Collaborative research continuing to unlock kingfish movements secrets
by NSW DPIRD - Recreational Fisheries 27 May 00:48 UTC
Project Kingfish © NSW DPIRD - Recreational Fisheries
A kingfish originally tagged in Victoria as part of the ‘Project Kingfish’ collaborative research project has been recaptured.
This fish was recaptured offshore of Tweed Heads on 17 October 2024. Upon recapture the fish measured in at an impressive 113cm. A search of the Game Fish Tagging database revealed that the fish had been originally released 263 days earlier on 28 January 2024 offshore of Port Fairy, Victoria (more than 1,015 nautical miles or ~1,880km away). The fish was released by Deakin University Researcher and accomplished kingie angler Dan Ierodiaconou, who is a key member of the Project Kingfish team. Interestingly, the fish was tagged with a specialist satellite tag as well as a standard pelagic tag. Unfortunately, the researchers didn’t receive any information back from this sat tag as it was faulty. Thankfully though, the pelagic tag served its purpose, and it allowed the fish to be identified after a significant migration event.
Project Kingfish, launched in 2022, is a collaborative research initiative led by The Sydney Institute of Marine Science with Macquarie University, UNSW, Deakin University, NSW Fisheries, and the Victorian Fisheries Authority. In partnership with recreational fishers, the project involves satellite tagging mature kingfish across NSW and south-eastern Australia to improve understanding of the species, including spawning locations, key habitats, and regional connectivity. The team also analysed historical data from the NSW Game Fish Tagging Program.
If you are lucky enough to recapture a tagged fish please ensure you report it using our online recapture form which can be found here. Each reported recapture contributes to our understanding of pelagic fish species.
Project Kingfish and the Game Fish Tagging Program are great examples of your fishing fees at work!