Season’s Greetings and Best Wishes for the New Year, On behalf of the Sydney Game Fishing Club, I would like to extend warm season’s greetings to you all and wish you a very happy, safe, and prosperous New Year. The club has had a busy and successful year, thanks to the unwavering support of our members. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed their time, effort, and vessels to make our recent events possible. Kids Fishing Day - A special thank you to the boat owners of On Call, Cheeky Monkey, Gobble de Hook, Black Jack, and Tantrum. Together, you provided 35 kids with an unforgettable fishing experience on Sydney Harbour and just beyond the heads. Seeing the excitement on the kids' faces upon their return and hearing their stories was truly heartwarming. Kids Christmas Day - This annual event has been a cornerstone of our club for over 40 years, and we hope to continue this cherished tradition for many more to come. I would like to sincerely thank our Secretary, Annita, for her exceptional coordination of the day, including organising with the Prince of Wales Children’s Hospital, arranging gifts, and ensuring Santa’s safe arrival via the Sydney Water Police. To the generous boat owners—David Lo - Isola, Jamie Mackay -Groundswell, John Sartori - Shoki, Chrissy Marsh Just for Fun - Bandit, and Tantrum—your donations of time and vessels allowed families to escape the hospital wards for a memorable cruise on Sydney Harbour. It’s moments like these, feeling the sea spray and fresh air, that brings joy to both parents and children. Special thanks to: Centennial Park Deli for donating the Christmas tree. The Doyles family for generously providing fish and chips. Abu Ahmad Butchery for donating sausages and kebabs. Behind the scenes, we had incredible support from many members: Anthony Levi and Warren Knight on the BBQ. Adena, Sasha, and Gaye in the kitchen. The Boys Ray, Max ,Ant, Jonny, Terry & Luke who helped with the safe transfer of patients onto and off the boats. Santa’s helpers: Mia & Makira Wright, and Chai Macbride. Our fabulous clown, Lillian, who has graciously donated her time and face-painting skills for 20 years. Thank you all for making this such a special and joyful day. Upcoming Event – NSW Interclub: Looking ahead, the NSW Interclub will take place from February 20th to 23rd. We need to organize teams and submit them to NSWGFA by January 31st. Please download your forms and send them to secretary@sgfc.com.au as soon as possible. Tightlines Glenda Wright
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Tight Lines is a members based magazine. We welcome and ask for any articles, stories, photos and information on what is going on out there from our members. No matter how big or small "remember it's your club too". Send all info to Email: stephen@pitchforkprinting.com.au all Call Stephen Pitchfork on 0404 019 683
Tournament Calendar NSWGFA 2024 -2025 2025 January 18th 19th Botany bay BBGFC 2025 February 8th 9th Central Coast CCGFC 14th 16th Newcastle shootout N&PSGFC 21st 22nd 23rd Interclub NSWGFA
22nd 23th
Calendar of Events SGFC January 2025 4th - 5th Summer Pointscore 6th - Club Meeting 18th - 19th Summer Pointscore 18th - 19th Botany Bay Bill Heyward Tournament + Central Zone Weekend February 2025 1st - 2nd Summer Pointscore 4th - Club Meeting 8th - 9th The Garmin Bluewater Skins Marlin Tournament CCGFC + Central Zone Weekend 15th - 16th Summer Pointscore 21st to 23rd 2024 NSWGFA Interclub State Champions NSWGFA Port Stephens 28th Committee Meeting March 2025 2nd - 3rd Summer Pointscore 5th - Club Meeting 16th - 17th Summer Pointscore 22nd - 23th Broken Bay Invitational Tournament BBGFC + Central Zone Weekend 28th Committee Meeting Peter Goadby Tournament Host Club Sydney GFC 12 April 2024 - 13 April 2024
2025 March 22nd 23th Broken Bay BBGFC 2025 April 12th 13th Sydney SGFC 2025 May 3rd 4th Port Hacking PHGFC
Kids Christmas Party This year’s Kids' Christmas Party was an incredible success—a truly special day for the children and their families from the Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick. It was heartwarming to see so many smiles as they enjoyed a beautiful cruise around Sydney Harbour, followed by a lovely lunch back at the club, and the exciting arrival of Santa to deliver their gifts. This unforgettable day would not have been possible without the incredible generosity and support of so many people. Watch a Video of the event here: Our Sincerest thanks go to: Our amazing club members and boat owners for giving their time and support. Isola , Groundswell, Shoki, Tantrum , Bandit, Just for Fun. The Doyles family for generously supplying lunch. Abu Ahmad Butchery for providing all the sausages and kebabs. Centennial Park Deli for donating the beautiful Christmas tree. Special recognition to those who went above and beyond: Anthony Levi and Warren Knight for cooking the BBQ. Adena Shagrin Levi, Sasha, Gaye, and Mark for their tireless work in the kitchen, on cleaning duties. Ant, Jonny, Ray, Maximilian, Nilar, and Terry for ensuring the safe loading and unloading of families onto and off the boats. Our fantastic team of Santa’s helpers—Makira & Mia Wright and Chai MacBride—who oversaw Santa’s safe arrival with the support of the Sydney Water Police. A very special note of appreciation goes to Lillian Falzon, our beloved face-painting clown. Lillian has been a part of this event for over twenty years, and now her four beautiful children also lend a hand on the day. Finally, a huge thank you to our dedicated secretary, Annita Flannery, for the extraordinary work behind the scenes. Your efforts make this day as magical and meaningful as it is. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this year’s Kids' Christmas Party so special. It’s a day we’ll cherish, and we couldn’t have done it without your kindness, support, and teamwork.
2025 Raymarine Interclub State Championships 20th to 23rd February Entries open now - Return your entries to your club secretary by the 31st January 2025 NON mandatory BRIEFING will be held at NPSGFC club house from 6.00pm Thursday 20th February (PRESIDENTS SHOUT), an Online briefing will be broadcast on Wednesday 19th February 2025 at 7.00 pm. It is compulsory for 1 crew member to register their attendance at either one of these events. A member from each boat will need to attend the Game Club to collect their boats tournament satchel. 2025 The Lyndy Grieves Memorial Tournament Thursday - 20th February 2025 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 2025 Interclub registered boat. 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/.../2025-interclub-tournament... For more information view via the link below. https://www.nswgfa.com.au/interclub
29/11/24 Nice catch up today with the dinosaurs at the club. Thanks to Doyles for supplying the food.
RIP GINO ZAHRA
Gino joined SGFC around 1999 to 2022 in which time he fished on SGFC Boats: Tsunami, Dances, Altar Ego, Too Hungry, Outthere, and Many others the whole time he had his own boat called Marianne (6.5m Seafarer) a club boat. In this time he fished many tournaments & point score days over the years for SGFC. Always known for his cheeky grin & a smile on his face. A deep love for the ocean & fishing. A compassionate and kind soul taken suddenly & way too soon. will miss you Gino. Stephen Pitchfork 30/11/24
Fantastic day Gone Fishing Day Thank you to all sponsors & skippers who gave their time.The kids enjoyed catching fish, watching whales and returned for a much needed sausage sizzle. Thanks to SHIMANO Australia Fishing GFAA Kids Fish 2 Otto's Tackle World Fishing Station GFAA National Junior Tournament NSW Fisheries Watch a Video Here
Gone Fishing Day 2024
Demonstrating an extraordinary journey, the winning striped marlin, caught by Oscar Avery on January 6, 2024, traveled an impressive straight-line distance of 4,739 nm from the tagging location off the northeast coast of New Zealand and popped up on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, west of the Galapagos Islands after 244 days at liberty. This incredible journey is not just this year's longest but also ranks as the third longest in the program's history and the longest for a striped marlin by over 2000 nm, with a total estimated travel distance of 6,517 nm. These remarkable distances are not just numbers but represent the critical data contributing to our understanding of billfish behavior, life history, and migratory patterns, integral to billfish conservation and the health of our oceans. The impressive movement data collected from the victorious striped marlin offers researchers a glimpse into seldom reported trans-Pacific movements and will help improve our understanding of stock connectivity for
Dania Beach, Fla. –The International Game Fish Association (IGFA), a global leader in game fish conservation, is proud to announce the results of its annual IGFA Great Marlin Race. Taking place from October 1 – September 30 each year, the IGFA Great Marlin Race is a billfish research and conservation initiative allowing recreational anglers to become citizen scientists by deploying satellite tags on the billfish they catch. A collaboration between the IGFA and Dr. Barbara Block’s lab at Stanford University, the tags transmit vital information to researchers who analyze and share the data, leading to a better understanding of these incredible animals and how to better manage them. Since its launch in 2011, the IGFA Great Marlin Race has transformed the way that scientists, anglers, and policymakers understand billfish migration patterns and habitat utilization, helping secure the future of these dynamic species for generations. To date, through the race, more than 600 satellite tags have been deployed on billfish worldwide, making it the largest program of its kind. During the 2023-2024 race, a total of 30 satellite tags were deployed on five billfish species during 14 global tagging events. While some tags are set to provide data for the 2024-2025 race, 17 tags surfaced during this year's race, revealing fascinating migration patterns and a cumulative estimated track distance of 80,912 nm over 4,597 days across blue (11), striped (10), white (7), and black marlin (1), as well as Mediterranean spearfish (1).The IGFA is excited to declare that the winner of the 2023-2024 IGFA Great Marlin Race is a tagged striped marlin sponsored by the Bay of Islands Swordfish Club, a top supporter of the program. The winning tag was deployed aboard the Nammu by Captain David Wooff during the 2024 New Zealand tagging event.
Annual IGFA Great Marlin Race Crowns Remarkable Journey in Billfish Conservation Bay of Islands Swordfish Club’s striped marlin makes IGFA Great Marlin Race history
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 25, 2024
"The IGFA Great Marlin Race was established to involve the angling community in citizen science," said IGFA President, Jason Schratwieser. "By marrying competition and conservation, we can gather data that helps ensure the survival of these magnificent species. This year's winners exemplify the heart of this program: a deep commitment to conservation and the betterment of sport fishing." This year's IGFA Great Marlin Race has shed light on unprecedented migratory patterns, especially the trans-Pacific journey of the winning striped marlin, the first of its kind recorded by the research program. These insights are crucial for the development of effective conservation strategies, ensuring these species thrive for future generations.
this species. All data collected throughout the existence of the IGFA Great Marlin Race has been accomplished with financial support and assistance from recreational anglers.
The IGFA extends hearty congratulations to the winners and expresses profound gratitude to all participants and supporters of the 2023-2024 IGFA Great Marlin Race. Their contributions solidify the legacy of sport fishing and emphasize the pivotal role anglers play in billfish conservation. The IGFA Great Marlin Race, proudly presented by Costa Sunglasses, is made possible through the generous support of sponsors AFTCO, Bass Pro Shops and the Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, and Yamaha Rightwaters. For more information on the IGFA Great Marlin Race or to participate in future events, please visit www.igfa.org/the-great-marlin-race. About the International Game Fish Association Established in 1939, the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) is a global nonprofit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and the promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices. With members in more than 100 countries, the IGFA is the world’s leading authority on sport fishing and maintains the global database of game fish world records and angling rules. Through education, research, advocacy, and angler recognition, the IGFA strives to ensure the future of fishing and sustainable fisheries around the world. To learn more or become a member, visit www.igfa.org.
Figure1A typical striped marlin stomach to the left, full of oceanic pufferfish, but with a paper nautilus (argonauts) in it. Some of the deepwater oddities in the stomach on the right, two small louvar and a stack of paper nautilus beaks.
Striped marlin: deep water divers or late night snackers? By Tristan Guillemin
The obvious answer is that the striped marlin are diving down deep to get these fish. After all, plenty of fish make deep dives for food, so why couldn’t striped marlin? But there is another possibility. Every single night, millions of deepwater organisms rise from the depths to feed on the abundant plankton of the warm surface waters. As the next day dawns, these organisms return to the dark depths from which they came. So what does this mean for our striped marlin? Are they diving down to feed on these organisms or do they hunt at night when the food comes to them?
The most exciting part of diet studies is finding things you don’t quite expect. While striped marlin were full of the usual suspects such as toadfish (Lagocephalusspp. andTorquigenerspp.) or schooling prey like bigeyes (Priacanthusspp.), yakkas (Trachurusspp. andDecapturusspp.) and small tuna and slimies (Auxisspp. andS. australasicus), I also some deepwater oddities in there. In particular, species like louvar (L. imperialis), argonauts (A. nodosus), winged lanturn fish (L. alatus), oilfish (R. pretiosus) amongst others. But where on earth were the striped marlin finding these?
Figure 2 Tagged striped marlin diving behaviour. Diving behaviour at the top, temperature profile at the bottom.
Well luckily for us, recent satellite tagging work by DPI may hold the answer to our questions. If you haven’t seen the latest satellite tagging work from DPI, there’s some seriously cool striped marlin tracks and I urge you to go have a look on their Facebook. In addition to these cool tracks, they’ve also shared the marlin’s diving behaviour which will reveal whether they dive deep enough to catch those deepwater denizens.
Looking at the data, it looks like all the tagged striped marlin are consistently making some pretty deep dives. I’ve included a plot of one fish which was swimming around with a tag on it from the 2ndMarch until the 28thMay, and what you can see, is that the marlin spends a lot of its time diving. Some of the dives (around the 10-12thMarch) go down to nearly 300m deep, definitely deep enough to be finding a few deepwater species to snack on. While this doesn’t rule out nighttime feeding, it certainly suggests that they do dive down to hunt! Sometimes, combining scientific approaches is the only way to see the full picture! Without the tagging study, we’d have been left scratching our heads as to where the marlin caught these deepwater species and without our diet study, DPI would have been scratching their heads as to why the marlin were doing these dives. This is the perfect example of science being a puzzle, it sometimes takes a few different pieces put together to see the full picture.
www.tantrumlures.com
SAINTLY WHISPERS