His was not an isolated example of illegal fishing practices along the Macquarie catchment.

Fisheries authorities have vowed to clamp down on the sport “to ensure stocks remain at sustainable levels for present and future generations”.

The Yeoval man faced Wellington Local Court this month after his detection by fisheries officers in 2009.

The man used the illegal fishing equipment in the isolated location of Little River, NSW Department of Primary Industries fisheries compliance director Glenn Tritton said.

“The Yeoval man was in possession of 10 rigged hand lines adjacent to the waters of Little River,” Mr Tritton said.

“Wellington Local Court fined the man $500 and ordered him to pay $2600 in professional costs and a further $79 for court costs.”

Mr Tritton held up the court sentence as a warning to abide by the rules.

But in separate incidents recently patrols showed that anglers had a cavalier attitude.

Fisheries officers dealt out 17 penalty notices ranging from $100 to $500 and three written cautions on June 11 to 13.

“During the long weekend, fisheries officers detected a range of alleged offences including fail to hold a fishing licence, take prohibited size fish, use unattended and excess lines in inland waters,” Mr Tritton said.

“One man was found in possession of one undersize Murray Cod near Dubbo, while two other men were apprehended at separate locations along the Macquarie River each using excess fishing lines.”

The rules were clear and fisheries officers would continue patrols.

“This is a reminder to all recreational fishers that only two attended lines are permitted in general inland waters,” Mr Tritton said.

“Spare lines should not be rigged with hooks or lures attached and should be properly stowed.

“Fishers are also reminded that they must be within 50 metres of their lines and within their line of sight at all times.

“It is important that fishers follow the rules that are in place to reduce the chance of overfishing and to ensure stocks remain at sustainable levels for present and future generations.”

A Dubbo restaurant operator who was allegedly selling fish illegally obtained, including Murray Cod, was detected in a compliance operation earlier this year.

A summary of the freshwater recreational fishing rules are available at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries, and in the 2011 NSW Recreational Freshwater Fishing Guide.