Northern Ont. angler fined for fishing without a licence

MNR conservation officer Ron Arnold talks about a Spanish, Ont. resident being fined for fishing without a licence and failing to produce things for inspection.

Fishing without a licence has netted an angler from Spanish, Ont., a fine in provincial offences court.

Maurice Richard of Spanish pleaded guilty to fishing without a licence and failing to produce things for inspection to a conservation officer.

He was fined $1,230 and his fishing equipment was forfeited to the Crown.

The incident took place Sept. 14, 2024, when a conservation officer was conducting a marine patrol on the North Channel of Lake Huron and stopped Richard in his boat while he was fishing.

Two smallmouth bass

“Despite stating he hadn’t caught any fish, the officer located two smallmouth bass on a stringer attached to the boat,” the Ministry of Natural Resources said in a news release Friday.

“Further investigation revealed that Richard did not have a valid fishing licence. His fish and fishing equipment were seized.”

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Justice of the Peace Kathleen M. Bryant heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice in Elliot Lake on Nov. 13, 2024.

To report a natural resource problem or provide information about an unsolved case, members of the public can call the ministry’s TIPS line toll-free at 1-877-847-7667. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS. For more information about unsolved cases, click here.