A kingfish originally tagged in Victoria has recently been recaptured. Keen angler Blake Finley recaptured the kingie while fishing offshore of Norah Head on 12 July 2023.The fish measured in at 97cm. A search of the Game Fish Tagging database revealed that the fish was originally released only 184 days earlier on 9 January 2023 offshore of Port Welshpool, Victoria.
The fish was originally tagged and released by Jayden Mack who was fishing with skipper Jason Taylor aboard his boat Matrix. The fish measured in at 76cm and estimated to be around 4kg upon release. The fish spent only 184 days at liberty and was caught more than 715 nautical miles (~1,325km) from its original release location. It is interesting to note the growth rate of this particular fish, having grown 21cm during it’s time at liberty. This recapture reminds us that Yellowtail Kingfish are a highly mobile and fast-growing species.
If you are lucky enough to catch a tagged fish, please report it online here.
The Game Fish Tagging Program is a great example of your Recreational Fishing Licence fees at work!
