My 254th fish tag return

[NJ219bands]

The third bluefish that I caught, tagged and released this year in Manasquan Inlet at 28” and 8 lbs on May 6, was recaptured in the East River of NY, 6/15/2024 at 33”. NJ bluefish grow very fast.

[Broad Bill]

There is no way a 28" bluefish grew 5 inches in a month and a half unless it was eating radioactive bunker.

[bulletbob]

LOL,,well, it IS the East River, so radioactive bunker is not out of the question. Otherwise, the guy has been tagging fish for years, and has had 254 returns, many of them documented on these pages. I don't know what fabricating a bogus tag return report on these pages would do for him.

I just read a reproductive study on Bluefish that said young ones can grow an inch a week, so I dunno, it might indicate that there are some adult Bluefish that can grow 5 inches in 5 or 6 weeks given the right feed and conditions.

I have always found his reports of tag returns quite interesting, and don't believe there is any reason to doubt his return report.... bob

[Broad Bill]

Bob I'm not doubting Bands report at all, I think it's possible the person who recaptured the fish either exaggerated it's size, estimated the fishes length or used the attached ruler:D. Radioactive East River bunker can't be ruled out though! Young snappers do grow very quickly, at times an inch a week in the early stages of their life cycle as do peanut bunker and most juvenile fish to survive. Mature 28" fish with that growth rate, guess anything is possible but that would be a freak of nature. Maybe two bluefins grabbed it from each side and stretched it! I'm not accusing Bands of anything, love his reports and the fact he takes time to tag so many fish. Lot of useful information from his efforts and he should be commended. If someone lands a 57" bluefish in Maine later this year, I'll remove my post.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1676448810/trick-ruler-for-size-enhancement-prank

[NJ219bands]

Fish taggers use fork length while fishermen use tip of the tail length.

[bulletbob]

Fish taggers use fork length while fishermen use tip of the tail length.

That makes sense.....Probably exactly what happened...I might have done that myself to be honest. btw, why would any self respecting Bluefish want to go from the Manasquan to East River of all places?. Maybe its not as bad as it used to be...

[Papasown]

find NJ219bands posts to be very interesting, with good photos also. I look for his input, and get a kick out of the times that someone is fishing in his spot. He just moves down the rocks a bit and catches there.....lol
You go NJ219bands !! Papa