MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A LICENCE BEFORE HEADING TO THE RIVER:
Submitted by Adrian Westwood at The Environment Agency
Anglers eagerly anticipating the opening of the coarse fishing season on June 16 should make sure they have a valid rod licence before heading for the river.
The reminder comes as 270 anglers were prosecuted by the Environment Agency in May, resulting in more than £38,000 in fines and costs. In addition three anglers received cautions.
Fishing for salmon, trout, freshwater fish and eels in England and Wales and the Border Esk in Scotland requires a licence from the Environment Agency. Failure to have a licence is an offence. Those caught fishing illegally face tough penalties, including fines of up to £2,500 and a ban from fishing.
A small number of anglers believe a licence is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. This is not the case. All rod licences expire on March 31. For 2007/2008 a full season coarse and trout fishing licence costs just £24.50 and a salmon and sea trout licence costs £66.50.
There is also a range of concessionary, junior, eight-day and one day licences. The almost three million people who receive Disability Living Allowance in England and Wales are eligible for a half price fishing licence.
The protection of vulnerable fish stocks and increasing fishing participation are among the Environment Agency's key environmental goals. The money raised through rod licence sales; some £19m, is invested directly in fisheries work that benefits all anglers.
Buying a new licence couldn't be easier - around 15,000 Post Offices and other outlets sell them; a direct debit can be set up, and they can be purchased over the phone (0870 1662662) or on-line at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/rodlicence any time, day or night.
In 2006 more than £600,000 was paid in fines and costs by more than 4,400 illegal anglers for fishing without a rod licence. In addition 40 anglers received cautions from the courts.
Edited By Paul Orford
Don't get caught out !! The Environment Agency WILL prosecute anyone found to be fishing without a licence ... and quite rightly so. The Environment Agency carry out some excellent work protecting our fisheries and fish stocks so don't go fishing without a licence.
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2010-02-22 21:07:43 | admin
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I think that the Environment Agency will prosecute pretty much without exception. I guess they hear all sorts of stories about why people don't have a licence and although your's was a genuine error, there are plenty of people who go fishing without a licence, knowing full well they need one. It's a shame that you weren't advised by either the tackle shop you where you bought your rods or by the venue you were fishing that you needed a rod licence.
Anyway, lets hope they are lenient in your case.
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2010-02-24 19:03:09 | Anonymous - A NICE LITTLE EARNER
NEARLY ALL CLUBS HAVE A THREE ROD LIMIT.WHY CAN ANGLERS NOT BUY A SINGLE ADDITIONAL LICENCE AT A CHEAPER RATE.IS IT BECAUSE THE AGENCY IS RAKING IN HUGE AMOUNTS OF REVENUE FROM ANGLERS FORCED TO LICENCE 4 RODS .IF THE AGENCY WERE AT THE THIN END THE LAW WOULD SOON BE CHANGED. :
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2010-02-25 14:52:37 | Mike Lade - group fishing licence
I work with a special needs school and teach them fishing for 2hrs a week (if weather is ok !) for about 3 months of the year. They are 12-16 years old and numbers vary from 1 - 8 max and usually different kids each week - is there a group license availble for schools and youth groups like mine?
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2010-02-25 15:37:48 | admin
Mike - we are not aware of a group rod licence. Your best bet would be to contact the Environment agency for advice.
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2011-12-01 18:31:08 | Anonymous
my son has just recived a summons for no license he was fishing o private land hes always had a license according 2 th2 summons he was fishing salmon and fresh water fisheriesthe pond is course fishing only he renewed his license a week later
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2011-12-20 22:55:36 | s pearce - i wan.t a job tp help the fish and the people who
i am sick of all the places i go to in the manchester area and further, that all you here is that a lot of the fish have been poached by who ever to put in there own ponds and where ever. it needs to be stopped.NOW. Before it to late.
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2012-04-05 12:54:26 | Brian O'Sullivan - I got done for using a friend's rod, REALLY had n
I am baffled at the logic of calling it a rod licence as I swear my whole life every angler I ever spoke to said it's ok for a friend to go fishing with a mate who has a licence and two rods. If I go to my friends' houses I do not need a tv licence to watch their televisions, do I? Surely in principle it should be called a FISHING LICENCE not a Rod Licence - same as with DRIVING. To own and operate a car you must prove you are legal to drive and know the rules...but with fishing? When I was maybe 8 yrs old and then 12 or 13 I accompanied friends...and last September, I was with a mate and his other friend...a water bailiff came along and issued me and the other guy a ticket...difference is the other guy had his own rod but no licence...whilst I was using my mate's rod that he insisted was licenced and ok for me to use...so... I immediately phoned and paid for a licence, handed him the phone to get one as well...I am just furious that I either have to pay a minimum £127 costs to plead guilty by post, or fight it on various technicalities and have to show up in person to prove myself innocent... it stings...
Having spent the weekend away with my two sons in a lodge as a birthday treat on a private lake we bought two rods for £5 each at a bargain shop. Upon starting to fish as best we could we were approached by two environment agency police who asked me for our licences. i told him I did not know we had to have one and was duly issued with tickets. I checked online and the average fine is around £120. I honestly did not know about a licence and they could see the rods were only cheap tacky rods. How can they fine me without a warning? Any advice out there?