A TOURIST angler netted a hefty fine after he was found fishing on Windermere without a rod licence.

South Cumbria Magistrates Court heard that David Thomas Jones, of Pwll Yr Hwyaid Mawr, Denbigh, in Wales, was discovered fishing on the west shore of the lake at Strawberry Gardens, Bowness, by Environment Agency enforcement officer David Jones. 

The court was told the defendant was not able to produce a valid rod licence and was reported for that offence. He pleaded guilty to the offence at the Kendal court and was fined £440 for fishing without a rod licence, ordered to pay £127.47 costs and a victim surcharge of £44 imposed after a prosecution by the Environment Agency.

Darren Bedworth, of Environment Agency Enforcement, said; “Across the country, we’re continuing to see similar fines handed out to anglers fishing illegally. 

"Having to pay over £600 for a day of fishing just doesn’t make sense; especially when the cost of an annual licence is as little as £27. We are delighted that these heavy fines send such a clear message to rod cheats – fishing without a licence is no longer worth the risk.” 

Money paid by the country's one million anglers fishing legally helps support fisheries and fishing and protects the future of the sport. 

For the minority who flout the rules, the most common offence is fishing without a valid licence which can land offenders with a fine of up to £2,500 and a criminal record. 

Last year the Environment Agency checked more than 62,000 rod licences and prosecuted more than 1,900 anglers for rod and line offences resulting in fines and costs in excess of £500,000.

To help crack down on unlicensed fishing the Environment Agency urges anyone to report illegal activity by calling the Environment Agency Incident Hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.