awesome patch of Dhuies you've found there. Have you guys had many recaptures yet?

 Probably a good thing you are going back to work tomorrow for the dhuies sake!! Top effort!!

Awesome report Paul you guys are unstopable , grat to see so many tagged dhuies looks like at this rate you will easily get your 200 taggs by the end of the year. Are these dhuies deep water specimens ? . Good to see the fish on the chew hopefully there on the chew tomorow. Were majority of todays fish bagged on plastics or baits ? Always good to read your reports shame you have to go back to work tomorow. all the best

Had three recaptures,have tagged 60 fish in 7 trips so I guess we just have to wait and see hopfully people will ring in if they catch on and report it.

Edit: double post

Most fish inside direction bank from 8-14 mile out ,most caught on plastics ,and most tagged and released without release wight .most in top condition swimming to the bottom.

That dhuie is a stonker! Would have given some stick to jodie too I reckon

Will be interested in recapture rate. If recapture rate is low, then the question has got to be asked, are they dying, and if so, is it a good idea catching and releasing over the bag limit. If the recapture rate is good, then excellent, capture and release can be confirmed as sustainable. Only one way to find out, and that is doing exactly what you are doing by catching, tagging and releasing a heap of dhu.

This is exactly what was done for Sambo's several years ago, and we now have a much better controlled fishery thanks to the findings from "Sambo Science". Paul, you need a name for your efforts....maybe "Dhuie Deliberations".....good stuff, will be eager to find out future recapture data.

I recall Daz recapturing the same tagged dhu several times from 30m, so if handled properly in this depth, catch and release looks very sustainable. What sort of depths are you guys releasing back into, and is there any trends of barotrauma with capture depth, are you having to use the releae weights all the time or only some times (or otjher release techniques?), is there a trend with depth, and are you noting this sort of detail on the tagging documentaion?

Excellent work guys, sorry about all the questions, but such numbers of dhu released are not common for us mere mortals so would be nice to have some feed back so the ones we do catch and release have the most chance of survival. No doubt fisheries will be taking note of the outcomes and it should bode well for a more sustainable dhu fishery in the future.

John

60 fish so far is a top effort , great to see some recaptures . With the recaptures are you begginning to see significant differences in size and growth of the fish ? Hats of to your dedication for tagging . always enjoy your reports.

Definately looking good for when I get back from site, hate seeing reports like this when I'm away.

Good stuff!!

Top work again as usual Paul. Just ridiculous the number of dhuies you come across (and none of that by luck :p). Good to see so many fish tagged. Hopefully a lot will be caught and help out with data collecting.

we have only been tagging a short time only seven trips ,we have had one of our own witch was tagged ten days before,and vented and released without weight.It was on the same spot and was in excelent condition he was sent back down .we got one with a tag from years back but still have not got the info for that fish .A freind got another of my tagged fish 15 days after we released it also vented and free release also in top condition it too was re released.I will post any info on recaptured fish and hopfully any fishers catching any tagged fish will repot the numbers to ansa/

johnf, the jewie tagging was going on a long time before sambo science (since 95 or 96) and there's been stacks of recaptures.some fish have been caught after being on the run for 6 or 8 years.

great work paul and crew.

I`d love to dive that spot after you`ve tagged the dhuies and see how they behave, would be very intersting . .

Good stuff Paul. What do you mean by vented?

Release the air from the gut cavity with a small needle,this stops them floating .the gut swells because the swim bladder is torn and the air is traped in the gut area .We have noticed swollen fish are somewhat paralised and don't try to swim when released when vented the fish leave your hands that quick you soaked.But it is not something I would recommened to others as a needle in the wrong place could kill the fish .I have been venting my fish for 20 years and have it sussed .even small blackass release well when vented

another great report paul and crew.

i agree with steve, you going back to work=dhus breathing easy.

post up the info for where, what people have to do if they catch a tagged fish, you proberly have already but i coudnt find it.

well done guys

edit.

paul have you dived on the released fish using the release weight? notice any differances?

No but I am going to do a deep dive on one of these spots and anchor up.get Jody to try and catch and release a fish and video it coming back down and see what it does .need to get a bit fitter first.Got a spot in 35m which is due to crank up soon

 another great report paul & co!

fantastic news on the dhus all swimming off well mate! pretty good sign when they dont need the release weight! im willing to free dive it and check for you how there doing ;-P lol

hoping to knock a nice one off wednesday see how i go

Good report there paul and some greta captures and releases for you and jody , well done , interesting i caught a jewie on sunday and the rear side was all white like a fungus wonder if its the white patching after release you have mentioned before , all of your catches on the plastics again??

 another great trip out there . about time Jessee got out fished but he got outdone by a female, the shame of it all . 

Acouple of great fish taken yet again. great to see your tagging programme is going well

So good to see Paul! Awsome fish and great to see you putting in the effort in tag and release. Maybe you should just post all your spots on fishwrecked so everyone can head out there and see if we can re-capture your tagged fish........ ;-) Keep the pics coming mate!

Well done Paul and crew great day out with some quality Dhus landed, seems you have the tagging sussed good stuff mate.

Paul well done as usual i havent been out your way and managed any Dhu's for a while we keep seeming to find Baldies when we venture up your way. Would love to see how you do it and they swim off on their own.