Two Tauranga man have been fined $1500 each for taking too many - and undersize - paua.

James Grant and and Marsh Pearson claimed they were unaware of the regulations relating to size and daily limit of paua.

They had gathered 100 paua between them, all under size, from near the entrance of Tauranga Harbour.

The daily limit is 10 per person

The Ministry of Primary Industries compliance manager Brendon Mikkelsen says ignorance of the rules is not a defence in fishing offences.

He says it's a fisher’s obligation to know the rules for the area they are fishing.