A Te Puke man's been fined $500 plus court costs after he was caught with three times the daily limit of scallops.

James Wilkins, 46, pleaded guilty to the charge of taking more than three times the daily limit when he appeared in the Tauranga District Court this week.

Wilkins was caught on February 4, as a result of a marine patrol by Ministry of Fisheries officers around Motiti Island.

He was caught with 143 scallops, the daily limit is 40.

Wilkins' dive gear, worth around $1000, was forfeited to the Crown as a result of the conviction.