Clay on 08/06/2012 16:48:34

A Mk IV is to good for them, there are plenty of old cane sea rods will do just as good a job. I have a Roman scourge, an old movie prop if you want to borrow it.

blounty65 on 08/06/2012 19:48:55

Had my licence checked last week i thought it was two bloody squadies marching around the bank. but they where two nice chaps and i also filled them in what was going on locally

gaz b on 08/06/2012 21:11:03

In nearly 40 years of fishing (yep I'm that old) I've only ever been asked once and that was a couple years ago. Gaz Sent from my BlackBerry pudding using my Toe's.

john m h on 08/06/2012 21:58:35

A pity the EA doesn't put more emphasis on 'protection' rather than 'revenue' Every day over the weekend/holiday period on the Wear in Durham 'anglers' could have been booked for using 'prohibited baits' (maggots etc etc etc - almost all known/accepted coarse baits) I always thought the main charges placed on the EA were 'protection, improvement & development' of game and freshwater fisheries :rolleyes: I'm sure that the PC Plods would be more suited to booking people for not having a license; and it's a nice easy not very taxing activity, thus releasing the EA enforcement staff to carry out real fisheries protection work. Why didn't I contact the EA re the illegal fishing on the river? The last time I telephoned the EA 'Hot Line' to report illegal (out of season) coarse fishing on the Wear I was asked what made me believe the activity was illegal ????

chav professor on 09/06/2012 06:23:50

I think it depends on your region and the 'personalities' that carry out the work. We are lucky in the East, fishing the river out of season is taken seriously and if a few anglers are caught (as have been this year) it really sorts the problem out. I had my license checked for the first time ever on a little park lake that offered free fishing. 6 anglers checked - 2 did not have a license. I wonder if in terms of planning, one year they target dodgers and then we have this period when we experience the feeling of a sustained 'blitz' effect. If revenue picked up, would we as anglers notice the difference? These are hard times (I hate being reminded all the bloody time - so apologize) - but revenue = jobs in the EA..... so hence the big push...... or am I being too cynical!

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