Swordfish lures anglers to Tasmania

by Carl Hyland on 14 Apr 2016 Broadbill swordfish are being increasingly caught in Tasmanian waters — a phenomenon that is drawing the attention of recreational fishermen, researchers and TV personalities alike.

Over the past week, numerous fish were caught, including what is believed to be an Australian recreational record 356kg swordfish off St Helens reeled in by Jamie Bryant, Jessee Bryant, Dean Watkins and Jontey Watkins.

Also off St Helens this week, fishing program IFISH host Paul Worsteling caught an Australian first — three swordfish in one day, weighing in at 270kg, 140kg and 120kg.

Two were tagged by Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies researcher Sean Tracey for monitoring.

IMAS researcher Sean Tracey with one of the tags recovered from a tagged swordfish.

Dr Tracey has developed a three-year Swordfish Research Project to educate recreational fishermen on better catch and release techniques to improve the species’ lifespan.

The project involves catching and tagging fish with a satellite tag that sends data back on the fish’s movements in terms of depth and water temperature for up to 250 days.

Of the 10 tags, costing $4000 each, four have so far been implanted. Dr Tracey said up to 50 swordfish have been recreationally caught off Tasmania since the fishery was founded two years ago, with the vast majority on the East Coast.

“What we’re trying to primarily do is provide fact-based information to make sure the fishers can go out and do something responsible for what is a new fishery,” he said.

“So, there are things that they can do to increase the chance of survival post-release, like reduced fight time or use a particular hook type that won’t cause more damage.”

Dr Tracey said the commercial swordfish fishery was off Queensland in depths of up to 600m.

“We will also be able to see if they are staying down off Tasmania or are they migrating up to Queensland,” he said.

“When you look at the commercial fishery these fish are probably part of the same population.”

Tasmanian Association for Recreational Fishing chief Mark Nikolai said the program could help find out if swordfish were following warm currents as part of a migratory pattern to breed, or to establish a permanent population.

Mr Worsteling said the scientific program was useful to understand movements.

“St Helens has really turned it on. I’ve been fishing all over the world for swordfish and Tassie has been great,” he said.