Providing false details, fishing without licence and fishing out of season lands angler in Court

Central South Island Fish & Game have successfully prosecuted an angler who flouted the law while fishing at Loch Cameron near Twizel in October 2025.

The angler was found fishing the day before the season opened for salmon that were released for a Kids’ Salmon Fishing Day.

Blake Thorman of Christchurch appeared in the Timaru District Court on 17^th March and entered a guilty plea to three charges; providing false details, fishing without a sports fishing licence and fishing out of season.

Thorman was known to Fish & Game having previously been issued a warning for fishing outside of the family fishing licence provisions in 2020.

Judge Savage convicted Thorman on all three charges and ordered him to pay a total of $1,500 in fines and costs.

Central South Island Compliance Coordinator Hamish Stevens said, “Hopefully this will prompt people to think twice before fishing without a licence or providing false details to a ranger. It’s especially disappointing that this offender took advantage of fish released for the annual Kids’ Salmon Fishing Day”.

Caption: CSI Ranger assists kids at the 2025 Kids Salmon Fishing Day at Loch Cameron – photo credit Braided Creative