Top 10 tagged game fish in NSW

If you've ever heard the one about the recreational fishers not letting anything get away then consider the good that their leading tagging program does instead.

In operation since 1973, the NSW DPI Game Fish Tagging Program is largest saltwater tagging initiative of its kind in the world.

It is used to obtain information on the biology (distribution, movement, growth, exploitation) of billfish, tunas, sharks and sport fish and encourages game fishers to participate in the management of the fishery.

Since the program started, more than 445,000 fish have been tagged and over 7400 fish recaptured. As for survival rates, well, there have been oodls of great recaptures. Consider the following kingfish (second photo above) event in late 2016...

CAUGHT FOR A THIRD TIME
A yellowtail kingfish tagged and released in Port Hacking just south of Sydney by John Taylforth on October 1, 2015, has recently been reported as recaptured…for the second time.

The 70cm fish was tagged, measured and let go in excellent condition by John only to be recaptured 45 days later in the Hacking by Brendan Findlay who was casting lures from the shore. Brendan estimated the fish at 70cm, let the fish go and reported the recapture to DPI Fisheries.

Then, 396 days on, Andrew Talbot also fishing in The Hacking recaptured the same fish, this time much larger in size. The kingfish measured in at 95.5cm and, after a few photos, was let go in excellent condition with the original tag in place to potentially be recaptured by another lucky angler.

HOW FISH TAGGING WORKS
Tags are issued to anglers and when an angler catches a fish it is tagged and released.

The details of the capture are recorded on a tag card with the corresponding tag number. The card is returned to NSW DPI.

When a tagged fish is recaptured, catch information is linked to the original tag and release and compared to the recapture information. Details of the distance that the fish travelled and its growth are sent to the anglers who first tagged the fish and the anglers who recaptured it. A recapture certificate is also issued.

The tagging data is used by scientists to study the lives and habits of these fish species. The migratory habits of the tagged fish are observed by measuring the distance and direction travelled between tagging and recapture, and this can be linked with environmental factors. Growth patterns are also monitored.

THE 2015-2016 TAGGING WINNERS
NSW DPI has recognised the boats and anglers that have provided exceptional contributions to the program over the past season. These boats and anglers are listed in these tables, with the numbers of fish that they tagged over the season.

To give you some idea, consider these impressive stats. The 2015/2016 game fishing season ending on June 30, 2016, resulted in more than 11,300 fish tagged.

The Top 10 Tagged Fish in NSW in 2015/2016 were as follows:
>> Southern Bluefin Tuna 2924
>> Black Marlin 2023
>> Striped Marlin 1543
>> Blue Marlin 865
>> Sailfish 602
>> Dolphinfish 391
>> Whaler Shark 252
>> Samson Fish 211
>> Mako Shark 208

This article was compiled with assistance from NSW DPI and its Fisheries website. More on the NSW DPI Tagging Program at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/resources/fish-tagging/game-fish-tagging.

Photo Credits: Ben Doolan, 'Tantrum' and Captain Ivan, NSW Fisheries and more.