TETIAROA, FRENCH POLYNESIA
In 2014 Fly Odyssey undertook a fisheries research study on Giant Trevally moments throughout the stunning Tetiaroa lagoon in French Polynesia, with the help of some of our fly fishing clients staying at The Brando. During the tagging week 2 anglers cast at over 60 giant trevally with 5 fish selected and acoustically tagged by fisheries scientist Dr.Alex Filous.
After the GT’s which were all caught on fly, were tagged and release, Alex then spent months following them around the atoll lagoon to determine their behavior and movement, which unearthed some very interesting results. On release, all GT’s made their way to the deepest part of the lagoon where they remained for 1-2 days before resuming their normal feeding habits.
His results showed that GT’s were very habitual in their movements following the same beat or route day after day, working similar ground during the day and then having specific hunting grounds that they focussed their movements on at night. This defined home location for each GT provides further thinking on fishing new Atolls and fisheries with the understanding that certainly over the short-term, that areas fished need to be well managed.
Alex’s work has now been published in the Atoll Research Bulletin with provides insights into better fisheries management for these amazing apex predators and sportfish.
GT Study – Atoll Research Bulletin
Since this time Alex has gone onto study the bonefish population of Anaa atoll in French Polynesia, the work undertaken here helped him to complete his PhD as well as provide protection key fisheries data to enable the of the bonefish spawning stock on this atoll, funded by Fly Odyssey and The Island Initiative.
To read all about the amazing Anaa Atoll, click here.