Daniel Hoskin, 39 from Burden Close, was caught fishing without a licence at Bake Lakes in Saltash on 23 April 2024. The case was proven in Hoskin's absence and he was fined £220 and ordered to pay £135 costs and a £88 victim surcharge at Northampton Magistrates Court on 22 August 2024.
Benjamin Pessl, Environment Agency fisheries enforcement officer, said:
There is no worse feeling than being sat on the bank then seeing us approach you, knowing you don't have a licence. It's not worth the gamble. We do patrol and we do check and we do prosecute.
Any angler aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water needs a licence. A 1-day licence costs from just £6 and an annual licence costs from just £30 (concessions available). Junior licences are free for 13 - 16-year-olds. Licences are available from www.gov.uk/get-a-fishing-licence or by calling the Environment Agency on 0344 800 5386 between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.
The Environment Agency carries out enforcement work all year round and is supported by partners including the police and the Angling Trust. Fisheries enforcement work is intelligence-led, targeting known hot-spots and where illegal fishing is reported.
Anyone with information about illegal fishing activities can contact the Environment Agency incident hotline 24/7 on 0800 80 70 60 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Background
Daniel Hoskin was charged with:
On 23 April 2024 at Bake Lakes, Saltash, in a place where fishing is regulated fished for freshwater fish or eels by means of an unlicensed fishing instrument, namely rod and line, contrary to Section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.
