Broads piker hit with large trespassing fine
A pike angler has been hit with a whopping £641 fine for trespassing on a Norfolk Broad.
Peter Regan (69) was discovered fishing from a boat on Horsey Mere in a joint operation between the Norfolk Police Broads Beat team and the Environment Agency.
PC Paul Bassham, said:
“We hope that this result deters anyone who involves themselves in illegal fishing. It shows that we will take the relevant action, and those responsible will be held to account.”
An angler was fined a whopping £641 for fishing on a Norfolk Broad illegally
EA backs down over Broads barriers
THE BATTLE to stop fish barriers being placed around an important bream spawning site on the Norfolk Broads took an important twist this week after the Environment Agency admitted to ignoring suggestions made by its own fisheries team about the dangers of such barriers.
Earlier this year the EA granted Natural England a permit to block off Hoveton Great Broad in order to ‘combat turbidity and promote better weed growth’.
The Angling Trust and Broads Angling Services Group challenged the EA’s plans and, following a judicial review, it looks likely that the permit will be removed, as Fish Legal solicitor Justin Neal revealed. He said:
“The EA Fisheries team warned the higher powers at the Agency of the impact these barriers could have, but none of this information was made available to the public. The EA has admitted to failing to properly consult on the application, and it now looks likely that the court will approve an order to quash the permit.”
Hoveton Great Broad would have been blocked off
"I reckon this pike will be a future British record" - John Goble
“For years I’d wanted to improve my Norfolk Broads pike best of 35lb 10oz and after hearing of a few thirties caught recently I knew I had a chance.
“My mate and I set up in a likely spot and I decided to fish with two rigs – one with a roach livebait and the other with a free-lined section of lamprey.
“After half-an-hour I hadn’t had a bite but I accidentally backed into the rear rest holding up my lamprey rod, which ultimately moved the bait out of position.
“Before reeling in I twitched it a couple of times and then WHACK! Pike on!
“I backwind all my fish but this one kept the handle spinning, and coupled with the bend it imparted in the rod I knew it was a monster.
“When It surfaced I shouted ‘oh my god’ before my mate netted it first time – it was a proper magical moment!
“It was so long! I didn’t realise how big it was.
“My mate said: ‘You’ll never believe it… it’s 38lb 2oz and 49 inches long!’
“I’m 75-years-old and not in the best of health so I’m super elated to have caught this pike.”
