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Welcome to the latest edition of Tag Times
This newsletter has the latest information on interesting recapture movements of tagged fish under the NSW DPI Game Fish Tagging program. The NSW DPI Game Fish Tagging Program is funded by the NSW Recreational Fishing Trust.
When submitting your completed tag cards please send to PO Box 4291, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 2450. You can contact the us by calling 02 6691 9602 or via email at gamefish.tagging@dpi.nsw.gov.au.
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Season Summary
The 2022/2023 game fishing season begun on 1 July and so far 2,450 tag cards have been submitted. We anticipate that this number will rise as more tag cards are submitted. The top ten species tagged for the season are given in the table below:
| Species |
Number Tagged |
| BLACK MARLIN |
617 |
| YELLOWTAIL KINGFISH |
380 |
| SAILFISH |
262 |
| BLUE MARLIN |
141 |
| SPANISH MACKEREL |
48 |
| BRONZE WHALER |
46 |
| STRIPED MARLIN |
46 |
| MACKEREL TUNA |
43 |
| ALBACORE |
20 |
| SAMSON FISH |
20 |
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NSW DPI would like to thank all those involved in the program. We value the continuing support and ongoing contribution of all anglers, boats and clubs involved.
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Chloe Laurence and son Toby releasing a beautifully coloured South Sydney Striped Marlin
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T-Shirt Competition Winner
We now have fresh Game Fish Tagging Shirts on offer, so if you would like a chance at winning one please be sure to get your images in for the next competition which will run until the end of April 2023. Email your photos of correctly tagged game fish species to gamefish.tagging@dpi.nsw.gov.au to enter. Please let us know if you are happy for us to share your photo in this newsletter or on the DPI Facebook page.
The winner of the previous competition was Kyle Cheeseman who provided this awesome image of a perfectly tagged 85cm kingfish that was caught in Sydney Harbour. Thanks Kyle!
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Keen angler Kyle Cheeseman with a solid yellowtail kingfish prior to release.
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An example of the new GFT fishing shirts that are on offer for those entering the photo competition!
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Notable Recaptures
Black Marlin Recapture Summaries
The start of the annual black marlin run along the east coast this year has begun with a bang! So far excellent numbers of juvenile black marlin have been tagged everywhere from Northern Queensland to Sydney. With such good numbers of fish being tagged it was likely that we’d start to get some recaptures reported…
Since the beginning of the season the DPI Game Fish Tagging Program has received recapture details of five black marlin, with another four recaptures where the tag was unable to be recovered. The short term recapture (1 day) highlights that post release survival is good, especially when the fish is handled with care. The three longer term recaptures demonstrate the dynamic movement of black marlin along the east coast. Favourable currents and environmental conditions allow them to move incredible distances in relatively short periods of time. It should be noted that four of the five fish were re-released after they were recaptured.
The five recaptures are summarised in the table below:
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Mitch Lockie & Christian Bosschieter re-releasing their recaptured black marlin.
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Kingfish Recaptured Twice!
A yellowtail kingfish, originally tagged in Victoria, has recently been recaptured for the second time! Keen spear fisherman Giovanni Rettura caught the fish while fishing offshore of Sydney on 21 November 2022. Giovanni measured the fish at 117cm and a solid 14kg.
A search of the Game Fish Tagging database revealed that the fish had been recaptured once before.
The fish was originally released on 10 January 2022 offshore of Port Welshpool, Victoria. The fish was released by Connor Hall, who was fishing with accomplished kingie angler Jason Taylor aboard his boat Matrix. Connor and Jason measured the fish at 105cm. After only 6 days the fish was caught again by Ben Kirkham who was fishing in the same area where it was originally released. Ben also measured the fish at 105cm.
Once the fish was caught again offshore of Sydney it had spent 309 days at liberty and was caught more than 385 nautical miles (~715km) from its original release location.
It is believed kingfish distribution and movement is influenced by biological and environmental factors including spawning events, food availability, water temperature and oceanic currents. However, the exact reasons why kingies choose to move such extreme distances is still being researched.
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The original release, first recapture and second recapture of this tagged kingfish.
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Recapture Map of the Tagged Kingfish
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Another Vic to NSW Kingfish Recapture
Another kingfish originally tagged in Victoria has recently been recaptured in NSW. Father and son charter operation, Ocean Hunter Sportsfishing, recaptured the kingie while fishing offshore of South West Rocks on 31 December 2022. Skipper and angler, Zane Levett measured the fish at 113cm and an estimated 11kg.
A search of the Game Fish Tagging database revealed that the fish was originally released over 12 months earlier (379 days) on 17 December 2021 offshore of Portland, Victoria. The fish was released by keen kingie angler Luke Gercovich (pictured). The fish originally measured 107cm and was estimated to be around 10kg. The fish spent only 379 days at liberty and was caught more than 715 nautical miles (~1325km) from its original release location.
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Luke Gercovich with the tagged kingy, prior to release.
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The recapture aboard Ocean Hunter Sportsfishing charters.
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Cobia Recapture
A large cobia originally tagged by Wildside Sportsfishing Charters has recently been recaptured.
This recapture was particularly exciting for the program as it has set the record for the furthest distance travelled by a recaptured cobia since the program’s inception in 1973. Since 1973, only 1,405 cobia have been tagged and 35 reported as recaptured.
Angler, Russell Cleaver caught the fish while fishing aboard charter boat Wildside on 12 July 2022. The crew were fishing offshore of South West Rocks targeting kingfish using live baits in 100m of water. After a tough 15 minute tussle, the cobia was quickly brought on board the boat where the hook was removed and photos were taken. Skipper Jason Bettles estimated the fish to be around the 25-30kg mark. A quality fish in anyone’s eyes! Russell and the crew had decided they had enough reef fish for the trip so they decided to tag and release this particular fish. Despite being caught in 100m of water, the fish powered off back to the depths.
Fast forward to 11 November 2022 the fish was recaptured by anglers Jacob Martin and Mitch Burdekin, who were fishing offshore of Double Island Point, Qld. Both Jacob and Mitch were surprised to see the NSW Fisheries tag in the fish. Once they got back on land they reported the recapture to the program. Upon recaptured the fish weighed in at 27.8kg.
The fish spent only 122 days at liberty and was caught more than 300 nautical miles (~555km) from its original release location.
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Russell Cleaver with the big cobe!
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Recapture Map of the Tagged Cobia
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Recapture forms
If you do happen to catch a tagged fish, be sure to report it either over the phone on (02) 6691 9602 or online by using the online recapture form linked below:
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/resources/fish-tagging/game-fish-tagging/gamefish-recapture
Each recapture provides vital information which is essential to improve the understanding and management of valuable game and sport fish species. 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, along with a hat or t-shirt for those really exciting recaptures!
Don't forget to return your tag cards
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 click here 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 Association and the Game Fishing Association of Australia. The program is run using funds from the NSW Recreational Fishing Trust. Over 503,000 fish have been tagged under the program so far. If you would like to get involved in the program please phone (02) 6691 9602 or email gamefish.tagging@dpi.nsw.gov.au.
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