Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo M75

Long distance black marlin recapture

by Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW 20 Sep 2023 22:20 UTC

With favourable environmental conditions and fantastic inshore fishing opportunities up and down the coast, the warmer months gave many boats and anglers the opportunity to target, catch and tag juvenile black marlin.

With large numbers of fish being tagged, there was also a significant number of recaptures reported. So far 40 black marlin recaptures have been reported for the 2022/23 season which is the highest recapture tally for the species in over 22 years! While many of the recaptures were fish caught close to where they were originally tagged, the program has had some fantastic examples of long-distance movements.

A game fish recapture form was submitted by a fish processor in the Philippines. The fishmonger had received a tag from a deckhand of an international longline vessel who had just returned from a long-distance fishing voyage throughout the Pacific Islands. During this trip, the commercial vessel managed to capture a tagged black marlin whilst fishing an area known as the Brumer Trench, which is well south of Baxter Harbour, Papua New Guinea.

A quick search of the database found that the black marlin was tagged offshore of Seal Rocks, NSW. The fish was originally caught on 25 February 2023 by Sydney GFC member, Matt Millauro, who was fishing aboard his family's boat Sammi-Jay. When the fish was initially tagged it was estimated it to be 40 kg. Upon recapture the fish weighed 58kg, highlighting an impressive growth rate. The fish spent only 79 days at liberty and was caught over 1247 nautical miles (~2310 km) from its original release location.

Each reported recapture contributes to our understanding of pelagic fish species. If you are lucky enough to recapture a tagged fish, please ensure you report it using the online recapture form.

Related Articles

Helping boaters steer clear of common mistakes
Veteran Sea Tow® captains share their tips Boating season is already in full throttle, and Sea Tow®, recognized throughout the marine industry as Your Road Service at Sea®, is proud to offer boating tips to avoid some of the most common mistakes seen on the water. Posted on 24 Jul
TATULA is Tops at ICAST 2025
All out with the new 23 model lineup of cork handle bass rods DAIWA goes all out with new 23 model lineup of 2025 TATULA cork handle bass rods and wins coveted Best Freshwater Rod at ICAST 2025. Posted on 24 Jul
Owner shares why he loves his WorldCat 325DC
Chuck highlights the unique experiences and cherished moments created Embark on the adventures of Chuck Smith, proud owner of the WorldCat 325DC. In this short testimonial, Chuck shares the joys of sandbar outings, fishing escapades, and family travels made possible by the versatility of the 325DC. Posted on 23 Jul
Marine Auctions: July Online Auctions
Bidding to start 24th July and will end 30 July We are now accepting entries for our August Online Auction. Posted on 22 Jul
Mercury Marine expands V10 Verado lineup
With all-new 425hp outboard and enhanced 350hp model Mercury Marine today announced the latest expansion of its award-winning Verado® outboard lineup with the introduction of the all-new V10 425hp Verado outboard and a performance enhanced version of the V10 350hp Verado outboard. Posted on 22 Jul
The after party starts now!
Prestige have already given us two instalments of their M-Line, and now here is the third Prestige have already given us two instalments of their M-Line, and now here is the third - M7 Posted on 21 Jul
Lowrance software update offers new features
New Trolling Motor features, Live Sonar enhancement Lowrance®, a world-leader in fishing electronics, today announced the release of software update 25.2, which is packed with innovative trolling motor features, significant enhancements to ActiveTarget® 2, and expanded third-party integrations. Posted on 16 Jul
DAIWA: Humbled and Honored
Carey Graves accepts Executive Officer role with parent company Globeride, Inc. American DAIWA Corp. President Carey Graves accepts Executive Officer role with parent company Globeride, Inc. Posted on 16 Jul
Lowrance® unveils Ghost® X Trolling Motor
Effortless positioning for a perfect cast every time Lowrance®, a world-leader in fishing electronics, today announced the Ghost® X 47-inch trolling motor, designed for freshwater and featuring an enhanced precision directional indicator, increased power, and the quietest motor yet. Posted on 16 Jul
DAIWA: The 9 Lives of Line
New offerings were popping up like prairie dogs Available in August, XBRAID's new FULLDRAG X9 brings big game fishing the pinnacle in 9-strand braided line technology and advanced manufacturing techniques. Posted on 15 Jul
Palm Beach Motor YachtsMaritimo M75