Record marlin recapture
Marlin recaptured after 10 minutes underscores the value of tag and release fishingOn January 30, 2016, the crew aboard Newcastle & Port Stephens GFC boat Billistic caught and tagged an estimated 40kg black marlin while fishing the inshore reefs off Port Stephens.
There is nothing new about that, of course, as Port Stephens and the reefs running north to Seal Rocks are famous hunting grounds for small black marlin.
But after the fight, tag and release, the fired up billfish was not deterred by its first encounter with the expert Billistic crew.
Incredibly, the marlin returned 10 minutes later to eat another bait. The fish was recaptured and was released once again in excellent condition to potentially be re-caught again.
More than 15 black marlin were recaptured during the 2015/16 game fishing season in NSW, but this enthusiastic black clearly takes the the prize for the shortest time at liberty!
For more information on the NSW DPI Game Fish Tagging Program visit the NSW DPI game fish tagging page.
Photo Credit: Image: Ben Doolan; words supplied by NSW Fisheries and NSW DPI.
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