Russell Pounder sentenced in Forster for abusing fisheries officer at Tuncurry

A fisherman’s catch of the day turned into a court appearance after he lashed out at an undercover compliance officer, calling him a “piece of dog s--t” at a Mid-North Coast boat ramp.

Forster police station in the foreground with the courthouse and the lake behind.

A recreational fisherman lashed out at an undercover compliance officer at a Mid-North Coast boat ramp calling him a “piece of dog s**t” when he asked to check his catch, it was heard in court.

Russell Pounder pleaded guilty to two charges of abusing a fisheries officer and appeared in Forster Local Court for sentencing on Wednesday.

The 76-year-old from Kurri Kurri has been visiting and fishing in the Forster Tuncurry area for 40 years, staying at his on site van, it was heard in court.

Pounder and the fisheries officer in question are known to each other from previous interactions, and he had been fined for fisheries offences in the past his lawyer told the court.

“He was frustrated given the history they had,” the lawyer said.

Russell Pounder leaves Forster Local Court on October 16, 2024.

According to court documents, a plain clothed fisheries officer was conducting compliance checks at the Point Road boat ramp at Tuncurry about 4.30pm in an unmarked vehicle when he approached Pounder who was reversing his 4WD and trailer into Wallis Lake next to his small vessel.

The officer told him he was going to conduct a search of his boat when Pounder replied: “I’m not dealing with you, you’ve cost me a lot of money” prompting him to warn Pounder that it is an offence to abuse a fisheries officer.

Following the warning he lashed out again saying “you’re a piece of dog s--t” then “you’re an a--hole”.

When the officer searched Pounder’s boat he found his catch was compliant.

During sentencing Magistrate Brian John van Zuylen told Pounder to watch his temper, adding “the rules are to ensure there are enough fish so people like you can keep fishing”.

He was fined a total of $1000 ($500 for each offence) and to pay costs of $1000.

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