CHRIS BISHOP Shepherd's Port opens on Saturday and tickets will be available on the bank for a few hours to give anyone who fancies joining this superb mixed fishery the chance to sign up and fish, rather than wait for the ticket to arrive in the post.

CHRIS BISHOP

Shepherd's Port opens on Saturday and tickets will be available on the bank for a few hours to give anyone who fancies joining this superb mixed fishery the chance to sign up and fish, rather than wait for the ticket to arrive in the post.

Run by Lynn AA, the complex includes three lakes and part of the system of marsh creeks which stretch north towards Heacham. It normally fishes well from the off - provided the weather's mild.

To fish it you need a special £10 Shepherd's Port permit on top of your Lynn AA book, which this season costs £36. The extra money is ring-fenced to be spent on improvements and stocking at Shepherd's Port.

The lakes are off beach road - turn left off the A149 bypass opposite the old station/antiques shop, continue along beach road to the right-hand bend past the caravan site/social club, Shepherd's Port entrance is signposted off to the left.

Meanwhile thousands who pay for their rod licence by direct debit have not received the documents because of a mix-up, the Environment Agency said yesterday.

The EA said delays at the printers meant the £24.50 replacement licences for the 2007 - 08 season were not sent out before last season's licences expired, on March 31.

That means anglers wishing to fish in the meantime were faced with opting to knowingly go fishing without knowing if they were licensed.

A recorded message at the EA's HQ said they were posted on Monday and customers should receive them by tomorrow.

“If you want to fish now, you can, as long as you have your rod licence number and proof of ID with you,” it added.

Also on the EA front, the Agency is urging anglers to report any incidents of seeing people fishing illegally on West Norfolk's drains and rivers during the close season.

I am assured they will get people out and try to deal with it, but need the information straight away to be able to act.

“If we're alerted we will take action but we need people to contact us when it's happening,” a spokesman said.

All incidents should be reported on the EA's emergency hotline 0800 807060.

Drains and rivers close to roads seem a favourite, having observed groups lure fishing on the Relief Channel and Smeeth Lode over the last few days.