A Rotorua 26-year-old has learnt the hard way why he shouldn't fish without a licence.
Eastern Fish & Game officer Anthony van Dorp said "going down that path" had cost a Rotorua man more than $1000 in the Rotorua District Court.
The 26-year-old appeared in court yesterday facing two chargesfor fishing with no licence and giving false details.
Judge James Weir fined the man $400 on each count and also ordered him to pay prosecution and court costs of more than $200.
Mr van Dorp said the penalties handed down reinforced that fishing without a licence could turn into an expensive exercise. And in this case the man's attempt to lie his way out of the situation cost hime "big-time."
The cost of managing the region's trout fisheries and the habitat work Fish and Game did for waterfowl and game bird hunting, had to be shared equally across all anglers and hunters, he said.
"Fish & Game doesn't receive any funding from Government and doesn't make any profits, so everything gained from licences is put back into fish and game management - and this needs to be fairly shared."
Mr van Dorp said Fish and Game officers had carried out angler checks throughout summer across the Rotorua lakes.
"It's pleasing to have found the vast majority of anglers doing the right thing."
