Tagged Yellowfin recaptured 11 years later

Capt. Jon Pinney · 01-19-2012, 08:50 AM

Tagged yellowfin recaptured after 11 years

Staff report
Sunday, January 1, 2012

The recent reporting of the recovery of a tagged yellowfin tuna comes as a surprise to fisheries biologists.
The tag, sent from the National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries in Shizuoka, Japan, was just received by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) Marine Resources Division.
The tagged fish measured about 68 inches, weighed approximately 189 pounds, and was captured on May 26, 2010 off the west coast of Africa off Mauritania.
The fish was initially tagged by a volunteer angler participating in the Marine Division's game fish tagging program on April 20, 2001, just south of Cat Island in the Bahamas. At the time of tagging, the juvenile yellowfin was just shy of 15 pounds.
This is the first recapture of a yellowfin tuna in the history of the program, which began in 1974.
"What makes this recovery exciting," said Robert Wiggers, a DNR fisheries biologist who administers the tagging program, "is that 151 yellowfin have been tagged and released by volunteers, but none have been recovered until now.
This fish was at large for nine years, packed on about 174 pounds and was recaptured close to 4,000 miles from where it was initially tagged."
As evident from this tag recovery, Atlantic yellowfin tuna are a highly migratory species and thus are a target species for both domestic and international fisheries. This fact should be of interest to recreational anglers when considering the impacts on the overall population of such fisheries.

donedealin · 01-19-2012, 10:11 AM

That's good stuff Jon. Very interesting!

MrFish · 01-19-2012, 10:26 AM

Almost 16lbs. per year is impressive.

Realtor · 01-19-2012, 04:51 PM

interesting, thanks

Chris V · 01-19-2012, 05:18 PM

Thats great info there and really gives you an idea of their growth rate. I wouldn't be surprised if the majority of that growth was within the first 3 yrs.

Thanks for sharing

amarcafina · 01-19-2012, 05:44 PM

Wow !! amazing the miles that put in .

Jason · 01-19-2012, 05:50 PM

Man that is cool!!! Good find Jon!

Berry · 01-19-2012, 09:06 PM

Amazing little swimmers, always surprised seeing the distances traveled by tagged animals

MULLET HUNTER · 01-19-2012, 09:32 PM

Cool discovery..... Pal...

Capt. Jon Pinney · 01-19-2012, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MULLET HUNTER

Cool discovery..... Pal...

thanks.....friend

01-19-2012, 08:50 AM	#1
Capt. Jon Pinney Super Moderator Sailfish Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,758	Tagged Yellowfin recaptured 11 years later Tagged yellowfin recaptured after 11 years Staff report Sunday, January 1, 2012 The recent reporting of the recovery of a tagged yellowfin tuna comes as a surprise to fisheries biologists. The tag, sent from the National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries in Shizuoka, Japan, was just received by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) Marine Resources Division. The tagged fish measured about 68 inches, weighed approximately 189 pounds, and was captured on May 26, 2010 off the west coast of Africa off Mauritania. The fish was initially tagged by a volunteer angler participating in the Marine Division's game fish tagging program on April 20, 2001, just south of Cat Island in the Bahamas. At the time of tagging, the juvenile yellowfin was just shy of 15 pounds. This is the first recapture of a yellowfin tuna in the history of the program, which began in 1974. "What makes this recovery exciting," said Robert Wiggers, a DNR fisheries biologist who administers the tagging program, "is that 151 yellowfin have been tagged and released by volunteers, but none have been recovered until now. This fish was at large for nine years, packed on about 174 pounds and was recaptured close to 4,000 miles from where it was initially tagged." As evident from this tag recovery, Atlantic yellowfin tuna are a highly migratory species and thus are a target species for both domestic and international fisheries. This fact should be of interest to recreational anglers when considering the impacts on the overall population of such fisheries.

01-19-2012, 10:26 AM	#3
MrFish Senior Member Sailfish Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Too Far from the Coast Posts: 2,027	Almost 16lbs. per year is impressive. __________________ ><((((º> Every man's life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another. Ernest Hemingway

01-19-2012, 04:51 PM	#4
Realtor Senior Member White Marlin Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pensacola Florida Posts: 2,672	interesting, thanks __________________ Jim Summers www.PensacolaSharkFishing.com www.PensacolaHouseHunter.com @CaptFatJax (Twitter)

01-19-2012, 05:18 PM	#5
Chris V Squid technician Blue Marlin Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: foley, Al Posts: 4,543	Thats great info there and really gives you an idea of their growth rate. I wouldn't be surprised if the majority of that growth was within the first 3 yrs. Thanks for sharing __________________

01-19-2012, 05:44 PM	#6
amarcafina Senior Member Grouper Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Orange Beach , Randolph AL. Posts: 863	Wow !! amazing the miles that put in . __________________ \ Condo in Orange Beach with Boatslip and ramp For Sale or Rent !

01-19-2012, 10:11 AM	#2
donedealin Senior Member Snapper Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 405	That's good stuff Jon. Very interesting!

01-19-2012, 05:50 PM	#7
Jason Like a roach in the dark! Blue Marlin Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: In the woods, lookin' fer ticks! Posts: 5,835	Man that is cool!!! Good find Jon!

01-19-2012, 09:06 PM	#8
Berry Member Ruby Red Lip Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: OBA Posts: 57	Amazing little swimmers, always surprised seeing the distances traveled by tagged animals

01-19-2012, 09:32 PM	#9
MULLET HUNTER Senior Member Sailfish Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: BLACKWATER BAY Posts: 1,449	Cool discovery..... Pal...

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