Greetings and welcome to the Christmas edition of Tight Lines. Firstly, I would like to say a big Thank you to all individuals involved in helping out during our children's Christmas party. This event holds significant importance in The Sydney Game Fishing Club calendar, representing a truly special day of the year. It's the generosity of our members who, without their support, this event would not be possible.
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Thank you to Doyle's Seafood Restaurant for their generous donation of seafood, and to Abu Ahmad for contributing sausages and kebabs. Special thanks to the Sydney Water Police for ensuring Santa's safe arrival at our clubhouse. I would also like to acknowledge Annita, our dedicated club secretary, for her meticulous coordination of the day. On the social front, the club has successfully hosted two prawn and oyster days, both well-attended and greatly enjoyed. The committee eagerly anticipates organising more such events in the future. Recently, John McIntyre and David Yiend organized the annual Dinosaur Day, bringing together the older generation of our esteemed club. Attendees get to relax and enjoy the offerings from Doyle's Seafood Restaurant while reminiscing about old stories. This year, we had the pleasure of meeting Kristina and Owen Chambers, the son and daughter of the renowned past fisherman in our club, Charlie Chambers. To delve deeper into Charlie's life, Historian John McIntyre has provided a comprehensive write-up in this year's GFAA journal. Regrettably, we note the passing of Judy, the beloved wife of John McIntyre, on November 18, 2023. On behalf of the club, we extend our sincere condolences to John during this difficult time. Looking ahead to our fishing calendar, Botany Bay will host its tournament on January 20th and 21st, marking the third round of the central zone. If you're seeking prize money, consider pencilling in the Newcastle Port Stephens tournament. Following closely is the NSWGFA Interclub State Championship; entries are currently open, and early January marks the deadline for submitting completed paperwork to represent our club in this prestigious event. Tight Lines Glenn Wright
www.kingfisherwines.com.au
ADVERTISE WITH US Tight Lines advertising is available. It's a great way to get your message out to your fellow members For more information please Email our club secretary Annita Flannery on secretary@sgfc.com.au
SGFC Members get 20% off wine with the code SGFC20
Calendar of Events SGFC January 2024 2nd - Club Meeting 6th - 7th Summer Pointscore 20th - 21st Summer Pointscore 20th - 21st Botany Bay Bill Heyward Tournament + Central Zone Weekend February 2024 3th - 4th Summer Pointscore 6th - Club Meeting 10th - 11th The Garmin Bluewater Skins Marlin Tournament CCGFC + Central Zone Weekend 17th - 18th Summer Pointscore 22nd to 25th 2024 NSWGFA Interclub State Champions NSWGFA Port Stephens 26th Committee Meeting March 2024 2nd - 3rd Summer Pointscore 5th - Club Meeting 16th - 17th Summer Pointscore 15th - 17th Broken Bay Invitational Tournament BBGFC + Central Zone Weekend 26th Committee Meeting Peter Goadby Tournament Host Club Sydney GFC 13 April 2024 Till 14 April 2024
In the Photos Kristina, Owen Chambers, Graham Donaldson and John McIntyre
SGFC Dinosaur Luncheon 2023 some of the Dinosaurs.
SGFC Wharf Update We haven’t had many updates to report on recently, as there hasn’t been much news from Transport for NSW (TFNSW). However we finally did get a meeting last week (21 Nov) with two members of the TFNSW project team, who are responsible for coordinating the wharf upgrade. In a nutshell, it all comes down to funding. Post the State election, there has been no funding allocated to any wharf upgrade projects. Which means everything is pretty much on hold. Even some wharf upgrades which are a lot further along than Watsons Bay are paused until more funding becomes available. When funding does become available, then they will review all of the various projects and determine priority to see which to progress. We learnt that there are many phases in a potential upgrade. So the initial consultation that we’ve just been through is just the first step in quite a long process. This includes more community consultation, as well as environmental analysis and reporting. Designs need to be reviewed, including the “Irene Number 3” option of extending the wharf and keeping our Club. If any funding did become available, it still doesn’t mean that Watsons Bay upgrade would progress. It would need to be categorised as high priority project, and then the next phases would kick off - each of which would need funding at each stage. And obviously pass the various thresholds for community and environmental approval. In terms of timeline, in the worst case scenario where funding were to be approved, made available and someone decided Watsons Bay wharf needs to go, it would be at least 18 months before any work could begin. Our lease is currently on a 1 year term, and they’d need to give SGFC at least 6 months notice before breaking this. We have a number of improvements to our club house, including dock upgrades, better disabled facilities and solar power. But we’re unable to proceed because of the uncertainty around the lease. We’re working with the TfNSW Property team to see if there is a way we can reduce this uncertainty so we can go ahead with these projects.
2023 Children's Hospital Christmas Party 9/12/23
Our kids Christmas party is a special day that is long in tradition, with Sydney game fishing club hosting patients and their families from the Randwick children's hospital for over 40 years . This day relies on the generosity of our members, skippers and crew, to put a smile on their faces as they get to experience the joy of going out onto the harbour with the smell of the salty air in the sunshine . We would like to give a great thanks to everyone one involved especially; Annita Flannery the club secretary for coordintating the day, Doyle's Restaurant and Abu Ahmad Butchery for donating the food, Sydney water Police for Santas safe arrival, Adina & Anthony Levi for their time helping with the Presents and the BBQ, Lillian Tornatore and her Family, the crew from Sydney drumlines and finally a big thank you to Santa's helpers.
Click Here to watch a video online.
TagTimes November 2023
Season Summary As of mid-September, and the count of tagged fish from last season stands at little more than 11,075 fish during the 2022/23 season. The number of recaptured fish over the season was 456, which is higher than last year (at around 300 fish). Most of the top ten fish tagged (Table 1) consisted of the marlin species, Southern Bluefin Tuna and inshore favourites; Kingfish and Mulloway. The proportion of recaptured fish was highest mainly for the inshore species, bearing in mind many of these fish may have been tagged in previous years. NSW DPI would like to thank all those involved in the program. We value the continuing support and ongoing contribution of all anglers, boats and clubs involved.
Matt Milauro onto a good one.
gave many boats and anglers the opportunity to target, catch and tag juvenile Black Marlin. With large numbers of fish being tagged. There was also a significant number of recaptures reported. So far 47 Black Marlin recaptures have been reported for the 2022/23 season which is the highest recapture tally for the species in over 22 years! While many of the recaptures were fish caught close to where they were originally tagged, the program has some fantastic examples of long-distance movements. Two of which features below: The first recapture form was submitted by a fish processor in the Philippines. The fishmonger had received a tag from a deckhand of an international longline vessel who had just returned from a long-distance fishing voyage throughout the Pacific Islands. During this trip, the commercial vessel managed to capture a tagged Black Marlin whilst fishing an area known as the Brumer Trench, which is south of Baxter Harbour, Papua New Guinea. A quick search of the data base found that the Black Marlin was tagged offshore of Seal Rocks, NSW. The fish was originally caught on 25 February 2023 by Sydney GFC member, Matt Millauro, who was fishing aboard his family's boatSammi-Jay. When the fish was initially tagged it was estimated it to be 40kg. Upon recapture the fish weighed 58kg, highlighting an impressive growth rate. The fish spent only 79 days at liberty and was caught over 1,247 nautical miles (~2,310km) from its original release location, which is an average movement of nearly 16 nautical miles per day!
Notable Recaptures Long Distance Black Marlin Recaptures With favourable environmental conditions and fantastic inshore fishing opportunities up and down the coast, the warmer months across the 2022/23 season gave many boats and anglers the opportunity to target, catch and tag juvenile Black Marlin. With large numbers of fish being tagged. There was also a significant number of recaptures reported. So far 47 Black Marlin recaptures have been reported for the 2022/23 season which is the highest recapture tally for the species in over 22 years! While many of the recaptures were fish caught close to where they were originally tagged, the program has some fantastic examples of long-distance movements. Two of which features below:
originally caught on 25 February 2023 by Sydney GFC member, Matt Millauro, who was fishing aboard his family's boat with the tagged Black Marlin prior to release. Sammi-Jay. When the fish was initially tagged it was estimated it to be 40kg. Upon recapture the fish weighed 58kg, highlighting an impressive growth rate. The fish spent only 79 days at liberty and was caught over 1,247 nautical miles (~2,310km) from its original release location, which is an average movement of nearly 16 nautical miles per day! The second long distance recapture was reported by an international observer who was stationed on board a commercial longline vessel. On 11 June 2023, the commercial vessel was fishing offshore of Maupiti Island in French Polynesia when they recaptured another tagged Black Marlin. Unfortunately, when the tag was recovered the fish had already been processed so no weight or length was provided.It turns out this fish was originally tagged only 114 days (nearly 4 months) prior by John Portelli. The fish was tagged and released just wide of the popular 12 Mile Reef offshore of Bermagui, it was estimated to be 55kg. Over the marlin’s short time at liberty, it travelled a staggering straight-line distance of 3,215 nautical miles (~5,954km), which is an average movement of over 28 nautical miles (52km) per day. These two recaptures give fantastic insight into the dynamic movement of the species.
Matt Millauro's with the tagged Black Marlin prior to release.
Black Marlin caught 3 times… in the same spot! This short story starts with Tim Masuritt from the Sunshine Coast GFC tagging a small (18-25kg) Black Marlin while fishing off the Sunshine Coast aboard Monaon 18 March 2023. Less than 6 days later, Chris Venter from Mooloolaba GFC recaptured and re-tagged the same fish on the same reef while fishing fromMarlin Mania. This ravenous fish was again recaptured 17 days later, this time by Dylan Betts onboardObsession. Once again the fish was recaptured in the same area. While this is not the first time a marlin has been recaptured multiple times, it is a rare event for a marlin to be caught three times in the same area within only 23 days. Multi-time recaptures like this show that juvenile Black Marlin will stay around the same area for several weeks when food availability and environmental conditions are favourable. The recapture also shows that marlin will be receptive to taking baits again after being caught, provided they are handled with care and don’t have extended fight times
Recapture Map of Matt Millauro's Black Marlin.
Recapture Map of the Striped Marlin
SBT ‘barrel’ recaptured by the same boat! In this Tag Times issue we've had Black Marlin recaptured multiple times in the same spot, now we have a fish tagged and recaptured by the same vessel! A Southern Bluefin Tuna measuring 185cm fork length and estimated to be 110kgs, was originally tagged by Flavio Pavia onboard Fady Dib’sStorm Tamer II,offshore of Port Macdonnell (SA) on 3 April 2023. Several months later, on 2 June 2023 and only 2 nautical miles away from the original release location, the fish was recaptured and retagged by Matt Bell aboard the same boat. What are the chances of that!?
Fady Dib with an impressive SBT about to be released.
Trans-Tasman Striped Marlin Recapture In late May the program received a recapture report for a Striped Marlin from John Holdsworth who manages the New Zealand Gamefish Tagging Program. The fish was recaptured on 19 April 2023, offshore of Hokianga, New Zealand (off the west coast of the north island). The tag number was traced back to angler Sam Hutton. Sam told us he had tagged the fish during a solo fishing session offshore of Port Macquarie, NSW on 27 December 2022. After 113 days at liberty (nearly four months), the Striped Marlin had crossed the Tasman Sea, and had travelled a minimum distance of 1,028 nautical miles (~1,900km). Since the program’s inception this is only the second time a Striped Marlin originally tagged in Australia has been recaptured in New Zealand waters.
Long journey for Mulloway Gun angler Jake Stewart set out on a fishing trip with his mum, Debbie Stephenson on the morning of 12 August 2022. They had planned to target Mulloway in the Richmond River on the NSW North Coast. Little did they know that they would end up hooking and landing the fish of a lifetime, a 130cm, 20kg Mulloway. After a quick 10 minute battle on light line the fish was tagged and released in excellent condition. A very special and memorable fish for both of them! However, that’s not quite yet where the story ends for this particular fish. Fast forward 358 days and the fish was recaptured offshore of Lake Cathie, just south of Port Macquarie. This Mulloway had travelled a minimum distance of 163 nautical miles (~300km). Upon recapture the fish was estimated at the same length and weight. Mulloway tag-recapture data shows that mature fish, greater than 1 metre in total length are the ones most likely to migrate significant distances (greater than 20 nautical miles). Large scale movements like this one are likely linked to a number of different factors including, environmental conditions, food availability and spawning aggregations. Well done to Jake and his mum on catching and releasing such an amazing fish.
Kingfish travels from Victoria to Central Coast NSW A Yellowtail 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 released by Jayden Mack who was fishing with skipper Jason Taylor aboard his boat Matrixand originally measured 76cm and estimated to be around 4kg. This kingfish 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 especially when they are below the 1 metre mark.
Recapture Map of Jayden Mack's kingie
Briefing Material will be available on the NSWGFA Website & NSWGFA Facebook Page Wednesday 21st February 2024 All entrants MUST view the material. On the first Sked you will be asked if you understand these requirements. Boat may elect to fish from their home port for Ladies Day. Download the rules and entry form via the link below https://www.nswgfa.com.au/.../2024-interclub-tournament...
2024 NSWGFA State Championships 22nd to 25th February 2024 Entries open now - Get your entries to your club Entries close 14th January 2024 Briefing Material will be available on the NSWGFA Website & NSWGFA Facebook Page Wednesday 21st February 2024 2024 The Lyndy Grieves Memorial Tournament’ Thursday – 22nd February 2024 Fishing Times 8.00am to 3.30pm - tournament open to ALL Ladies regardless of age, the only stipulation is that the boat must be a 2024 Interclub registered boat. Briefing Material will be available on the NSWGFA Website & NSWGFA Facebook Page Wednesday 21st February 2024
www.tantrumlures.com
ADVERTISE WITH US Tight Lines ads are a great way to get your message out to your fellow members For more information please Email our club secretary Annita Flannery on secretary@sgfc.com.au
Dolphinfish: Why open the stomach of a fish that eats everything? By Tristan Guillemin I believe you could sample the entirety of the biodiversity of the tropical and temperate oceans just by opening dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) stomach. Generally speaking, dolphinfish eat everything. One of the world’s most widespread pelagic tropical fish, their diet has been studied all over the world and every time it seems to yield new surprises. So much so, that many scientific journals don’t even want to publish “yet another dolphinfish diet paper” since they don’t see the point of publishing research on the diet of a predator that seems to just eat everything anyway. So is there any point even opening their stomachs? It depends how you frame the question. If your question is “what do dolphinfish eat?“ That question has pretty much already been answered (even if it was answered elsewhere). However, if your question is “what rare and cryptic species occur in the pelagic zone?” Then dolphinfish stomachs might be the thing for you! Where most marlin or tuna stick to their favourite foods, dolphinfish not only eat everything, but find prey species the other predators don’t seem to find. Their ability to find prey species that no other fish do make them quite amazing tools for sampling the oceans biodiversity. You could spend countless hours dragging nets around, setting hooks in the water, and scraping life off flotsam and you’d never find quite as many species as dolphinfish seem to. Having collected quite a few stomachs from dolphinfish, the amount of things found in their stomachs has already blown me away. Ranging from snake blennies, squirrel fish, squid, crabs, and even smaller dolphinfish, they’re always one of the most exciting stomachs to open. In particular, one stomach I opened contained a snake blenny that was about 20cm long, grey in colour and about 2-3cm wide. Inside the same stomach was a piece of packing tap about 20cm long, grey in colour and about 2-3cm wide. You can see how the poor dolphinfish thinking he’d found a second snake blenny mistakenly ingested the piece of plastic. With plenty more stomachs in the freezer to get to, I can’t wait to see what I’ll find next.
In particular, one stomach I opened contained a snake blenny that was about 20cm long, grey in colour and about 2-3cm wide. Inside the same stomach was a piece of packing tap about 20cm long, grey in colour and about 2-3cm wide. You can see how the poor dolphinfish thinking he’d found a second snake blenny mistakenly ingested the piece of plastic. With plenty more stomachs in the freezer to get to, I can’t wait to see what I’ll find next.
SAINTLY WHISPERS
The Drunken Ice Fisherman A Canadian angler had a few too many to drink and decided to go ice fishing. He grabbed his gear, stepped out onto the ice, and started to cut a hole when he heard a booming voice shout: “THERE ARE NO FISH UNDER THE ICE!” The man jumped up and looked around, but he didn’t see anyone. He carried on cutting into the ice, and again, the voice boomed: ”THERE ARE NO FISH UNDER THE ICE!” Still nobody. Was he going mad? The man stumbled to a new spot and started drilling another hole when the voice shouted for a third time: ”THERE ARE NO FISH UNDER THE ICE!” The man looked up into the blinding light and said ”Is that you, God?” The voice answered, ”NO YOU IDIOT. IT’S THE MANAGER OF THE ICE RINK!” FISHING JOKES It was well known that a certain lake was very poor for fishing up north, but a game warden happened to notice that one guy kept coming home with his limit of fish on several occations. He asked the guy: "How is it that you are catching fish out of that lake when no one else can?" The guy replied: "Well I am going back up there tommorow, why don't you come along?" And, so the warden did. They were in the boat when the fisherman reached over and lit a stick of dynamite and then tossed it overboard. BOOM!!! There were fish floating to the surface all over! The game warden freaked out, and said: "You can't do that! That's illeagal!" The fisherman reached over and lit another stick and said: "Are you going to fish, or talk?"
Short Fishing Jokes and One-Liners What do you call a lazy Crawfish? A slobster. What sort of music should you listen to while fishing? Something catchy. Why is fishing such good business? The net profits. What do you call a fish that practices medicine? A Sturgeon. How many fishermen does it take to change a light bulb? One, but you should have seen the bulb – it was THIS big! What did the Trout say when it swam into a wall? Dam!
Love the SAINT