RALEIGH, N.C. — The

North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources

is investigating two of its officials.

The two men could be in trouble if it is discovered they broke some of the department's own fishing rules on the White Oak River in Onslow County.

Mike Kelly, deputy director of the

Division of Environmental Health,

and Wayne Mobley, chief of the

Shellfish Sanitation

section, were caught June 15 by officers from the

North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries

-- another DENR division -- illegally taking summer flounder and red drum.

DENR spokesman Don Reuter said the agency has begun an investigation into the incident.

"We'll take the appropriate action based upon the findings," Reuter said.

The Marine Fisheries officers came across the two state officials fishing around 12:30 a.m. on the White Oak near Swansboro. They were found with 17 flounder, 12 of them under the 14-inch minimum size.

The two men each has paid a fine of $150.