My E-Mail To The Environment Agency

[larsagi2010]

Due to loads of local people not purchasing Rod licences I decided to send the following e-mail.

 

 

My E-Mail:

 

I am located in Cheshire and have been fishing this area for no less than 12 years. I have always had a license with me when fishing, however I am starting to doubt the reasons for purchasing such an expensive piece of card!

 

All I ever seem to see over recent years is Anglers fishing with no rod licenses at all. In my 12 years of fishing (Shropshire Union Canal, Lower Ridge Fisheries, River Dee and more) I have never yet saw a bailiff on the banks! Its no wonder so many people are not purchasing Rod Licences as the bailiffs are so rare they can get away with it in this area.

 

I have always purchased my License knowing that my money is benefiting the surrounding bodies of water, and the life they sustain..... I don't mind that at all!

 

However, of 27 anglers last week I and 2 others were the only ones who had purchased a license... Next year I assume the price will rise again?? Me and my partner will spend between £50-£60 while they once again get away with it and laugh at me for ''Funding the baillifs christmas party''

 

Do people ever patrol the waters any more? or are they any plans to start introducing more bailiffs to the waters around Cheshire??

 

I am more than happy to support the E.A in capturing some of these illegal anglers by any means possible, as it is unfair to myself as a paying angler, and others who stay on the correct side of the law.

 

The E.A response

 

Dear Sirs

 

Thank you for your e-mail regarding rod licences.

Annually we check around 160,000 rod licences. That means, on average, every 3 minutes an angler gets their licence checked. We target these checks to catch the greatest number of evaders.

Where you fish will influence how often you see a fisheries bailiff. We spend our resources wisely and target the waters where there is the highest rod licence evasion. All waters are visited at least once a year and where we receive reports of unlicensed fishing the number of patrols are stepped up.

If you fish in club waters you are less likely to have your licence checked, as many clubs will insist on seeing a current licence before issuing membership. This practice is less usual at day ticket waters and subsequently they will be patrolled more often.

Please report illegal fishing to our 24 hour freephone hotline on 0800 80 70 60. This hotline is open 24 hours a day and can deal with your report straight away. You can remain anonymous if you so wish.

The maximum possible fine for fishing without a licence is £2,500, although the exact amount will be decided by the magistrates.

I trust this information is of use to you.

If you have any further queries do let us know, as we would be happy to help.

 

Does anyone know how accurate this response really is? In particular the ''All waters are visited at least once a year'' statement.

Edited December 7, 2010 by larsagi2010

[watatoad]

Sorry cant answer for the EA but in all the years I have fished I have never had my rod license checked and I have fished all over the country and often at day ticket waters.

 

To put it another way in 58 years/seasons I have never been asked to show my rod license nor have I seen a bailiff.

[AddictedToScopex]

I have never been asked to show my rod license nor have I seen a bailiff.

Me neither. I used to fish day ticket waters an awful lot too. It is little wonder that people just ignore the rules and fish anyway. And then when one does randomly get caught it is a big deal. Tha £2500 fine makes me laugh too. When did anyone ever receive that? Most I have seen have been £250.

[Anderoo]

I've fished lots of club waters over the years and I've never been asked to show my rod licence before being sold the ticket.

 

I saw an EA patrol boat on the Thames last weekend - we waved to each other and he just carried on. Maybe that counts as having 'visited the water'?

[Dales]

I seem to get my licence checked quiet alot but only when fishing Carp waters. To me it looks like they only check up on Carp Anglers. I have seen them doing the rounds and walking past pleasure anglers with out a glance as they march towards the first multiple rod set up they can see. Are they interested in catching all licence dodgers. I doubt it, but if you check the Carpers are they likely to do a runner and leave behind all their expensive stuff. I think they get checked just in case they have 1 licence but 3 rods out. A nice easy nab and most likely can afford to pay a fine. I don't think they check licences to catch offenders, they check to hand out fines to easy targets.

 

Why chase a load of poachers down the river and risk attack? Many poachers will not mind dumping there Aldi rod if need be and so will be a lot harder to catch. Much better to take a stroll up to a Carp Angler and get him without much effort. I doubt everyone with 3 rods out has 2 licences, an easy catch.

[Dales]

Maybe I look a little shifty and the EA target me. Or maybe I'm on some list of anglers who are just so good the EA feel obliged to hassle and distract me to make it fair to lesser mortals

 

Last year the EA bailiffs were running out of space to sign on my two licences. It it was interesting to see some of their faces when I passed over a licence and they often seemed stunned to see it had been inspected and signed before.

[watatoad]

I've fished lots of club waters over the years and I've never been asked to show my rod licence before being sold the ticket.

 

I saw an EA patrol boat on the Thames last weekend - we waved to each other and he just carried on. Maybe that counts as having 'visited the water'?

 

Funny you should say that about clubs I belong to quite a few clubs seven or eight and all have wanted to see my rod license before I have been given membership.

[Andy Macfarlane]

2 of my mates have been fishing the Ribble over the last 2 years and they've only done a handful of weekenders and each time, they've had their licenses checked.

 

I plan to have a go next year and when I think of the barbel and chub they've caught, I'd rather be on the right side of the law methinks. They told me the stretch they fish is frequented by lots of Salmon anglers, so that's probably why it's regularly visited.

[Dales]

2 of my mates have been fishing the Ribble over the last 2 years and they've only done a handful of weekenders and each time, they've had their licenses checked.

 

I plan to have a go next year and when I think of the barbel and chub they've caught, I'd rather be on the right side of the law methinks. They told me the stretch they fish is frequented by lots of Salmon anglers, so that's probably why it's regularly visited.

 

I get the feeling they have certain venues they visit a lot and all the rest get ignored.

[Peter M]

I have only been asked for my licence by an EA bailiff twice, and that was in the same week. They were obviously targeting that lake which was Gloucester Park in Basildon.