Lammy was given a written warning for fishing without a licence, an Environment Agency spokesperson said Friday.
As far as breaking the law goes, it was pretty small fry but could have netted him a fine of up to 2500 pounds ($A5,223) for the offence.
Lammy, whose spokesperson described it all as an "administrative oversight," purchased a licence after the fact and reported himself to the agency.
Lammy hosted Vance and his family, who were vacationing in England, at his country estate south of London on August 8.
The two men smiled and laughed as Vance provided what Lammy called Kentucky-style fishing tips.
Apparently, the pointers didn't help Lammy land a fish.
"The one strain on the special relationship is that all of my kids caught fish, but the foreign secretary did not," Vance later said.
The Environment Agency would not comment on whether Vance had a licence, citing data protection rules.
The vice president's spokesperson did not immediately reply to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment.
The agency said it confirmed that Lammy was given a warning because he had publicised it.
In England and Wales, anyone over 13 needs a licence for freshwater fishing, the agency said.
In most cases, inexperienced anglers caught without a permit are given warnings — so in that sense, Lammy apparently had some beginner's luck.
13°C