On 25 April 2007 at Scunthorpe Magistrates Court, fishing without a valid rod licence cost six anglers a total of £520.00. All of the defendants have been ordered to pay a further £70 in costs despite non-attendance.

Craig Drinkell, age 20 years, of Rosina Grove South, Grimsby, was fined £70 and was convicted of fishing for freshwater fish or eels other than by means of a licensed instrument. The offence was committed while the defendant was fishing at Grange Park Lake, Scunthorpe, on 7 October 2006.

Mark Dunham, age 33 years, of Silver Street, Barnetby, North Lincolnshire, was fined £100 and was convicted of fishing for freshwater fish or eels other than by means of a licensed instrument. The offence was committed while the defendant was fishing at Mesingham Sands, Messingham on 7 October 2006.

Andrew Lilley, age 46 years of Braithwell Road, Raven Field, Rotherham, was fined £50 and was convicted of fishing for freshwater fish or eels other than by means of a licensed instrument. The offence was committed at Grange Park Lake, Scunthorpe on 7 October 2006.

Robert MacDonald, age 21 years of Queensway, Scunthorpe, was fined £100 and was convicted of fishing for freshwater fish or eels other than by means of a licensed instrument. The offence was committed at the Stainforth and Keadby Canal, Crowle, Scunthorpe, on 4 November 2006.

Derrick Rodgers, age 60 years of Prior Road, Conisbrough, Doncaster, was fined £100 and was convicted of fishing for freshwater fish or eels otherwise than by means of a licensed instrument, and failing to state his name and address to a Water Bailiff. The offences were committed at Messingham Sands, Messingham on 7 October 2006.

Stephen Michael Smith, age 31 years of Foyle Close, Brant Road, Lincoln, was fined £100 and was convicted of fishing for freshwater fish or eels otherwise than by means of a licensed instrument. The offence was committed at Messingham Sands, Messingham on 7 October 2006.

A day’s fishing without an Environment Agency rod licence could prove very expensive indeed, with a maximum possible fine of £2,500.

Speaking after the case, Midlands Strategic Specialist, Martin Cooper, said:

“Anglers who fish without a valid rod licence need to be aware that our Water Bailiffs are out and about every day checking rod licences. As today’s result demonstrates, sooner or later they are going to get caught and we won’t hesitate to prosecute.

“Not only does a prosecution prove costly, with fines of up to £2,500, it also marks an angler out as someone who cheats his fellow anglers. When you buy a rod licence, the money is used to help fund our work managing fisheries and to improve the sport for everyone, work such as re-stocking rivers after pollution incidents. So if you don’t buy a rod licence, you reduce the pleasure of the sport for everyone else.

“The message from this court case is loud and clear * if you haven’t got a valid rod licence, don’t wait till you get caught, buy one!”