Three men from Melbourne found out the hard way that compliance checks can happen any time.
You might think fishing at midnight would make you an unlikely target for fisheries officers, but three men from Melbourne found out the hard way that compliance checks can happen at any time.
The men were targeting red shore crabs just before midnight at Gunnamatta Ocean Beach, a popular surfing spot on the Mornington Peninsula, when officers from the Victorian Fisheries Authority stopped to check that the bag limit of 30 crabs per person was being adhered to.
The VFA allege 467 crabs were found to be in their possession -- more than five times the daily limit. In photos of the haul, multiple buckets and even a backpack are filled with live crabs.
"Red shore crabs play an important role in the intertidal environment, helping to cycle nutrients by consuming decaying organic matter, and serving as food for predators like fish and birds," the department wrote online.
Officers seized all the crabs and returned them to the water alive. The men will be charged on summons and could face fines of up to $4,000 each.
Meanwhile, Fisheries Queensland has warned fishers not to rely on information from AI when it comes to fishing rules.
During a recent vessel inspection with two fishermen, officers found three Spanish mackerel on board. One of the fishermen opened up an AI search on his phone, which incorrectly claimed the boat limit was four.
The actual rule is one Spanish mackerel per person, or two per boat with two or more people on board.
In July, Fisheries Tasmania also warned against listening to AI after Google's AI overview advised it was ok to catch and keep sharks while fishing from the St Helens Wharf.
The wharf is actually a shark refuge area, and any sharks, rays or skates that are caught by accident must be returned to the water immediately.
Both departments recommended fishers to download their state fishing apps to get correct information before casting a line.