Fishy story doesn't wash as teens cop convictions

Two Masterton men who mistook trout for eel were convicted in Masterton District Court yesterday.

Tawera Roberts, 18, unemployed, and Sonny Waikawa, 19, a factory hand, pleaded guilty to a charge each of fishing without a license and fishing without authorised equipment, namely a spear.

The pair represented themselves.

Lawyer Louise Elder, on behalf of Wellington Fish & Game, said the men were fishing in the Ruamahanga River about 6pm on January 10.

They were equipped with a mask, snorkel and other diving gear and caught trout.

The ranger photographed the pair with the fish before approaching them to explain the issue.

Waikawa said the pair had gone eeling and mistook the trout for eel.

Ms Elder said they looked "pretty happy" with the fish in the photo.

Judge Thomas Broadmore convicted the men and ordered them to pay a fine of $150, courts costs of $132.89 and solicitors costs of $100 each.

Neither had previously appeared.