Results of Sailfish Tagging 

 in the Western North Atlantic Ocean^'^ 



FRANK J. MATHER III,^ DURBIN C. TABB.^ JOHN M. MASON, JR.,^ 

 and H. LAWRENCE CLARK^ 



ABSTRACT 



Migrations of saiinsh, Istiophorus platypterus (Shaw and Nodder), in the western North Atlantic 

 Ocean are discussed on the basis of results of three cooperative tagging programs. The Rosenstiel School 

 of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (formerly Institute of Marine Science, and Marine Laboratory) of 

 the University of Miami marked and released 1,259 sailfish between 1950 and 1958 and nine tags were 

 returned. Members of the Port Aransas (Texas) Rod and Reel Club marked and released 515 sailflsh 

 between 1954 and 1962 and obtained three returns. The Cooperative Game Fish Tagging Program of the 

 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has marked and released 12,525 sailfish between 1954 and May 

 1972, with 97 tags being returned. 



The majority of the returns showed limited movements; most were between localities along the 

 southeast coast of Florida and the Florida Keys. The longer migrations did not follow a distinct pattern, 

 but many of them showed a tendency toward movements between tropical waters (northeast coast of 

 South America, the Lesser Antilles, and the Straits of Florida) in the cold season and temperate waters 

 (the Gulf of Mexico and the United States coast between Jacksonville, Florida and Cape Hatteras, North 

 Carolina) in the warm season. 



Times at liberty, which ranged from less than 1 day to over 4 yr, with only nine exceeding 18 mo, are 

 generally consistent with earlier flndings that the sailfish Ls a short-lived species. Tag returns give no 

 indication of heavy commercial fishing pressure on the stocks under study. 



Sailfish have been taggecJ and released in the 

 western North Atlantic Ocean more or less con- 

 tinuously since 1950 through the cooperation of 

 sport fishermen. Tagging was undertaken in order 

 to study sailfish migrations and populations, as well 

 as their mortality and growth rates. Another objec- 

 tive was to learn whether enough sailfish survive 

 capture to justify releasing them for purposes of 

 conservation. Earliest efforts were designed to de- 

 termine the feasibility of tagging, and the best 

 methods and equipment for the purpose. 



The fish were tagged by cooperating sport 

 fishermen with equipment supplied by three 



'Contribution No. 2938. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institu- 

 tion, Woods Hole. MA 02543. 



-Contribution No. 1615, Rosenstiel School of Marine and At- 

 mospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149. 



'Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 

 (12543. 



■•Dept. of Natural Resources, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 

 14850. 



■■■Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Uni- 

 versity of Miami, Miami, FL 33149. 



agencies — the Rosenstiel School of Marine and 

 Atmospheric Science (RSMAS) (formerly the Insti- 

 tute of Marine Science, and also the Marine 

 Laboratory) of the University of Miami, Florida; 

 the Port Aransas (Texas) Rod and Reel Club 

 (PARR); and the Woods Hole Oceanographic In- 

 stitution (WHOl), Massachusetts. 



METHODS AND MATERIALS 



The RSMAS program began in 1950 and con- 

 tinued through 1958. During that time tagging kits 

 were distributed to 353 charter and private boat 

 owners; 5,500 tags were distributed. Many of the 

 participating anglers were members of fishing clubs 

 or fishing guide associations who took responsibil- 

 ity of local tag distribution in their area. Of the 353 

 anglers receiving tagging equipment, 83 tagged 

 1,262 sailfish. Of these 83 anglers, 25 tagged 83.8% 

 of the total, or 1,058 fish. The tagged fish were re- 

 leased in various areas off southeast Florida from 

 Fort Pierce to Lower Matecumbe Key. 



194 



