Fisheries Victoria nabs Seymour man's boat for illegal fishing

by The Department of Primary Industries on 30 Nov 2012 Fisheries Victoria officers confiscated a boat of a Seymour fisher for violating several rules on the recreational catch of dusky flathead, the Department of Primary Industries reported Friday.

A Seymour man has been interviewed by fisheries officers in relation to multiple alleged fisheries offences and had his boat seized after Fisheries Victoria officers inspected his catch at Mallacoota late last month.

On November 21 fisheries officers allegedly saw the man, who is a regular visitor to Mallacoota, filleting fish in the Mallacoota Inlet before returning to the boat ramp.

On inspection, the man allegedly presented five whole dusky flathead and five whole bream.

One of the whole dusky flathead was allegedly below the recently-amended minimum size of 30 cm.

A search of his vessel allegedly revealed a plastic bag of concealed fish fillets, which included 32 dusky flathead filleted fish pieces and 12 bream fillets hidden inside a lunch box.

The man will face charges including taking fish below the minimum size, exceeding the catch limit, and landing fish not in whole or carcass form.

Fisheries officers seized the man’s 4.85 m Savage scorpion sports pro boat and his fishing equipment.

Fishers targeting dusky flathead are reminded the size limit has recently changed to a minimum size of 30 cm and a maximum size of 55 cm. The daily catch limit of five fish remains the same.

Members of the public who suspect illegal fishing activity can make a report to the Fisheries reporting line on 13 FISH (13 3474).