A group of fishermen have been caught with nearly five times the legal limit of snapper on the Firth of Thames.
Photo: Rafael Ben-Ari/Chameleons Eye/ 123rf
The three men were apprehended by four Ministry for Primary Industries fishery officers on board the patrol boat Kaitiaki II near Kawakawa Bay on Wednesday.
The men were moored inside a mussel farm and had 99 snapper in their possession.
One was undersize, and officers also found one undersize kingfish in their catch.
The daily limit is seven snapper per person.
MPI said the men were likely to face prosecution and have had their boat seized.
MPI fish compliance district team leader Glen Blackwell said it was a large amount of snapper and the rules were there for a reason.
"To ensure sustainability of the fishing resources so that everyone can have the opportunity to put kaimoana on the table.
"These fishers had far more than their daily share."