Illegal fishermen have been caught hook, line, and sinker by police officers patrolling the River Darent.

Officers have been able to reel in two perpetrators recently to deal with the law-breaking anglers.

Members of Kent Police’s Rural Liaison Team investigated a fishy teenager on the river in Eynsford on March 28.

The 18-year-old was illegally fishing on a private stretch of river that regularly suffers from law-breaking anglers.

The river in this area is only for use of the members of the Darent Valley Trout Fishers.

The man was not a member and was reported for fishing in the close season and fishing without a rod licence.

It’s not just unauthorised fishers that are being caught in these patrols. Sometimes the lure of fishing catches people wanted for other issues.

On April 1, officers went to Brooklands Fishing Lakes in Dartford and while investigating the people who were there, found a 35-year-old man who had failed to attend court in relation to another matter.

The man was arrested on the spot and dealt with by the courts.

Sergeant Marc Pennicott, from the Rural Liaison Team, said: “Whilst most people who are fishing do so legally, a small minority chose not to do so and are often committing other offences as demonstrated by this arrest.

“Everyone aged 12 and over who are coarse fishing must hold a valid rod licence issued by the Environment Agency. The maximum fine for not having a rod licence is £2,500.

“It’s also important to ensure that people are not fishing on rivers during the close season as this is an important time to allow fish to breed successfully.

“People must also ensure they have permission to fish on private stretches of river as they may be committing an offence of the Theft of Fishing Rights and as well as being prosecuted and having fishing equipment seized.”