St Kilda Boat Sales - Hefty fines for exceeding bag limits
2 November 2011
Hefty fines for exceeding bag limits
Three Melbourne men have been fined a total of $6,600 after being caught with twice the legal number of snapper at Mordialloc last May. Moorabbin Magistrates Court heard the men used four fishing rods between them to take 61 snapper, 37 of them undersized. None of the men had a valid recreational fishing licence or other exemption.
The court heard the men from Springvale had launched their boat at Mordialloc boat ramp in the afternoon of May 5 and returned shortly after dark. Fisheries Officers who inspected the vessel found some snapper on display in a white bucket but a further search revealed more snapper were found hidden in the wet well of the boat. Three monofilament mesh nets with a total length of approximately 228 metres were also found on the boat.
The men faced a variety of charges including illegal possession of fish, taking under sized fish and possessing commercial fishing equipment. One was fined $3,000 and the others $1,800 each. Equipment including four fishing rods and commercial fishing nets were seized and forfeited by the Magistrate.
Anybody who sees or suspects illegal fishing activity is urged to call the 24 hour reporting line 13FISH (13 3474)