Jonathon James Dorante in Gladstone court for drug-driving a vessel

From Stanage Bay to Swain Reefs, police have proven distance is no barrier when it comes to catching boaties doing the wrong thing.

A Queensland Water Police boat on patrol. Photo: Scott Powick Newscorp.

The long arm of the law has stretched about 222km to Swain Reefs, off the Central Queensland coast, to catch a commercial fisherman plying his trade with a drug in his system.

Jonathon James Dorante, 43, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on November 13 to drug-driving a vessel.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Merrilyn Hoskins said on September 29, Yeppoon Water Police officers were conducting patrols at Swain Reefs.

About 12.40pm, they intercepted Dorante driving a commercial fishing dory as it was returning to its primary vessel which was anchored at a reef.

Dorante was drug tested and he returned a positive to cannabis.

The court heard that Dorante had two prior similar offences in the past five years.

Solicitor Bianca Wieland said Dorante had been in the commercial fishing industry for more than 30 years.

She said he used medicinal cannabis for back pain and mental health issues.

“He had used it the night prior,” Ms Wieland said.

Gladstone Courthouse.

Ms Wieland said Dorante had since consulted his doctor about a change of medication.

Magistrate Mary Buchanan fined Dorante $500 and disqualified his licence for three months.

Dorante was not the only fisherman to face court in Central Queensland this month for drug-driving a vessel.

In Yeppoon Magistrates Court on November 23, Grayson Richard Mcdiarmid, 48, pleaded guilty to drug-driving a recreational motorboat.

Police prosecutor Brandon Selic said about 11.45am on October 21, Water Police were patrolling Stanage Bay as part of an operation when they drug tested Mcdiarmid who was in charge of a vessel.

He subsequently returned positives to both cannabis and methamphetamine.

Mcdiarmid told Acting Magistrate Gary Finger that he consumed the meth as he was going to check crab pots.

“It was silly of me, I should never have done it,” Mcdiarmid said.

Mr Finger fined Mcdiarmid $600 and disqualified him from holding a recreational marine vessel licence for two months.