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.