A Bermudian-tagged blue marlin has won an international “race” after it swam more than 5,000 miles to Brazil.

The International Game Fish Association this week awarded the fish, caught by Marc Verzaleno during the Bermuda Triple Crown Billfish Champion, the title of winner of the 2017-18 Great Marlin Race.

After being tagged, the marlin swam 5,856 miles — the furthest tracked by a fish tagged in the programme — in 234 days. The marlin was last recorded around 690 miles northeast of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte.

The “race”, organised through a partnership with America’s Stanford University, was designed to help researchers learn more about the fish.

Nehl Horton, IGFA president, said: “Congratulations to tag sponsor Mike Verzaleno whose generosity allowed us to track the incredible journey of the winning billfish. “Strong support from recreational anglers is the key to the success of this innovative, citizen-science conservation initiative.”

More than 350 billfish have been tagged through IGMR events since 2011, with 58 tagged in the 2017-18 season alone.

Marlin tagged at the Bermuda Triple Crown have been tracked over a combined total of 18,946 miles in the past three years.