While the vast majority of anglers would applaud any police efforts to protect river fisheries in the closed season, Paul Monaghan was left baffled after being given a ticking off by officers for fishing an urban stream in Southern England completely legally for game fish.
“Two officers asked to see a rod licence, which I produced,” he said. “Even though I’d explained that I was fly fishing for trout and had never seen a coarse fish here, they gave me a verbal caution for fishing out of season!”
The incident raises concern about a lack of awareness of angling laws among police nationwide, in spite of efforts by the Angling Trust to involve more officers on joint patrols and training days.
“Fishing does wonders for my mental health, but to receive a completely unnecessary caution as a law-abiding angler has been stressful. Nor have I been informed what might happen next,” Paul told Angling Times.
