Two men have been fined more than $5000 on cross line related offences in the Balranald Local Court on 5 March.

The court was told that NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Fisheries Officers located cross (set) lines with multiple baited hooks in the Murray River near Boundary Bend on 15 February 2006.

Four Fisheries Officers set up surveillance and apprehended the two men on 16 February 2006 when they checked their lines.

The Fisheries Officers seized three cross lines which were set with a total of 56 hooks plus two Murray cod.

One of the men, a 44 year old from Wemen was charged with use of cross lines when unauthorised; possessing Murray cod illegally taken; possessing prohibited size Murray cod; and failure to comply with the requirement to produce his fishing licence.

The other man, a 30 year old from Bendigo, was charged with use of cross lines when unauthorised; and possessing Murray cod illegally taken.

The maximum fine for use of cross lines when unauthorised is $11,000. The maximum fine for possessing Murray cod illegally taken; and possessing prohibited size Murray cod is $11,000 and/or three months imprisonment for each offence.

Failure to comply with the requirement to produce a fishing licence carries a maximum fine of $2750.

NSW DPI Supervising Fisheries Officer Peter Tilbrook said the illegal use of cross or set lines with multiple baited hooks exerted excessive fishing pressure on fish populations and they were indiscriminate in what fish and other animals they catch.

"NSW DPI regards offences involving the use of multiple hook set lines as very serious," he said.

The legal minimum size for Murray cod is 55cm. This will increase to 60cm on 1 December 2008. All set lines are banned in NSW inland waters.

Information on freshwater fishing rules can be found in the DPI freshwater fishing summary and guide available from NSW DPI Fisheries offices, most places where NSW recreational fishing licences are sold, and the NSW DPI website at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/recreational/freshwater-fishing

Media contact: Sarah Chester (02) 6036 2110 or 0417 207 669