Fishers urged to play by rules

FILE

A Rotorua man caught twice in a row with no fishing licence who also tried to lie his way out of trouble - could have saved himself a "tidy sum" if he'd bought a licence at the start, says Fish & Game.

Desmond Hilton Morunga, 29, was first found fishing without a licence by a Fish & Game ranger in February this year.

He was issued with an offence notice and his fishing gear was seized.

Fish & Game Officer Anthony van Dorp says that only a matter of days later he was caught again and tried to give false details - but was caught out and charged with this offence.

Morunga has appeared in the Rotorua District Court where he pleaded guilty to the three charges and was ordered to pay $1590 in fines and costs, and forfeited two sets of fishing gear.

"The message is painfully clear, buy a fishing licence at the start and play by the rules - and you'll save yourself hundreds of dollars," Mr van Dorp said.

He said over the past eight months, more than half of the 70-plus offences Fish & Game had dealt with have been fishing without a licence.

"Fish & Game doesn't receive any funding from Government and is a not for profit organisation. Fish and game management is funded solely from licences - so those who don't purchase a license are impacting on opportunities and placing an unfair burden on those who do."