A fisherman was fined $727 this weekend for catching and stashing 29 fish in his car's trunk at St. Andrews Lock and Dam, in Lockport, Man.

The limit of saugers the man was licensed to take was four, and conservation officers found those, plus his 25 surplus fish stashed in the car's spare tire wheel well, and various other nooks in the trunk.

The two officers found the majority of the surplus fish in the spare tire wheel well in the vehicle's trunk. (Natural Resource Officers Association) The two Natural Resource officers were conducting regular inspections at the dam when they stopped a man carrying a cooler full of fish back to his car, they then proceeded to search his vehicle.

All 29 fish were seized from the man. Confiscated fish are typically donated to those in need, shelters and soup kitchens for example, said Chad Moir, president of the Natural Resource Officers Association.

Too common a problem

"Unfortunately it's all too common. With the amount of fish that there are at the dam, it makes people think they can get away with it sometimes, or the greed just takes over," Moir said.

Of roughly 30 anglers inspected on Saturday, 10 were charged, Moir said.

Another one of those charged Saturday had 14 goldeyes over the limit hidden in his vehicle.

While one or two cases of overfishing doesn't have a huge impact, there is a compound effect and it can be devastating, Moir told CBC News.

Those observing resource-related violations are encouraged to call the Turn In Poachers (TIP) line at 1(800)782-0076.