Blue marlin recaptures

Some more information via Capt. Charles Wheeler of the blue marlin’s amazing long distance trek to recapture in Vanuatu last week.

According to NSW DPI, Aaron Ayad caught the estimated 60kg blue marlin on 26 March, 2018, during a consistent blue marlin bite off Sydney.

Crusoe Fishing Adventures boat Reel Capture II went on to recapture Smartbill’s blue whilst fishing off Pango Point, Port Villa, only three nautical miles from shore in 200m of water on 22 May, 2018. David Gilmore caught the fish, estimated at 75kg, which had spent a mere 57 days at liberty and traveled an impressive 1318 nautical miles during this time.

This recapture marks the fifth furthest distance traveled for a blue marlin released under the program, having swum an average of 23 nautical miles per day to get recaptured in the tropical waters of Vanuatu.

The other recapture story involved a blue marlin tagged during the 2018 Newcastle & Port Stephens GFC Garmin Billfish Shootout tournament in February which was recaptured off the Gold Coast Kink in May.

Trevor Wells aboard NPSGFC boat Crackatinnie tagged the estimated 115kg blue marlin on the last day of the tournament and released the fish in excellent condition after catching it on a lure on 37kg gear.

Some 74 days and 278 nautical miles north east of its release location, Seamus Linch aboard Gone Fishing recaptured the blue marlin at the Gold Coast Kink.

Gold Coast Blue Marlin

Fresh back from their south coast sword fishing sojourn, Capt. Craig “Sparra” Denham’s Hot Shot was out on Saturday off the Gold Coast for 3 from 5 (2 blues and a stripe).  Meanwhile on Garry Holt’s French Look II record fishing they also switched 3 blues fighting one for 2.5 hours on 4 kg.