Landing of a tagged black marlin Istiompax indica (Cuvier, 1832)at Tharuvaikulam, Tuticorin

In Tharuvaikulam(8053’42"N,78009’56.6"E), Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India, there is a regular drift gill net (mesh size 120-140 mm) fishery targeting mainly tunas and seer fishes. The fishing trip is multiday (5 to 6 days) and the operation is only during night, with normally one haul per day. In this gear, bill fishes are also landed being entangled and not gilled. Normally four species of billfishes are landed such as Istiophorus platypterus, Tetrapterus angustirostris, istiompax indica and Xiphias gladius. On 1.2.13, two numbers of I. indica was landed along with other fishes.