Fewer illegal angling offences

Otago Fish & Game officer Morgan Trotter yesterday holds fishing rods confiscated from anglers breaking the rules. Photo by Gregor Richardson.
Otago Fish & Game officer Morgan Trotter yesterday holds fishing rods confiscated from anglers breaking the rules. Photo by Gregor Richardson.
The number of anglers caught breaking Otago Fish & Game rules this season has ''dropped dramatically''.

Otago Fish & Game Council operations manager Ian Hadland said 21 anglers had been caught this season, which ends next month, compared with 64 in the 2015-16 season.

''It's 21 too many, but it's a much better result than last year.''

The punishment ranged from written warnings to prosecutions.

He hoped an improvement in compliance was a result of a greater awareness of regulations by anglers.

About a third of those caught were non-residents, similar to last year, he said.

The fewer offences could be a result of ''average'' summer weather limiting the number of anglers fishing.

Another factor could be honorary rangers patrolling for fewer hours because fewer anglers were braving the bad weather.

The drop in offences could also be related to media reports of large fines given to unlicensed anglers, such as the Queenstown builder convicted this month and made to pay $2630 for fishing without a licence in Sunshine Bay and providing misleading information to a ranger.

Most of the fines issued could have been avoided if the builder had told the truth when he was caught.

''The whole matter could have been avoided entirely if he had bought a $20 day licence before he went out. It's that simple,'' Mr Hadland said.

shawn.mcavinue@odt.co.nz

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