Hi All,
I have just found out that a prominent carp from one of my local club waters has ended up in a 'puddle' down the road.
The fish in question is a 25lb+ orange linear Koi, that has been in the club water for over 20 years and is easily recognisable.
The puddle it has been illegally moved to is now run by a new 'club', with a 'secret' Facebook page only (wonder why?).
The question is, what can we legally do to get this fish back where it belongs?
I have just found out that a prominent carp from one of my local club waters has ended up in a 'puddle' down the road.
The fish in question is a 25lb+ orange linear Koi, that has been in the club water for over 20 years and is easily recognisable.
The puddle it has been illegally moved to is now run by a new 'club', with a 'secret' Facebook page only (wonder why?).
The question is, what can we legally do to get this fish back where it belongs?
In reply to Post #1
Koi are very distinct in their markings so I would guess any photo evidence of where it was and where it now is could be easily passed on to the police. I'd imagine the EA might want to get involved too regarding transportation of fish between waters...
Koi are very distinct in their markings so I would guess any photo evidence of where it was and where it now is could be easily passed on to the police. I'd imagine the EA might want to get involved too regarding transportation of fish between waters...
In reply to Post #2
The police don't give a **** and won't get involved.The EA might,but I very much doubt it
The police don't give a **** and won't get involved.The EA might,but I very much doubt it
In reply to Post #1
Ea will be your best bet. And police/ just sue them. It'll be easy enough to prove as long as you have pictures of it being caught from your lake and then subsequently from theirs.
The actual theft you won't get anywhere with as you don't know who did it and the fishery will say “we didn't, we didn't know anything about it”
Best case scenario, you get your koi back and they have to kill 5 carp for the health check in order to move it.
Ea will be your best bet. And police/ just sue them. It'll be easy enough to prove as long as you have pictures of it being caught from your lake and then subsequently from theirs.
The actual theft you won't get anywhere with as you don't know who did it and the fishery will say “we didn't, we didn't know anything about it”
Best case scenario, you get your koi back and they have to kill 5 carp for the health check in order to move it.
I can't understand why any brain dead moron would steal a fish that is so easy to identify 
In reply to Post #5
I think you covered it with 'brain dead moron' ...
I think you covered it with 'brain dead moron' ...
In reply to Post #1
Find out who owns the puddle, shouldn't be too difficult, pay them a visit to discuss the situation but keep calm and don't make threats. Could be a member of your water is also a puddle member as obviously someone had to catch and move it without being seen.
Find out who owns the puddle, shouldn't be too difficult, pay them a visit to discuss the situation but keep calm and don't make threats. Could be a member of your water is also a puddle member as obviously someone had to catch and move it without being seen.
In reply to Post #1
Lots of private lakes don't allow publicity , so a secret fb page is pretty normal
Fish theft isn't acceptable
Adding fish to a lake would usually lead to ban , with bio security etc
I wouldn't approach the puddle owners , you may get yourself into trouble
I'd gather as much evidence as possible, and take it to the police
If this dosnt work then maybe contact them via email with your evidence
and see where this take you
Lots of private lakes don't allow publicity , so a secret fb page is pretty normal
Fish theft isn't acceptable
Adding fish to a lake would usually lead to ban , with bio security etc
I wouldn't approach the puddle owners , you may get yourself into trouble
I'd gather as much evidence as possible, and take it to the police
If this dosnt work then maybe contact them via email with your evidence
and see where this take you
In reply to Post #8
Must be quite difficult this surely as can anyone prove ownership? If a big expensive car parks outside my house every day and night for years it don't mean I own it........
Must be quite difficult this surely as can anyone prove ownership? If a big expensive car parks outside my house every day and night for years it don't mean I own it........
In reply to Post #1
If the club has insurance through the AT then get Fish legal involved. If you can show it's in there via pics and the new club won't play ball, they should be able to assist
If the club has insurance through the AT then get Fish legal involved. If you can show it's in there via pics and the new club won't play ball, they should be able to assist
In reply to Post #1
spoke to an ea bailiff years ago whilst having licence checked about fish on the lake i used to fish going in the day ticket lake next door ,his reply was unless you have it on film they dont want to know
spoke to an ea bailiff years ago whilst having licence checked about fish on the lake i used to fish going in the day ticket lake next door ,his reply was unless you have it on film they dont want to know
In reply to Post #1
Go do a few "guest sessions" on the puddle and borrow it back
Go do a few "guest sessions" on the puddle and borrow it back
In reply to Post #12
If you can prove that the carp originally lived in lake A, with photographic evidence and a statement from the owners, and the same proof of it being moved to the other lake without Consent to move fish then the EA will be very interested! I'm sure there was a case in Cambridgeshire where the fish were returned and people were fined!
If you can prove that the carp originally lived in lake A, with photographic evidence and a statement from the owners, and the same proof of it being moved to the other lake without Consent to move fish then the EA will be very interested! I'm sure there was a case in Cambridgeshire where the fish were returned and people were fined!
Thanks for the replies guys.
The club are following this through, after a bit more investigation and evidence gathering.
The club are following this through, after a bit more investigation and evidence gathering.
In reply to Post #1
Of all things to steal why an orange ornamental?!?!?!
Of all things to steal why an orange ornamental?!?!?!
In reply to Post #15
They've probably pinched other fish, but the orange ornamental is the most easily recognisable
They've probably pinched other fish, but the orange ornamental is the most easily recognisable
In reply to Post #16
The danger is always bringing it back - if successful.
Do you want to risk bringing in a Cat 2 or KHV etc for one fish and wipe out 80% of your existing stock?
All my fish are microchipped for this reason = provides proof of ownership at a point in time.
The danger is always bringing it back - if successful.
Do you want to risk bringing in a Cat 2 or KHV etc for one fish and wipe out 80% of your existing stock?
All my fish are microchipped for this reason = provides proof of ownership at a point in time.
In reply to Post #17
Agree but after the authorities are finished with them
Public shaming is also rewarding 👍🏻😂
Agree but after the authorities are finished with them
Public shaming is also rewarding 👍🏻😂
In reply to Post #15
Yes thay usually nick 20 lb commons
Yes thay usually nick 20 lb commons
In reply to Post #1
Several carp were stolen from an Essex club water I was fishing - then by complete chance I was chatting to some random fella on another water 2 years down the line - he starts telling me about this little Essex estate lake he's fishing (syndicate) and then shows me some of the fish he'd had, as you do... feck me sideways, three of his fish were the stolen carp from the club lake. The waters are approx. 4 miles apart. I was fuming and immediately called the club chairman to tell him where his missing fish were... he contacted the Police, didn't want to know. He ended up going to the new owner of the lake, but of course he wouldn't even talk to him. I can't say what happened after that, but it got messy. I have no doubt someone will read this and know exactly where this estate lake is and has probably a good idea of who's involved. Very sad how some people stoop so low just to stock their water on the cheap and then charge a small fortune to fish it.
Several carp were stolen from an Essex club water I was fishing - then by complete chance I was chatting to some random fella on another water 2 years down the line - he starts telling me about this little Essex estate lake he's fishing (syndicate) and then shows me some of the fish he'd had, as you do... feck me sideways, three of his fish were the stolen carp from the club lake. The waters are approx. 4 miles apart. I was fuming and immediately called the club chairman to tell him where his missing fish were... he contacted the Police, didn't want to know. He ended up going to the new owner of the lake, but of course he wouldn't even talk to him. I can't say what happened after that, but it got messy. I have no doubt someone will read this and know exactly where this estate lake is and has probably a good idea of who's involved. Very sad how some people stoop so low just to stock their water on the cheap and then charge a small fortune to fish it.
In reply to Post #15
some people are just plainly thick
some people are just plainly thick
In reply to Post #15
There's a fish near me which was clearly nicked from a council lake across the road, with picture evidence, yet it now has a name and is accepted as one of their own
There's a fish near me which was clearly nicked from a council lake across the road, with picture evidence, yet it now has a name and is accepted as one of their own
In reply to Post #20
I reckon alot of Essex anglers could have a story like that !
I know an ex-policeman, he told me a story how he and some colleagues had two brothers (80's US sitcom
) bang to rights with fish in the back of a van from a watersports lake in between Braintree and Halstead (another ).
There was some loophole that stopped them arresting them, couldn't even force them to put the fish back in the lake, couldn't prove they were from there or something. He was still fuming about it 20 years later.
I reckon alot of Essex anglers could have a story like that !
I know an ex-policeman, he told me a story how he and some colleagues had two brothers (80's US sitcom
) bang to rights with fish in the back of a van from a watersports lake in between Braintree and Halstead (another ).There was some loophole that stopped them arresting them, couldn't even force them to put the fish back in the lake, couldn't prove they were from there or something. He was still fuming about it 20 years later.
In reply to Post #20
Similar situation in Cornwall where fish went walkies from one lake only to turn up in the photo album of a guy fishing a nearby club lake. It's bitter irony that the club water lost fish to another (syndicate) lake nearby!
Similar situation in Cornwall where fish went walkies from one lake only to turn up in the photo album of a guy fishing a nearby club lake. It's bitter irony that the club water lost fish to another (syndicate) lake nearby!
I spent a fair bit of time finding out where fish were going to from the club run sections of the local river. They ended up in various still waters from Snake Pit to waters between Claydon and Bury St. Edmunds. I was able to give the club evidence and information, they did nothing. This was at the time of Dippy the wandering mirror, that had been in at least 3 local waters.
Another couple of local waters had fish removed, one known quite blatantly as the Chantry Park common was in Barham A Pit.
I ended up being threatened by some locals who weren't keen on my investigations.
Another couple of local waters had fish removed, one known quite blatantly as the Chantry Park common was in Barham A Pit.
I ended up being threatened by some locals who weren't keen on my investigations.
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