Tagged black marlin recaptures
One black swam from Fraser Island to Jervis Bay where it was caught off the rocksMore than 15 black marlin have been reported recaptured as part of the 2015/16 game fishing season, reports the NSW DPI in its latest edition of Tag Times.
The NSW DPI is still chasing up the original release information on some of these fish, but two interesting recaptures highlight the black marlin movements south along the east coast of Australia during summer.
A black marlin released off Port Stephens by Sydney GFC boat Tantrum on January 24, 2016, has been reported as recaptured by Bermagui BGAC boat Gamechaser while fishing off Tathra, NSW.
The estimated 50kg black marlin traveled a straight line distance of 276nm during its 49 days at liberty and was re-released in excellent condition by the crew on Gamechaser.
LAND-BASED FROM FRASER ISLAND
Land-based anglers have not missed out on the action either, with good numbers of black marlin having been caught off iconic rock ledges such as the Tubes, Jervis Bay.
One black marlin taken off the Tubes was a recaptured fish which was originally released off Fraser Island last November.
Sunshine Coast GFC boat Old Salty Dog originally released the juvenile black marlin of approximately 7kg on November 12, 2015, off Rooney’s Point, Fraser Island. The small fish was released in excellent condition, only to be recaptured 128 days later and 638 nautical miles south, off the Tubes.
The fish was recaptured by keen land-based angler Jason Stanley and after brief tussle the fish was captured in excellent condition and was weighed at 14kg, having roughly doubled in size throughout its journey south.
This is the second land-based billfish recapture to have been reported to the program and is the furthest south a juvenile black marlin of this size has been recaptured in Australia.
TAGGING TIPS
A small number of the recaptures this season were reported as poorly tagged.
Although these fish were not obviously affected by incorrect tagging, the NSW DPI Game Fish Tagging Program would like to remind anglers to avoid tagging very active fish, especially if the fish is jumping at the side of the boat.
Poor tag placement can injure fish or result in the tag being shed. It is better to release the fish without tagging, if accurate tag placement is not possible.
For more information on how to tag game fish visit: How to tag Game Fish.
CREDIT: This article was reprinted from the NSW DPI Game Fish Tagging Program newsletter Tag Times.
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