Fishing’s Worst Bookable Offences: Don’t Break These Rules!

As we saw in the latest Grand Fishing Adventure, some anglers’ actions (Bobby Zamora) warrant them getting a yellow card. But what are the worst “fouls” anglers can make on the bank…

As anglers, we all like to push the limits to gain an advantage, which may even mean stretching the rules. Sometimes, as in the case of Bobby in the latest Underwater Grand Fishing Adventure, these may simply be breaches of gentlemen’s agreements with fishing buddies — but there are far worse offences carried out by anglers regularly that more than warrant that yellow card. No VAR needed!

CASTING IN SOMEONE ELSE’S WATER

Whether by accident or design, fishing into someone else’s swim is a big no-no. It’s often met with either a verbal slanging match across the water or even a bankside punch-up! Avoid this piece of foul fishing play at all costs.

EXCESSIVE NOISE

We can’t all be as quiet as a field mouse on the bank, but some anglers really do take the biscuit when it comes to bankside disturbance. Whether it’s hammering the ground to oblivion with a mallet, thrashing the water to absolute foam with a Spomb, or just shouting so loud the whole world can hear you, noise isn’t great for fishing. The carp will appreciate it, as will your fellow anglers. If you don’t want to end up in the book, tone it down a tad.

SITTING ON TOP OF A FELLOW ANGLER

There’s nothing like the feeling of getting fish feeding in your own quiet bit of fishing real estate, only for some geezer to turn up in the plot next door and start hooning in bait and rods all over the joint. This is made even more infuriating when they could have sat anywhere else on the lake too. On a busy lake, you’ll escape without a booking, but if the lake is empty this is a nailed-on yellow!

BAITING UP WHEN OTHERS ARE FISHING

Pre-baiting is a huge edge on many waters, but it’s not advisable to slam 5kg of bait on a spot when Barry is fishing his only session of the month! To avoid a well-deserved yellow, pick a moment when the lake is quiet to feed your spots. Anglers won’t spot you doing it then either!

POACHING THE OUT OF BOUNDS

Out-of-bounds or unreachable areas are among the most frustrating things you’ll come across in your carp fishing. The fish know 100% these areas are safe and act like totally different animals when they’re in them. If caught fishing these zones, you’ll likely be chucked off the lake by the bailiffs, but even if you do catch (which will be far easier), anglers will treat your success with a much-warranted yellow card. Fish near them, not in them — it’s then a level playing field for everyone. Try to avoid putting too much bait in them too, else those fish will never leave!

CATCHING ALL THE TARGETS AND STAYING ON THE LAKE

We get it — sometimes you just fall in love with a venue and don’t want to leave. But what’s the point in catching the same 40lber five times? If you’ve caught all the target fish over and over again, it is 100% time to move on to a new challenge. There are other anglers waiting for their chance, which you keep taking. 100% this gets you a yellow card!

ROTATING THE BEST SWIM

This is a bit of a controversial one, as it could actually be considered very good angling. But have you ever wondered why you can never get in the going swim on the lake? Quite often it’s because it’s being deliberately rotated by a select few anglers who are coordinating their sessions and working together, giving those not in the know no chance at all. Like we say — good angling in some respects, but also certain refs would be handing you all a card.

PUSHING THE LIMITS WITH TECH

We love technology in fishing; however, it does need to be used responsibly. Powering your bait boat all over the lake like some sort of drag racer is a certain booking, as is flying your drone like an irritating super-sized fly over other anglers’ spots.

BENDING THE RULES

This is another controversial one, as quite often some lake owners are happy for a select few to do a bit of rule-bending, particularly when it comes to baits. If it’s just you fishing and the owner has said you can put a banned zig rig out, or maybe a few maggots, that’s not a big deal. If you’re doing it without the lake owner’s knowledge and on a lake filled with other anglers sticking to the rules, however, that’s got a yellow written all over it!

RED CARD OFFENCES

Whilst our list of yellow cards may be a little playful, these red card fouls are not. Do these and you deserve to go home…

• Leave litter – No excuse for this. Leave the bank in the condition you found it. If there are no bins on site, take your rubbish home.
• Deliberately hurt surrounding wildlife – The lakes we are fishing belong to the wildlife, not us. Birds can be annoying at times stealing bait etc., but you really can’t call yourself an angler if you deliberately cause any harm to them.
• Fail to care for your catch – Fish care is absolutely essential and the number one priority of any angler. There’s so much information out there now on how to handle carp safely, and equipment to help. Carp should be returned in as good condition as you found them, in as quick a time as possible.

So there’s some of the worst offences an angler can make — which, in footy terms, would 100% see them booked for foul play. Stay clear of these mistakes on your next fishing trip!

Journalist Chris Haydon joined the OMC Family in the spring of 2024, after six years working for the UK's number 1 fishing publication, the Angling Times. He is a keen Coarse and Carp Fishing All-rounder, fishing in the South West region, including the famous Cotswold Water Park.