DFO researchers are encouraged by some of the big fish being caught during the summer’s recreational food fishery.

People with substantially large fish have been posting their catches to Facebook, something of which DFO says it’s aware.

Aquatic science biologist with DFO Emilie Novaczek says larger fish are generally an indicator of fish that are living longer.

“It’s a pretty common pattern across different fish species that if they grow more, they get larger, they’re also more productive, they have higher survival, so that’s all really good news for the stock if we’re getting more and more of these large fish. Whether the number of fish coming up that are bigger in the food fishery right now is going to be enough that it’s going to be significant to the stocks, is something that further research is going to have to work on, but generally, really happy to see these big fish.”

In the meantime, DFO is encouraging anyone participating in the food fishery to contact them if the fish they catch has a tag. The tags are worth $10, $20 or even $100 depending on the colour for their return.

If you caught a tagged fish, follow the instructions on the tag, or email dfo.nlgroundfish-poissondefond.mpo@dfo-mpo.gc.ca