Offences, offence codes and fines
Here you will find the most common offences in recreational fishing. Each offence lists the related offence code and the fine amount. If no amount is stated, the Public Prosecutor determines the fine.
Note: the offence codes apply only to private individuals. For professional activity, the investigating officer draws up an official report.
Click here (PDF) for a short overview of offences, offence numbers and fines.
Fishing without written permission (permit)
Both professional and recreational fishers need written permission from the rights holder to fish. If you hold the fishing rights yourself, this does not apply. Fishing without that permission is prohibited by Article 21 of the Fisheries Act 1963.
The offence is punishable under Article 1a of the Economic Offences Act (WED). If you issue a Combibon, as a private individual choose the offence code depending on how fishing is done:
- with one or two rods: offence code H 645a;
- with more than two rods: offence code H 645c;
- with one peur (a type of eel rod): offence code H 645b.
If you do have permission but cannot show it, you are not fishing without permission , you do have it. However, you are violating the obligation to present documents on request. See the next section.
Failure to present documents on first request
You must show the required documents to an investigating officer on first request. If you cannot, you breach Article 55, paragraph 1 of the Fisheries Act 1963. The criminalisation is in paragraph 3 of Article 55. If you issue a Combibon, use offence code H 647b.
A fish-friendly solution is to give the angler a short time to still produce the permission.
Violating the conditions of the permission (permit)
If you do not comply with the conditions of your written permission, you are fishing in a way for which you have no permission. Both the Joint List of Dutch Fishing Waters and the Small List of Fishing Waters explicitly state this above the general conditions.
For offence codes and fines when violating conditions, see the section on fishing without written permission.
Violating the eel possession ban
Almost all permits include the condition that eels must be returned immediately to the same water. This also applies to holders of the VISpas, JeugdVISpas and Kleine VISpas. If you still have eels in your possession, you violate the permit conditions. In addition, you breach Article 3.24 of the Nature Conservation Decree in combination with Article 3.38 of the Nature Conservation Act.
Violating the Nature Conservation Act is considered an economic offence under Article 1a(1) of the WED. With intent it is a crime; without intent it is an offence. The penalty is set out in Article 6 of the WED.
Selling fish
As a recreational angler you may not sell or offer for sale fish you have caught. This prohibition is in Article 3 of the Regulations for Inland Fishing 1985. Bringing to market or giving away fish caught with a rod is also not allowed.
This regulation is based on Article 16 of the Fisheries Act 1963. Violating it is punishable under Article 1a(3) of the WED.
For waters listed in the Joint List of Dutch Fishing Waters there are additional conditions. If you violate those, you are fishing without written permission from the rights holder.
Having fishing gear in your possession that you are not allowed to have
If you have extra fishing gear with you that you may not use, that constitutes an offence. Example: you may fish with a maximum of two rods. You are fishing with two rods, but you place a third rod with a hook on the bank. You are not fishing with three rods, but you do have equipment in your possession that may not be used for fishing.
Article 10 of the Regulations for Inland Fishing 1985 prohibits possessing fishing gear if:
- its use in that water at that time is prohibited;
- you are not authorised to fish with it;
- you are not entitled to fish in that water.
If the gear is packaged or made unusable so that immediate use is not possible, the prohibition does not apply. For example, a rod in a case or a rod without a hook.
If you issue a Combibon, choose the appropriate offence code:
- gear prohibited in this water or at this time: H 662a;
- one or two rods without permission for this water: H 662b;
- one peur or more than two rods without permission: H 662c;
- other permitted gear while you are not authorised: H 662d;
- prohibited gear: H 662e (Public Prosecutor sets amount).
Ban on certain bait (April 1 to last Saturday in May)
From 1 April to 31 May inclusive you may not fish in inland waters with slaughter products, a dead fish, a piece of fish or artificial bait larger than 2.5 cm. Artificial flies smaller than 2.5 cm are an exception. This ban ends on the last Saturday in May, except on the IJsselmeer. See Article 6 of the Regulations for Inland Fishing 1985 and Article 61 of the Fisheries Implementation Regulation.
For fisheries legislation, a number of crustaceans and molluscs also count as ‘fish’. During this period you may also not fish with lobsters, crabs, shrimps (including Chinese mitten crab) or cephalopods.
If you issue a Combibon: offence code H 652a.
This ban does not apply to fishing at sea or in coastal waters.
Night fishing
Night fishing is considered to be fishing between two hours after sunset and one hour before sunrise. Since 1 October 2012 you may fish at night year-round in almost all waters. Some waters prohibit night fishing. Those waters are listed below.
If you fish in one of these waters during the prohibited night period, you violate Article 7(2)(a) of the Regulations for Inland Fishing 1985. If you issue a Combibon, use offence code H 656.
If you need a night-fishing permit and cannot show it, you are fishing without the correct permission. See the section on fishing without written permission.
Waters where night fishing is prohibited (selection):
- Het Houtwiel, north of Veenwouden (Fr.)
- Het Rottighe Meente, municipality of Weststellingwerf (Fr.)
- De Deelen (delineated area)
- De Beulakerwijde (incl. Kleine Beulakerwijde)
- The IJsselmeer
- Waters in the Ilperveld (delineated area)
- Area around the Noord-Hollandsch Kanaal and surrounding waters (with exceptions)
- Area around the Zaan and Wijde Wormer
- The Oude Zederik between Ameide and Meerkerk
- The Hooge Boezem of the Nederwaard
- The Hooge Boezem of the Overwaard
- The Nieuwkoopse plassen (with exceptions)
Noise nuisance and nocturnal disturbance
- Noise nuisance for residents: offence code H 205.
- Disturbing night rest by making a commotion: offence code H 200.
Live bait
Since 1 July 2014 the ban on live bait falls under different rules. You still may not fish with a live fish or any other live vertebrate. Many crustaceans and molluscs also count as ‘fish’ under Article 1(2) of the Fisheries Act 1963.
The ban is in Article 1.18 of the Animal Holders Decree and is based on the Animal Act. Violations are punishable under Articles 8.11 and 8.12 of the Animal Act.
If you issue a Combibon, use offence code H 664a (€390) for private individuals.
Minimum sizes for freshwater fish
Minimum sizes apply to certain species. See here which species.
If you catch an undersized fish and do not immediately return it to the same water, you violate Article 2a of the Fisheries Act 1963 in combination with the Minimum Sizes and Closed Seasons Regulations 1985. If you issue a Combibon, choose offence code H 666. The Public Prosecutor determines the fine amount.
Minimum sizes for sea fish
For various marine species minimum sizes apply under Regulation (EC) No. 850/98. Some examples:
- Eel 28 cm*.
- Anchovy 12 cm.
- Cod 35 cm.
- Mackerel 30 cm.
- Sea bass 42 cm.
*Every eel caught with a rod or peur in coastal waters or at sea must be returned alive immediately. You may also not have an eel in your possession while fishing with a rod or peur in coastal waters or at sea. See Article 23a of the Fisheries Implementation Regulation.
In inland waters: if you catch an undersized marine fish and do not keep it, you violate Article 1(3) of the Minimum Sizes and Closed Seasons Regulations 1985. Offence code: H 666 (€140). The Public Prosecutor determines the fine amount.
Coastal waters and sea: for undersized marine fish there is a possession ban under Regulation (EC) No. 850/98. If you issue a Combibon, use offence code H 666. The Public Prosecutor determines the amount.
Filleting undersized fish
Some anglers fillet immediately after catching. If you keep only fillets, you can no longer determine the size. Article 5 of the Minimum Sizes and Closed Seasons Regulations 1985 therefore prohibits possessing fish that have been processed so that size determination is impossible. This article applies to inland waters, coastal waters and sea.
There is no offence code for this. The investigating officer draws up an official report if violated.
Closed seasons for species
Certain species may not be in your possession during specified periods. See here which species and periods. If you catch such a species during a closed season, you must return it immediately to the same water.
For violations in inland waters you breach the Fisheries Act and the Minimum Sizes and Closed Seasons Regulations 1985. If you issue a Combibon: offence code H 668. The Public Prosecutor determines the fine.
Peur ban and eel possession ban due to dioxins
Because of dioxin and other toxins, since 1 April 2011 a ban on fishing with peur and other eel gear applies in various inland waters. You may also not possess eel or Chinese mitten crab in the immediate vicinity of these waters. See Article 28b of the Fisheries Implementation Regulation and Annex 16 of that regulation for the list of waters.
Violating these bans is an economic offence under the WED.
Eel possession ban in September, November
Any eel caught with a rod in September, October or November must be returned alive immediately to the inland water, coastal water or sea. In those months no one may have eels in possession near these waters. See Article 32b of the Fisheries Implementation Regulation.
This is based on Article 3a of the Fisheries Act 1963. Violation is considered an economic offence under the WED.
Eel possession ban based on permit conditions
Almost all written permissions include the condition that eels must be returned immediately. This also applies to the VISpas, JeugdVISpas and Kleine VISpas. If you nevertheless have eels in your possession you violate the permit conditions. That also means you breach the Flora and Fauna Act. The WED regulates punishability and penalties.
Animal cruelty
Article 2.1 of the Animal Act prohibits animal abuse. The investigating officer acts on reported abuses. Examples: a live fish in a plastic bag, a keepnet that is too small or a bucket with too little water.
Articles 8.11 and 8.12 of the Animal Act govern criminalisation and penalties. There is no specific offence code for this fact. The investigating officer draws up an official report.
Example case: the Court of Appeal in Leeuwarden imposed a €250 fine in October 2011 for someone who had a zander (pike-perch) lying alive on the bank (ECLI:NL:GHLEE:2011:BT7283). See www.rechtspraak.nl.
Poaching
Poaching generally means fishing with the aim of illegally removing fish. Poaching can involve various criminal offences. If you suspect poaching, report it to the poaching reporting point.
Permission from the rights holder
Want to fish somewhere but are not the rights holder? Then ask for written permission. If a private individual fishes with professional gear without permission, they violate Article 21 of the Fisheries Act 1963. Since 1 January 2014 there is no offence code for this. The investigating officer draws up an official report.
Fishing with professional gear
Fishing with professional gear by someone not registered as a professional fisher is prohibited by Article 7a of the Regulations for Inland Fishing 1985. You thereby violate Article 16 of the Fisheries Act 1963. The offence falls under Article 1a(3) of the WED.
Closed season for fishing gear
Except for some Zeeland waters, you may not fish with pots, fyke nets, seines or gillnets in April and May. If you do, you breach Article 16(1) of the Fisheries Act 1963 and Article 6 of the Regulations for Inland Fishing 1985.
For use of the gillnet in the closed season there is offence code H 652b. For other gear the investigating officer draws up an official report.
Report poaching to the poaching reporting point:
https://apps.sportvisserijnederland.nl/svnapps/formulieren/?form=stroperijmelding
The Sportvisunie provides this overview so you quickly know which rules and offence codes apply during checks and conflicts. Act according to the rules and show your written permission or VISpas when necessary.