Pulling a fishing boat at night on a trailer with no lights led to trouble for four men in a pickup truck.
The truck was travelling in the Mill Bay area about 10 p.m. Sept. 7 when an officer from South Island Traffic Services pulled it over for the light infraction.
The officer then determined that the trailer didn’t have brakes — something required for a boat the size of the one being towed.
As the officer looked over the truck, a distinct odour of fish was detected coming from the back of the vehicle.
Two large coolers were immediately located and found to be holding a quanity of rockfish well over the possession limit, and undersized and illegal ling cod. Further searching turned up four more coolers of fish.
Overall, 71 China rockfish, which have a limit of one per day per person, were seized.
Also found were 27 canary rockfish, two black rockfish and two vermilion rockfish — all with a limit of three per day per person.
Ling cod, sculpin and flounder were seized, as well.
Department of Fisheries and Oceans staff and the RCMP combined on the case.
Four B.C. residents are under investigation.
“It is these types of flagrant violations that undermine our coastal fisheries that are enjoyed by so many law-abiding and conscientious members of the sport-fishing community on our Island,” RCMP said in a statement.
The incident follows a September report from the Nootka Sound RCMP about the seizure of a 30-foot vessel, along with gear and equipment, after a report about overfishing led to the seizure of 26 chinook salmon.
Also found were 10 bags of salmon roe, 18 rockfish fillets and eight ling cod fillets.
Police said that violations of the Fisheries Act were apparent as soon as they located a suspect vehicle.
Three people from outside B.C. have a November court date scheduled in Gold River.
Nootka Sound RCMP detachment commander Sgt. Josh Wiese said at the time that authorities want to send a strong message that violations of fisheries regulations have consequences.
Anyone with information on illegal fishing can call the Fisheries and Oceans Canada record-and-report line at 1-800-465-4336, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or any RCMP detachment.
