ANGLERS seeking a bank holiday catch risk being snared themselves if they fail to pay for a rod licence, warn licensing chiefs.

A crime team will be hunting anglers fishing without a rod licence in Worcester this weekend as the Environment Agency's Environmental Crime Team swoops on popular fishing spots. Water bailiffs will also be patrolling elsewhere in the Midlands if anglers try to escape the patrols in Worcester by going further afield, warn EA bosses.

Fishing inland waters without a rod licence is a criminal offence and, if caught, anglers face a fine of up to £2,500.

The money paid for a rod licence is invested in promoting the future of angling by breeding fish to re-stock waters that have suffered from pollution, rescue fish that would otherwise die, check fish movements to prevent the spread of disease and provide facilities for disabled anglers.

Team Leader Al Watson said: "Anglers who try to beat the system by not buying a rod licence are cheats. They take unfair advantage of improvements funded by their honest colleagues without contributing a penny themselves."

Anyone aged 12 years or over who fishes for salmon, trout, freshwater fish or eels in England and Wales is required by law to have an Environment Agency Rod Fishing Licence.