CONTENTS 



Introduction 1 



Tagging and recovery 1 



Methods and equipment ' 2 



Release data 3 



Recoveries 3 



Recovery rates 3 



Tagging and recovery weight data 4 



Sex ratio of recaptured marlin 9 



Migratory patterns and rates 9 



Discussion and summary 



Acknowledgments 19 



Literature cited 19 



Figures 



1 . Distribution of longline catch rates for black marlin in the Pacific Ocean as an indicator of resource distribution 2 



2. Four types of dart tags used in the Pacific Ocean by the Cooperative Marine Game Fish Tagging Program 3 



3. Locations of black marlin tagging immediate to the Great Barrier Reef off north Queensland, Australia, by 30° latitude 

 areas, by year and number of black marlin tagged, and average estimated weight by anglers at time of tagging 4 



4. Tag and recovery locations, 0-60 d time at large 10 



5. Tag and recovery locations, 61-120 d time at large 10 



6. Tag and recovery locations, 241-365 d time at large 10 



7. Tag and recovery locations, 366 d-2 yr time at large 11 



8. Tag and recovery locations, 2 to 3 yr and 3 to 4 yr time at large 11 



9. All recoveries 500 nmi or greater from location of tagging 11 



10. Regression plot of black marlin recovery distances, by number of days at large 12 



11. Vector mean bearings and distances for five recovery periods 12 



12. Nautical mile arcs for average distance travelled from tagging to recovery by time periods 12 



13. Average distribution of Japanese longline fishing effort for 1968-77 by 5° longitude x latitude areas from Japanese 

 Fishery Agency data 13 



14. Distribution of average hook rates for black marlin per 1,000 hooks effective effort 14-16 



15. Monthly movements of the approximate centers of high longline CPUE for black marlin 17 



16. A hypothetical description of black marlin migration in the southwest Pacific Ocean 18 



Tables 



1 . Black marlin tagging off north Queensland, Australia, by year tagged and tag type, 1968-78 3 



2. Black marlin release and recapture data, 1968-78 5-8 



3. Tag return rates by year and tag type for black marlin tagged off north Queensland, Australia 9 



4. Black marlin weights as recorded by year, 1 September through 31 December 1970-78, at Cairns and Lizard Island, 

 Queensland, Australia 9 



5. Average weights of black marlin as estimated by the angler at time of tagging and compared with weights reported upon 

 recovery 9 



