6th tagged sword recapture

[PURPLE FEVER]

I just heard that Capt. Ken caught a sword we tagged and released in 2006. We estimated 47" and 35lbs. Ken caught the fish datime dropping recently and I heard it was in the same general area (on the bottom) and was approx. 125lbs. The other 5 that I had recaptured were as follows: The first one was two days later off Canaveral,The next was a year later off Lauderdale same general area, another off Key West, another off Cuba approx. 6 months later, and the other one was again off fort lauderdale same general area where originally tagged!Anybody fiqure out that pattern?

[Tunachaser]

Originally Posted by PURPLE FEVER

I just heard that Capt. Ken caught a sword we tagged and released in 2006. We estimated 47" and 35lbs. Ken caught the fish datime dropping recently and I heard it was in the same general area (on the bottom) and was approx. 125lbs. The other 5 that I had recaptured were as follows: The first one was two days later off Canaveral,The next was a year later off Lauderdale same general area, another off Key West, another off Cuba approx. 6 months later, and the other one was again off fort lauderdale same general area where originally tagged!Anybody fiqure out that pattern?

Very cool that you've had that many fish recaptured Doesn't seem to be any real pattern, the only explanation I can think of is that they have tails Keep up the good work

[swordstalker]

Nice Burt! 50% of your recaptured tags from come from the same general area. It would be interesting to know what months those were tagged and what months they were recaptured.

[CaptKen]

Burt
You Tagged it in March of 06, So it was a few months short of 3 years, He was a skinny skinny 65", every one I told say it may have been a male doing his duty wearing himself out.
He was 65" by 33" By doing the math if I did it right comes out to 88lbs, I called it 125 lbs, maybe it was way less, I would say at least 100lbs, maybe 125lbs is too much, but the math again if I did it right at 88lbs is too little.

I have quite a few tags out there myself, I never had one come back yet. I was hoping this may have been one. That would have been cool to tag and recapture the same fish.

[DonK]

very cool info, Burt! thanks for sharing.

[PURPLE FEVER]

thanks for the info Ken.

I could'nt find all of them, heres what I have:
1) tagged 11/26/05@ 26.08- 79.48 recaptured 9/10/06 @ 23.25-82.43 Cuba
2) tagged 12/28/05 @26.17-80.24 recaptured 12/28/06@ 26.17-79.78" bad day for that fish!"
3)tagged 10/29/02@26.00-79.83 recaptured 4/04/04 @25.83-79.86

The fish at large for 2 days was in Nov. 2002,tagged here and recaptured off Canaveral.

Any other recaptures out there?

[OBAMA]

great thread. here is a my guess for the pattern for smaller fish
where the time between tagging and recapturing is in month.

11-13 (or 23-25, 35-37) months: same general area
5-7 months (or 17-19, 29-31) months: maximum distance apart
of 1000s of miles the rest of the months somewhere in between and
if tagged fall - winter, fish will be south of here
if tagged spring-summer, fish will be north of here

I don't think the big fish move as much. cheers, O

[weekley rehab]

I would love to tag all the ones we release due to small size. how do you get a tagging kit ?

[Ron.38 Special]

I beleive Tim Palmer has actually had a recapture of his own fish 3 years later.

Burt, didn't you have the AFTCO tag award a year or two, good job, and its nice to see your fish survive after release.

I haven't had a return, but I caught a fish released by Mike Leech in Drews first tournament 3 years later and at the same location of release.

O,
As far as movement of fish, isn't there evidence that smaller fish stay South while larger fish move North. Again, I think this is a life stage issue, and you can't lump all age classes in the same general migration direction. Once they get big enough to handle the colder water long term, they move farther North. Otherwise, smaller fish have a norther limit of migration that changes with age.

[PURPLE FEVER]

Burt, didn't you have the AFTCO tag award a year or two, good job, and its nice to see your fish survive after release



Thanks Ron, in 2006 somehow I had the most tags-28. I think I tagged about 120 fish from 11/02-12/06. Lately I havent even caught a swordfish. I forget what its likeThose were the good old days!

Going daytime on Friday, hope to turn it around.

BTW, I tagged as many sailfish in the same time period and only had 1 of those recaptured

[TTesterman]

we used to get a bunch of them for free but that was back then.. become a gold member...

[swordstalker]

Pat, last year NOAA was giving kits out for free. Maybe they still are. Check this thread for info:
Conventional Swordfish Tagging

[PURPLE FEVER]

Originally Posted by TTesterman

we used to get a bunch of them for free but that was back then.. become a gold member...

Yes get your tags from TBF. You can buy a tag stick from them or buy an AFTCO from your local tackle shop.

[dpdash]

Burt, that is an incredible % of recaptures. On average, all species tag returns are about 1%. I've had one of my sailfish recaptured and I've caught two with tags in almost 30 years of fishing. I've tagged 1/2 a dozen swords over the years and have not had a recapture.

[weekley rehab]

thanks will email eric directly

[tunaman81]

Originally Posted by Ron.38 Special

As far as movement of fish, isn't there evidence that smaller fish stay South while larger fish move North. Again, I think this is a life stage issue, and you can't lump all age classes in the same general migration direction. Once they get big enough to handle the colder water long term, they move farther North. Otherwise, smaller fish have a norther limit of migration that changes with age.

Not necessarily. There are many small fish caught in the northeast canyons.

[Ed Walker]

Very interesting.
So I suppose the NE fish just dont come here and vice versa. Who knew? One might think that catching the same fish in the same area that much later would inicate that the population isnt all that big. (?)
Im gonna see if I can get some of those tags too.

[tunaman81]

Originally Posted by Ed Walker

Very interesting.
So I suppose the NE fish just dont come here and vice versa.

Conventionally tagged swordfish have been recaptured in many areas of the Atlantic. Additionally, genetic studies indicate that there is one stock of swordfish in the North Atlantic. So, I would expect fish to travel between the NE and Florida.

Originally Posted by Ed Walker

Who knew? One might think that catching the same fish in the same area that much later would inicate that the population isnt all that big. (?)
Im gonna see if I can get some of those tags too.

The problem with conventional tags is that you have no idea where the fish goes between tagging and recapture. Tagging and recapturing a fish years later in the same area does not necessarily indicate the fish never left. The interesting point with many of these recaptures is the fish were recaptured in the same area during the same season years later, indicating fish may travel through the same area during the same time of year.

[CaptKen]

Originally Posted by tunaman81

The interesting point with many of these recaptures is the fish were recaptured in the same area during the same season years later, indicating fish may travel through the same area during the same time of year.

indicating fish may travel through Or I say may have never left, this is the 3rd one that I know of and I bet there is plenty more tagged right here and caught right here.

[PURPLE FEVER]

It would be great if we could get more tag recapture info from mnfs and TBF!

[Disco Lady]

Great! post guys.

Thanx
DL,

[Broadbill-Pro]

PURPLE FEVER: Lately I havent even caught a swordfish. I forget what its likeThose were the good old days!



Damn that recreational pressure

[Ron.38 Special]

[PURPLE FEVER]

Right Vinny BTW go back and read my hand- gear post from 2006. I was never against legal bouy fishing , it was the handful of unlicensed REC guys that were using bouys! Also I have and will be opposed to reopening the closed zone to PLL.

[Ed Walker]

Originally Posted by tunaman81

The problem with conventional tags is that you have no idea where the fish goes between tagging and recapture. Tagging and recapturing a fish years later in the same area does not necessarily indicate the fish never left.

Agreed.
Ive done a lot genetic tarpon sampling (fin clips), that the state now does in leiu of tagging, (Top in the state last year actually [toot toot!]) and most were caught near Boca Grande where there are very few tarpon during the rest of the year outside the May-July season. Current theory is that the migratory fish are crossing the Gulf to come here every year but none have been recaptured during the winter months.

Nearly all the recaptures are caught during the same time of the year in roughtly the same area.

[CaptKen]

Burt
I happened to tag a fish yesterday, and today in the mail comes the Recapture report from the one I caught that you tagged, and a hat, I have 3 hats now.

[PURPLE FEVER]

Very nice Ken! I received the report and a T-Shirt last week!

[Ambitious]

Great thread, thanks for sharing.