A huge catch of illegally caught Hauraki Gulf snapper hidden under the floorboards of a recreational boat may see men facing serious fisheries charges.

Ministry for Primary Industries Honorary Fishery Officers and Compliance Officers were conducting inspections of fishing boats at the Kawakawa Bay boat ramp on Anzac Day. MPI Honorary Fishery Officers are trained and uniformed volunteers who assist fulltime Compliance Officers with fisheries inspections.

Honorary Fishery Officers spoke to three fishermen in an aluminium boat, as it returned to the ramp. The three claimed to have only caught 13 snapper and eight kahawai, which they showed to the Honorary Fishery Officers.

On further inspection of the boat officers located a further 221 snapper hidden under the floor boards of that boat.

Of the 234 snapper in total, 114 were found to be undersize.

The boat, trailer and car were seized by MPI Compliance Officers.

The three men, all South Auckland residents, were aged 33, 38 and 39.

The investigation is continuing. They may face charges under the Fisheries Act 1996, with a maximum penalty of up to five years imprisonment or a fine of up to $250,000.

Compliance manager, Michael Simmons says: 'The blatant disregard for both the size and quantity of illegal fish taken places a huge strain on the survival of the snapper fishery. The Officers involved did a great job to detect this offending.”