Samples of recorded saltwater fish recaptures
These maps show some of the long distance movements of a sample of tagged species. The lines shown on the map join tag and recapture points and may not represent the actual movement of the fish.
Some interesting recaptures
Billfish
A Blue Marlin was tagged on 27 March 2003 at Norah Head Canyons NSW Australia and recaptured 567 days later 300nm south of Sri Lanka. The total distance between the tag and recapture site was 4216nm.
A Black Marlin was tagged on 18 September 1996 at Townsville QLD Australia and recaptured 7 years and 7 months later on 15 April 2004 at Lindenhafen (Sth of New Britain) PNG. The total distance between the tag site and recapture site was 721 nm NNE.
A Black Marlin was tagged on 3 March 2007 off Port Stephens NSW was recaptured at Buka Island Bougainville PNG only 59 days later. The total distance between tag and recapture points was 1474nm.
A Striped Marlin that was tagged with newly designed tags off Tuross Canyons NSW on 30 March 2003 was recaptured on 20 June 2003 at Cato Island, QLD. The total distance between the tag and recapture site was 834.9nm.
A Sailfish was tagged on 7 October 2000 at Sand Cape Shoal QLD and recaptured 13 days later at Barwon Banks QLD. The total distance between tag and recapture sites was 106nm.
Tuna
An Albacore was tagged on 16 November 2000 at Brush Island NSW, 492 days later on the 23 February 2002 the albacore was recaptured at Hippolyte Rocks Tasmania. The total distance between the tagged site and recapture site was 508nm.
A Yellowfin Tuna was tagged on 20 November 2005 at Browns Mountain off Sydney NSW and recaptured 560 days later at Merimbula Shelf 170nm away. This fish had grown from 10kg to 50kg within this time.
A Yellowfin Tuna was tagged on 10 March 2002 at Eddystone Tasmania and recaptured 107 days later on 25 June 2002 at Bulli, NSW. The total distance between the tagged site and recapture site was 450nm.
A Yellowfin Tuna tagged 9 June 1996 at Bermagui NSW was recaptured 6 years and 1 month later on 27 July 2002 at Beecroft Head, NSW. The total distance between the tagged site and recapture site was 121nm.
Sharks
A Mako shark was tagged on 8 February 2003 at Gerroa NSW was recaptured on the 15 September 2004, 585 days later in the Philippine Sea (Pacific Ocean). The total distance between tag and recapture sites was 2568nm.
A Mako shark was tagged on 6 September 1987 off Port Macquarie NSW and was recaptured off Port Hacking NSW on the 29 August 1999, 4375 days after release. The total distance moved by this fish was 165nm.
A Blue shark was tagged on 12 August 2006 at Eden Shelf NSW and was recaptured 227 days later by a Japanese longliner in the Southwest Pacific Basin (Pacific Ocean) on 27 March 2007. the fish had travelled 1035nm and was released after its recapture.
Other species
A Spanish Mackerel tagged on 6 April 2001 at Abrolhos Islands WA was recaptured 510 days later on 29 August 2002 at North West Cape WA. The total distance between the tagged and recapture site was 445nm.
A Yellowtail Kingfish was tagged on 9 May 2004 at Mowarry Point NSW Australia and recaptured at the same location 1084 days later. This fish had grown from 65cm to 91cm.
A Yellowtail Kingfish was tagged on 19 November 2005 at The Banks off Greenwell Point NSW Australia, was recaptured 536 days later near Clarke Island in Sydney Harbour NSW. The total distance travelled was 60nm.