A father and a son from Sydney have reeled in more than $16,000 in fines after they were caught illegally fishing near Wollongong.
The pair were hooked by fisheries officers at Lake Illawarra on Valentine's Day in 2016 after they were caught with prohibited size blue swimmer crabs and egg-carrying crabs as well as too many whelks and cockles.
The men, aged 52 and 30, had also not paid the necessary recreational fishing fee, NSW Department of Primary Industries supervising fisheries officer Emma Corfield said in a statement on Thursday.
The duo was charged but failed to face Wollongong Local Court over their crimes in August.
"Both men have since appeared in Wollongong Local Court, where they were issued with fines and costs totalling $16,589.50," Ms Corfield said.
