Big Surge in not Toting Fishing Licences

Eastern Region Fish & Game Officers on patrol aren’t getting the answer they want to hear. They are concerned at the number of anglers – about three times the normal for summertime – who can’t produce their fishing licence, as the law requires.

Fish & Game Officer Anthony van Dorp says staff have issued notices to 22 anglers fishing the Rotorua lakes and Lake Waikaremoana (over the holiday period ending Sunday, January 15) - to produce their licence within seven days.

It’s an intriguingly large increase, he says, compared with the previous years.

“Practically all these folk appear to have licences –it’s just a case of, ‘oh, I left it in my wallet,’ or ‘it’s in the ute,’ or ‘I walked out the door and left it on the kitchen bench.’ They’re almost all good people who aren’t trying to get around the rules.”

“It’s interesting to see an increase of this size when we check hundreds of people every year at this time. This is a marked increase over the past two summers in the number of people who aren’t carrying their licences.”

I believe it’s a case of people checking off things – their lunch, fishing gear, clothing and fuel, he says, “but neglecting to take your licence along is as important as having enough fuel on board.”

It not only makes additional work and expense for Fish & Game officers, but creates work for anglers who are given a deadline to produce their licence in seven days, Anthony adds.

“It’s another job to do when we could be spending our time more fruitfully.”

Anthony van Dorp says that most of the 22 cases have already been dealt with, aside from about three where Game is still trying to confirm the anglers hold licenses.

“Please be sure to carry your licence in the same place every time – whether it’s your wallet, tackle box, or a place on the boat, so that it’s ready to hand over for inspection.”

Those who are caught fishing without a licence can face not only a penalty for this, but also for giving false or misleading particulars, a serious offence under the Conservation Act.

Over the holiday period officers also intercepted two anglers fishing from a boat with two rods each. In some cases it comes down to anglers not making themselves familiar enough with the regulations contained in a booklet which is always handed out with the purchase of a licence. “Or else they are simply trying to get away with it.”

But Anthony notes that it can become an expensive attempt at doubling your chances if you wind up facing a fine of up to $5000, and possibly the loss of your fishing gear to boot.

In another incident in early January at lake Mc Laren near Tauranga, a group of people were fishing for eels using handlines and had caught trout as a bycatch.

They had to be reminded by a ranger at the scene to return the fish to the water in line with the regulations. If a trout is caught in this way and kept the fisher faces a fine of up to $5000 for possession of a sports fish taken unlawfully. Trout caught in this way must be returned to the water dead or alive.

ENDS

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