Individual Fined and Suspended from Fishing for Illegal Angling Practices

An individual from Northern Ontario has been fined $4,500 for the following fishing violations:

Paul Hirtle of Thunder Bay was convicted of unlawfully fishing within 23 metres downstream of a dam, unlawfully fishing for rainbow trout by means other than angling and making false statements to a conservation officer. He was fined $4,500 and is suspended from fishing in Ontario for five years.

The Ontario Court of Justice heard that on May 1, 2025, conservation officers responded to a public complaint about unlawful rainbow trout fishing in Ishkibbible Creek, in the Municipality of Shuniah.

During the investigation, conservation officers stopped Hirtle on Highway 11/17 near Thunder Bay. The investigation determined that Hirtle had been using a dip net to catch rainbow trout within 23 metres downstream of a dam. Throughout the investigation, Hirtle made false statements to the officers regarding his fishing activities.

Justice of the Peace J. A. Bernard Caron head the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Thunder Bay, on June 10, 2026.

To report a natural resource problem or provide information about an unsolved case, members of the public can call the ministry TIPS line toll free at 1-877-847-7667. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS. For more information about unsolved cases, please visit ontario.ca/MNRTips.