In reply to Post #1
He's always bought a licence every year since he first went fishing!
Like many of you said he did initially buy X2 2 rod licences until the 3 rod one came out.
It'll depend on their mood at the time i guess, He was very polite, very apologetic and hopefully came across as a genuine mistake...which it was!
He's always bought a licence every year since he first went fishing!
Like many of you said he did initially buy X2 2 rod licences until the 3 rod one came out.
It'll depend on their mood at the time i guess, He was very polite, very apologetic and hopefully came across as a genuine mistake...which it was!
This is the opinion of Chat GPT:
I did research in recent court reporting, government sources and angling-news sites. I did not find a case exactly matching “having a licence for two rods but not for a third rod”—but there is material on unlicensed fishing, prosecutions for multiple rods, and fines under rod licence legislation. Based on that, here is a reasoned estimate plus relevant precedents.
⸻
Legal framework / penalties
• Under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975, fishing with an unlicensed rod or line (or without licence) is an offence.
• The upper statutory fine (magistrates' court) for illegal freshwater fishing (without a licence) can go up to £2,500 in England & Wales. 
• Enforcement cases often also include payment of costs to the Environment Agency and a victim surcharge. 
• In practice, fines tend to be much lower than the statutory maximum for first or relatively minor offences. 
⸻
Precedents & reported cases
Here are some reported cases that shed light on how courts treat licence violations or fishing without licence:
Case / Report Facts or violation Fine / penalty (plus costs/surcharges)
Angler in Suffolk, no licence Court held breach of S. 27(1)(a) for unlicensed fishing Total fine £220 + costs + £88 victim surcharge (total “£443 fine”) 
Northampton cases, “licence dodgers” Fishing illegally, no licence Example: £220 fine + £135 costs + £88 surcharge 
Nottinghamshire anglers Fishing without licence or in closed season Fines of £220 + costs + surcharge in several cases 
Evesham angler (recent) Fishing without licence £220 fine + £135 costs + £88 surcharge 
Angling Trust prosecutions summary Multiple offences: unlicensed fishing, fishing with multiple rods etc. Example: Richard Todd fined £281 for “fishing with multiple rods more than three metres apart” 
Cornwall case Fishing with no licence Fine £40 + £16 victim surcharge 
From Angling Trust's prosecutions page, they list cases where people were fined for “fishing with multiple rods more than three metres apart” as a separate offence, though often alongside unlicensed fishing offences. 
⸻
Likely fine for having a third rod without licence
Given the precedents:
• The court is likely to treat the extra rod (beyond licence) as part of the unlicensed activity (or an aggravating factor).
• If the person already holds a valid licence for two rods, that mitigates somewhat (this is not total non-licence).
• The fine would typically be in the same ballpark as existing illegal fishing fines: £200–£400 (plus costs & surcharge) for a first or mid-level offence.
• The total penalty (fine + costs + victim surcharge) can push it higher: in some reports, “fine” figure is just part of total.
• In more serious or repeated offences, or in aggravating circumstances, courts could push toward the maximum £2,500.
• If the case is minor and the offender shows cooperation, the court may lean lower.
Therefore, a realistic likely fine (just for the fine component) might be £150 to £300. When including costs and surcharge, the total might be £300 to £500 in many cases. In worse cases, it could exceed that.
⸻
I did research in recent court reporting, government sources and angling-news sites. I did not find a case exactly matching “having a licence for two rods but not for a third rod”—but there is material on unlicensed fishing, prosecutions for multiple rods, and fines under rod licence legislation. Based on that, here is a reasoned estimate plus relevant precedents.
⸻
Legal framework / penalties
• Under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975, fishing with an unlicensed rod or line (or without licence) is an offence.
• The upper statutory fine (magistrates' court) for illegal freshwater fishing (without a licence) can go up to £2,500 in England & Wales. 
• Enforcement cases often also include payment of costs to the Environment Agency and a victim surcharge. 
• In practice, fines tend to be much lower than the statutory maximum for first or relatively minor offences. 
⸻
Precedents & reported cases
Here are some reported cases that shed light on how courts treat licence violations or fishing without licence:
Case / Report Facts or violation Fine / penalty (plus costs/surcharges)
Angler in Suffolk, no licence Court held breach of S. 27(1)(a) for unlicensed fishing Total fine £220 + costs + £88 victim surcharge (total “£443 fine”) 
Northampton cases, “licence dodgers” Fishing illegally, no licence Example: £220 fine + £135 costs + £88 surcharge 
Nottinghamshire anglers Fishing without licence or in closed season Fines of £220 + costs + surcharge in several cases 
Evesham angler (recent) Fishing without licence £220 fine + £135 costs + £88 surcharge 
Angling Trust prosecutions summary Multiple offences: unlicensed fishing, fishing with multiple rods etc. Example: Richard Todd fined £281 for “fishing with multiple rods more than three metres apart” 
Cornwall case Fishing with no licence Fine £40 + £16 victim surcharge 
From Angling Trust's prosecutions page, they list cases where people were fined for “fishing with multiple rods more than three metres apart” as a separate offence, though often alongside unlicensed fishing offences. 
⸻
Likely fine for having a third rod without licence
Given the precedents:
• The court is likely to treat the extra rod (beyond licence) as part of the unlicensed activity (or an aggravating factor).
• If the person already holds a valid licence for two rods, that mitigates somewhat (this is not total non-licence).
• The fine would typically be in the same ballpark as existing illegal fishing fines: £200–£400 (plus costs & surcharge) for a first or mid-level offence.
• The total penalty (fine + costs + victim surcharge) can push it higher: in some reports, “fine” figure is just part of total.
• In more serious or repeated offences, or in aggravating circumstances, courts could push toward the maximum £2,500.
• If the case is minor and the offender shows cooperation, the court may lean lower.
Therefore, a realistic likely fine (just for the fine component) might be £150 to £300. When including costs and surcharge, the total might be £300 to £500 in many cases. In worse cases, it could exceed that.
⸻
i got a £70 fine back in 2003 for using 3 rods on a 2 rod licence. pleaded guilty by post to stop going to court, still saved a few quid as for years been using 3 rods but only purchasing a 2 rod licence
Over 20 years ago, i foolishly got caught fishing 2 on a 3 rod license. Pleaded guilty by post, £100 fine.
In reply to Post #1
Having never heard of anyone getting their license checked all of a sudden I've seen 4 mentions in the past month or so. The cynical part of my brain says the government needs the money and realised they can drive some income by checking. Certainly doesn't seem like it's being done to actually improve fishing all of a sudden.
Having never heard of anyone getting their license checked all of a sudden I've seen 4 mentions in the past month or so. The cynical part of my brain says the government needs the money and realised they can drive some income by checking. Certainly doesn't seem like it's being done to actually improve fishing all of a sudden.
Bubba Gump only got a warning.....
https://news.sky.com/story/david-lammy-given-formal-warning-over-lack-of-licence-during-fishing-trip-with-jd-vance-but-will-avoid-fine-13416213
https://news.sky.com/story/david-lammy-given-formal-warning-over-lack-of-licence-during-fishing-trip-with-jd-vance-but-will-avoid-fine-13416213
Just checked mine as I genuinely couldn't remember if I had bought one......... I had, 3 rod as well....phew!
I got caught years ago, early 90's. Hadn't been fishing for a few years and decided to have a dabble on a whim float fishing at a local pond close to where I lived at the time. Dusted the rod and reel down, bought a pint of maggots and off I went. Rod licence didn't even enter my head but as sods law would have it there was an EA bailiff patrolling and he copped me. Got a 7-day producer but that was in the day of hand-written licences and lucky for me a very nice friend who worked in a local tackle shop at the time happened to enter the wrong date in his book as he issued my 7-day ticket....
Only ever got checked once after that which was early 2000's, never been checked since although I have bought a ticket every year!
I got caught years ago, early 90's. Hadn't been fishing for a few years and decided to have a dabble on a whim float fishing at a local pond close to where I lived at the time. Dusted the rod and reel down, bought a pint of maggots and off I went. Rod licence didn't even enter my head but as sods law would have it there was an EA bailiff patrolling and he copped me. Got a 7-day producer but that was in the day of hand-written licences and lucky for me a very nice friend who worked in a local tackle shop at the time happened to enter the wrong date in his book as he issued my 7-day ticket....
Only ever got checked once after that which was early 2000's, never been checked since although I have bought a ticket every year!
He can have a use of mine as I bought a 3 rod in December and have only been once
lol
Year before that I bought a 3 rod and never went
Will I get a rebate on next years ??
lol
Year before that I bought a 3 rod and never went
Will I get a rebate on next years ??
This message has been suppressed by a moderator.
In reply to Post #24
This data is provided periodically by the Environment Agency, and only refers to prosecutions of anglers that were conducted by courts in England in the months stated.
It does not include resolutions by way of cautions, warning letters or advice and guidance letters.
May – July 2025
############ aged 58 of Herne Bay was fined £277 for unlicensed fishing on 5 October 2024 at Loggies Lake, Chilham.
############ aged 33 of Rochester was fined £193 for unlicensed fishing on 3 October 2024 at Elphicks Farm Lakes, Horsmonden.
############ aged 37 of Greenhithe was fined £355 for unlicensed fishing on 9 November 2024 at Monk Lakes, Maidstone.
############ aged 25 of Dartford was fined £355 for unlicensed fishing on 5 October 2024 at Orchard Place Farm, Paddock Wood.
############ aged 30 of Gravesend was fined £223 for unlicensed fishing on 27 September 2024 at Hartley Lands Farm, Cranbrook. He also received no separate penalty and was ordered to pay £70 for leaving a rod and line with its bait or hook in the water unattended.
############aged 35 of Greenhithe was fined £355 for unlicensed fishing on 9 November 2024 at Monk Lakes, Maidstone.
############ aged 52 of London was fined £335 for unlicensed fishing and £735 for removal of eels or shad by rod and line on 3 August 2024 at Porters Lock – River Medway, Tonbridge.
############ 39 of Etchingham was fined £281 Unlicensed Fishing on 15 February 2025 at Elphicks Farm Lakes, Horsmonden.
############ 30 of Maidstone was fined £355 Unlicensed Fishing on 29 March 2025 at Orchard Place Farm, Paddock Wood.
############ 52 of Bexhill-on-Sea was fined £355 Unlicensed Fishing on 09 November 2024 at Monk Lakes, Maidstone.
############ 59 of Snodland was fined £175 Unlicensed Fishing on 07 March 2025 at Monk Lakes, Maidstone
This text was copied and pasted from a recent Facebook post. Might give the OP some idea of a fine he facing. Obviously these people's names and addresses have been made publicl by the EA ( Mods please remove if not appropriate )
Monks lake was where my pal got collared. I said serves you right for fishing for Barbel in a stillwater..
Thought it was best to remove names and addresses Shane
This data is provided periodically by the Environment Agency, and only refers to prosecutions of anglers that were conducted by courts in England in the months stated.
It does not include resolutions by way of cautions, warning letters or advice and guidance letters.
May – July 2025
############ aged 58 of Herne Bay was fined £277 for unlicensed fishing on 5 October 2024 at Loggies Lake, Chilham.
############ aged 33 of Rochester was fined £193 for unlicensed fishing on 3 October 2024 at Elphicks Farm Lakes, Horsmonden.
############ aged 37 of Greenhithe was fined £355 for unlicensed fishing on 9 November 2024 at Monk Lakes, Maidstone.
############ aged 25 of Dartford was fined £355 for unlicensed fishing on 5 October 2024 at Orchard Place Farm, Paddock Wood.
############ aged 30 of Gravesend was fined £223 for unlicensed fishing on 27 September 2024 at Hartley Lands Farm, Cranbrook. He also received no separate penalty and was ordered to pay £70 for leaving a rod and line with its bait or hook in the water unattended.
############aged 35 of Greenhithe was fined £355 for unlicensed fishing on 9 November 2024 at Monk Lakes, Maidstone.
############ aged 52 of London was fined £335 for unlicensed fishing and £735 for removal of eels or shad by rod and line on 3 August 2024 at Porters Lock – River Medway, Tonbridge.
############ 39 of Etchingham was fined £281 Unlicensed Fishing on 15 February 2025 at Elphicks Farm Lakes, Horsmonden.
############ 30 of Maidstone was fined £355 Unlicensed Fishing on 29 March 2025 at Orchard Place Farm, Paddock Wood.
############ 52 of Bexhill-on-Sea was fined £355 Unlicensed Fishing on 09 November 2024 at Monk Lakes, Maidstone.
############ 59 of Snodland was fined £175 Unlicensed Fishing on 07 March 2025 at Monk Lakes, Maidstone
This text was copied and pasted from a recent Facebook post. Might give the OP some idea of a fine he facing. Obviously these people's names and addresses have been made publicl by the EA ( Mods please remove if not appropriate )
Monks lake was where my pal got collared. I said serves you right for fishing for Barbel in a stillwater..
Thought it was best to remove names and addresses Shane
In reply to Post #25
Seems like Kent is the hot bed of no licenses...
Seems like Kent is the hot bed of no licenses...
Can to EA legally gain access to a fenced syndicate? asking for a friend......
In reply to Post #27
Yes. If its registered as a fishery.
Framey. This info was provided by the Kent region of the EA apparently.
But yes your right. Kent does have more than it's fair share of Wronguns
Yes. If its registered as a fishery.
Framey. This info was provided by the Kent region of the EA apparently.
But yes your right. Kent does have more than it's fair share of Wronguns
In reply to Post #28
I read it as a nationwide thing lol
I read it as a nationwide thing lol
Can you upgrade from a 2 to a 3 rod licence?