 TagTimes
February 2018
Welcome to the latest edition of Tag Times,
This newsletter has the latest information on interesting recapture movements of tagged fish. If you don't want to receive this information please click unsubscribe at the bottom of the email.
First Marlin Recapture of 2018!
The first billfish recapture was reported on New Years Day by Daniel Hatfield fishing aboard Sparx off South Stradbroke Island, QLD. Daniel hooked the black marlin at 10am and noticed the tag as they brought the fish close to the boat. The fish was initially released by Sharon Poulter on Cairns Bluewater GFC boat Think Big (who was lucky enough to recapture a black marlin on Oyster Reef, QLD, that she had let go 17 days earlier last September). Sharon had tagged Daniel’s marlin 142 days prior off Pixie Reef, QLD, almost 800 nautical miles from where it was recaptured! The marlin had grown from an estimated 125cm to 150cm in length and 10kg in weight to approximately 25kg. Congratulations Daniel on the first billfish recapture for 2018!
24 Hours at Large
A black marlin tagged and released by Newcastle & Port Stephens GFC boat Rarely In during the Port Macquarie Golden Lure Tournament has been recaptured, approximately 24 hours after it was released. Unfortunately the marlin became tail wrapped during the fight and was in poor condition when it was bought to the boat.The Rarely In crew chose to tag the marlin and revive it boat side prior to releasing it, however its condition was noted as being poor on release. The following day around the same time (12pm) the marlin ate another bait presented by Sydney GFC boat Compton. Compton re-released the marlin for the second time in 24 hours, when it was reported to be in good condition, very close to where it was first tagged.
This recapture highlights the importance of reviving billfish that appear to be exhausted or are struggling to remain upright in the water. A commonly used approach for billfish is to hold the fish firmly by its submerged bill, holding the fish upright, whilst the boat moves forwards at 2–3 knots. This ensures a good flow of water over the fish’s gills. Only release the fish when they are breathing well, can stay upright, and are starting to actively swim. This can take up to 10 to 15 minutes in some cases.
Land Based Recapture and Release
A yellowtail kingfish tagged by Top Ender off Jervis Bay, NSW, during the winter of 2017 has been recaptured by keen land based angler Harry Hariyanto. Harry caught the tagged kingfish while casting a stickbait off the rocks of Jervis Bay. After a tough battle and a few great photos the kingfish was re-released in excellent condition to fight another day. The kingfish was caught close to its initial release location and had grown six centimetres from 110cm to 116cm during its 165 days at liberty.
It is interesting to note that another kingfish released by Top Ender during the same fishing session in winter 2017 was re captured in Sydney Harbour in October 2017!
South Australia to Sydney Again...
Yet another big kingfish tagged in South Australia has been recaptured in NSW! This time by keen spear fisherman Justin Ewan. Justin speared the 154cm, 25kg, kingfish whilst diving off the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney on 22 December 2017. The kingfish was originally tagged by Scott Lihou aboard Legend on 2 November 2013 and was measured at 143cm with an estimated weight of 32kg. The giant kingfish was recaptured 791 nautical miles (straight line) from its original release location and had been at liberty for 1,511 days.
Ambition's Blue Marlin
A blue marlin tagged during the 2017 Interclub Tournament off Port Stephens in February 2017 has recently been recaptured off Southern Queensland. Popular Sydney Charter boat Ambition released the estimated 120kg lure caught blue whilst fishing wide, off Port Stephens and released it in excellent condition after a quick ten minute fight. 250 days later and 296 nautical miles north, the marlin was recaptured by Peter Iliuk aboard Subpoenaed, whilst fishing the Gold Coast Kink. There was little change in weight recorded but it was the angler’s first ever blue marlin and was a lively fish released again in excellent condition.
Blue marlin have the lowest recapture rate of the three marlin species tagged under the Program, this is likely to be because they’re highly migratory and spend significant time away from fishing pressure way offshore. Of the 10,500 blue marlin released since the program’s beginnings in 1973, only 35 have been recaptured, with the first recapture reported in 1996.
New Certificates
We have new certificates for those lucky anglers who happen to catch a tagged fish!
If you do happen to catch a tagged fish be sure to report the details to NSW DPI as soon as possible by sending an email to gamefish.tagging@dpi.nsw.gov.au or by filling in an online recapture form. The Program also has an updated tagging brochure, be sure to let us know if you or your club would like some by calling (02) 4424 7423 or emailing gamefish.tagging@dpi.nsw.gov.au.
T-Shirt Competition
This is another reminder to get your images in for the next competition which will run until the end of February, 2018. Email your photos of correctly tagged game fish species to gamefish.tagging@dpi.nsw.gov.au. Please let us know if you are happy for us to share your photo in this newsletter or on the NSW DPI Fisheries Facebook page.
Returning Tag Cards
The 2018 summer game fishing season is in full swing with good numbers of black, blue and striped marlin getting tagged along the East and West Coasts.
This is a great time to remind everyone to return their tag cards to their local gamefishing club or back to the Tagging Program. We are still awaiting the original release information for many species from past seasons. Please have a look around and send back your completed cards, even if they are several years old as they may still match up with recaptured fish that we have on the database. Also, please keep us updated with fish that you saw were tagged but were unable to retrieve the tag from. It is still useful to log this information so that we can get a better overall estimate on the number of recaptures that are taking place.
Subscribe and share
Please share Tag Times with your friends who are interested in receiving Program updates and be sure to subscribe if you haven't already! Also, remember to send your photos of recently tagged game fish species to gamefish.tagging@dpi.nsw.gov.au to be in the running for the next t-shirt competition.
The NSW DPI Game Fish Tagging Program issues tags free of charge and works in close association with the NSW Game Fishing Assoc, the Game Fishing Assoc of Aust and the ANSA (NSW Branch). The program is run using funds from the NSW Recreational Fishing Trust. Over 455,000 fish have been tagged under the program so far. If you would like to get involved in the program please phone (02) 4424 7423 or email gamefish.tagging@dpi.nsw.gov.au.
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