A SPANISH mackerel tagged by fishing father and son team Vic and Zane Levett has gone on to be recaptured.
Zane (pictured) caught the fish on the NSW Mid North Coast back in April 2019. Estimated at 13kg, the mackerel was quickly subdued on relatively heavy tackle. The fish was brought alongside the boat where the hook was removed and it was tagged. After a quick couple of photos, the “Spaniard” was released in excellent condition.
Fast forward to 29 October 2020, when the fish was recaptured by well-known game fishing boat Kekoa, operated by Luke and Kelly Fallon. Crew member Heath Irvine (pictured) was tasked with providing dinner for charter clients while the boat was anchored near the No.10 Ribbon Reef, offshore of Lizard Island in Northern Queensland. Heath speared the well-conditioned Spaniard, which provided several quality meals for both clients and crew.
Once the fish was brought aboard, the tag was noticed, and reported to the NSW DPI Game Fish Tagging Program. Upon recapture, the fish weighed 16kg. The fish spent 566 days at liberty and was caught more than 1050 nautical miles (about 1940km) from its original release location. There have been more than 100 reported recaptures of Spanish mackerel, but this fish sets a new record for the furthest distance travelled by a tagged Spanish mackerel since the Game Fish Tagging Program began in 1973.
For more information on the Game Fish Tagging Program, phone (02) 6691 9602 or email gamefish.tagging@dpi.nsw.gov.au.
