EA on the trail of spear fisher Simeon

A self-styled river keeper is under investigation by the Environment Agency after telling a local paper he used a spear gun to try and kill a pike in a Hampshire chalk stream.

Simeon Hay missed when he drew a bead on a fish dubbed the Itchen Monster. But he went back with a lure rod and removed all 14lbs of it from the river.

"I was cutting weeds and this thing scared the living whatsits out of me," he told thisishampshire.net.

PAC members complained to the Environment Agency after the article appeared.

They received the following response: "You are absolutely right regarding the legality of the use of a spear gun to catch, or attempt to catch fish in inland waters.

"We will be taking enforcement action. Thank you again for bringing this issue to our attention."

Click here to read the local paper story.