More enforcement needed...
Brendan writes:
I try to fish as often as I can, maybe once ever 2-3 weeks. In the last year of fishing I have never seen a fisheries/parks officer, nor have I been asked to show my permit. I generally fish in pretty popular places. It is no wonder there are so many bastards doing the wrong thing the chances of them getting caught is 0.
      The amount of times I have seen guys with 4 or so rods hanging off a pier or of guys pulling sardine sized fish and keeping them all I couldn't count if I tried. Forget dad and the kids on holidays without a license, they don't catch anything anyhow, go after the buggers who go out every weekend, take everything, then mash everything up for fish patties.
      The only way to stop these buggers is to catch them every time they put a line in the water. Most anglers are happy to part with the brass to buy a license, as long as it goes back into fishing; especially catching these people. I have heard recently that so many million are going to be spent to police the new no fishing zones, what about the areas that are already being "fished" to death, that is if taking everything could be called fishing.
(30 May 2001)

How can we increase enforcement?
Brendan writes:
I have previously enter my 2c worth so I won't vent my frustration again. Next time I see people taking undersized fish I will report them. However why the hell should it be left up to resposible anglers to report such behaviour? I haven't in the past 10 months seen an inspector. The Government and the responsible authorities must know that a visible presence is the most effective deterent. If this is so why the hell are they never around? What can we do to address this problem? I would happily lose 5 minutes fishing to show my licence and fish caught if it meant that these buggers were caught, fined and dealt with in the harshest manner possible. Can we write to a minister or get somebody behind us? Every responsible angler would happily support such enforcment techniques. How can we make it happen?
(6 June 2001)

John C replies:
In answer to Brendan, perhaps a digital camera shot of the relevant mongrels and some detail in the shot with the date stamp on and send to the NRE via an email might be a solution. The number of inspectors that I've seen in the last ten years in the East Gippsland region is nil whilst fishing. Regards, johnc.
(21 June 2001)


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