Three men and one woman all from View Royal have been charged after they were found with buckets of live crabs.
According to Sooke RCMP, an officer was patrolling the area of the Sooke Rotary Pier around 1:15 a.m. on Friday when he noticed lights in the park.
Three men noticed the police officer and tried to run away, throwing crabbing gear into the bushes.
They were found a short distance away.
Police found 125 live crabs with the men and in their vehicle, the wife of one of the suspects was also in the car.
Sooke RCMP say 124 crabs were measured to be undersized and 110 of them were female.
Police officials say crabbing tickets in the Sooke area are common, but not like this.
“This is the most illegal crabs [found] in the last few years at the pier,” Staff Sgt Jeff McArthur told CTV News.
Police officials are reminding people that it is illegal to catch and keep female crabs as well as undersized crabs.
Red Rock Crabs must measure 115 millimetres across the shell in order to be considered full-size and 165 millimetres for Dungeness Crabs.
Four full-size male crabs can be kept at one time.
Three men, one in his 40s and two in their 60s, are charged with various fisheries offences. A 43-year-old woman also faces charges.
The four individuals are scheduled to appear in court on October 13.
Police have confirmed the crabs were returned to the ocean to enjoy the rest of their Canada Day.
