A Smith’s man has been fined $500 for attempting to take fish from the protected waters around North Rock Beacon.

Fisheries wardens found Michael Mendez, 39, “well within” the 1000 metres protected area surrounding North Rock Beacon on December 14 last year, prosecutor Cindy Clarke told Magistrates’ Court.

After boarding his boat, fisheries wardens saw Mendez had a handline overboard and was attempting to catch fish, but had yet to catch anything.

“I just got here,” Mendez told the wardens when asked why he was fishing.