East0059 2 Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 Just wondering if any of you folk have any information or theories as to why all of a sudden all these huge tuna are being caught in the south east? I know SE has always had tuna but from what I have been told not the barrels that are being reported atm. Certainly has something to do with water temp as there have been reports also of humpback whales down there, but looking at the BOM sea-surface temps certainly doesn't look like anything special? Cheers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AquaticResearch1 1,046 Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 Honestly don't know but my prediction is some kind of ocean current is upwelling, bringing with it heaps of Krill and zooplankton and the like, followed by the whales. This is followed by pelagic baitfish (could explain the lack of metro st's) and hence in come the tuna. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rod 773 Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 G'day One thing I heard a couple of years ago is that the Japanese got caught in an Al Capone style forensic accounting sting taking 500% of their tuna quota. Approximately 7 years ago international inspectors were placed on each ship in the fleet. Since then the biomass passing through SA, as measured by the Port Lincoln tuna farmers has increased dramatically every year Cheers Rod Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Underpants 1,543 Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 Big El Nino in the making, so a different sea current regime? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 Honestly don't know but my prediction is some kind of ocean current is upwelling, bringing with it heaps of Krill and zooplankton and the like, followed by the whales. This is followed by pelagic baitfish (could explain the lack of metro st's) and hence in come the tuna. I'm only guessing myself but I reckon you'd be spot on with your theory. Something is causing a lot of bait to be there and the big tuna are following. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
coogan 2 Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 From what I've heard from different people, I believe its definitely related to water temperature (and the bait with it). El Nino definitely has an impact as it is associated with sea surface temperatures in the certain parts of the Indian & Pacific oceans. Apparently the barrel tuna like the colder water which is unseasonally closer to our southern coastline for this time of year. Some reckon these fish are on the way back, but in normal years would be in the colder water of depths of 2000m or so out of range of boats. It has been ridiculous how many barrels have been caught this season (have heard 1000). Something that probably needs some regulation in the future...? Rod 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
seagypsy 1,182 Posted October 18, 2015 Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 Apparently there is a heap of large snapper off Port MacDonald atm. Might explain the absence in our gulf atm. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stealthy Fisher 51 Posted October 19, 2015 Report Share Posted October 19, 2015 Fair chance there is a heap on the 139/coral patch grounds south of the mouth too at this time of year, can remember seeing cray pots full of them. In terms of the SBT definitely something to do with currents by all accounts the east coast has seen big pelagics in close too. Cheers SF seagypsy 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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