Fish and Game Otago is not buying a line of ignorance from overseas tourists trout fishing without a licence as it battles through one of its busiest seasons yet.
Operations manager Ian Hadland said nine overseas visitors faced prosecution for breaking the region's fishing rules this summer, mainly for fishing without licences.
They were predominantly caught in the busy tourist areas of Wanaka, Lake Hawea and Wakatipu.
"Some people are saying they're pretty naive about the rules,'' Mr Hadland said.
"I don't necessarily buy that because, just about everywhere else in the world, you need a licence for freshwater fisheries, so it's not uncommon, especially in the countries they're coming from, such as Australia, England and Ireland.''
German tourists had been the other common offenders, Mr Hadland said.
Three had pleaded ignorance about the need for a licence when caught fishing on the Upper Clutha River.
"They're the major groups - for sure.''
All offenders brought their own fishing equipment to New Zealand, he said. Some had already paid their fines.
The organisation was making no apologies for its hard line on people breaking the rules and enforcing $500 fines on the spot, the same fine local anglers got for the offence, Mr Hadland said.
