NEARLY one hundred anglers from the North West were caught fishing illegally on the region's waterways.

Now the Environment Agency is carrying out a second rod licence checking blitz in the county over the weekend in an effort to crackdown on dodgers.

The agency checked 1,500 anglers' licences on the May Bank Holiday weekend and 93 were unable to produce one and now face a possible £2,500 fine and a criminal record.

The second check will coincide with the start of the new coarse fishing season and this approach has reduced the number of rod licence evasions for three years running.

Mr Mark Diamond, the Environment Agency's North West Regional Fisheries manager, said: 'Every single penny that the Agency receives from rod licence income is spent on fisheries work - that's why its so important that anglers buy a licence.

"Our aim is to persuade all anglers to buy a fishing licence and make their contribution to improve their fisheries."

An unannounced licence checking blitz will also take place later in the year.

An angler aged 12 or over fishing for salmon, sea-trout or freshwater fish faces a fine of up to £2,500 and a criminal record if caught without an Environment Agency rod licence.

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