Tagging of fish??? Throw in your 2cents!

[Capt John S]

So.. just wondering what you guys thought of this topic.. Chime in.. I searched it in the board without finding any results from recent times.. So maybe new points, ideas, opinions..?

Tagging fish! Who does it? What Species?
If you don't tag.. Why? Any reason?
Catch a short with a tag.. Do you cut it?
Keeper, do you send it in?

On The Benchmark, we are a part of the Atlantic Tuna Project. Focusing on Bluefin. Just last season.. tagging well over 50. I'll have to look up exact number, but I guess closer to 100. Thats it though, just BFT. I made a promise to myself this year to actively tag all species.. OK, maybe not every single fish we catch.. but "Representatives" every trip.. from fluke to seabass, tog to bass, shark to billfish..

Why not.. It can only help right? Are you not curious where your released fish ends up?

Also..
Anyone know of tagging programs other then the American Littoral Society? Since they choose to list the EDF under their "links of interests", not sure if I can happily support them...

OK.. let me hear your thoughts!

[Tacklebox Joe]

Capt,

It is funny you brought this up. I am a new member of the American Littoral Society. I received up my tags and needles just this past Wednesday 

http://www.littoralsociety.org/fish_tagging.aspx

[Noworries2009]

Did some tagging  in the 90's of  bluefin thru NOAA and the HMFS permit program. I tagged a 25# bluefin in 1998 and had a return 9yrs later . Fish was caught off Spain/ near Gibralter at 325#. Shows how they migrate across the Atlantic and are taken there. We never really knew this until the last 10 yrs.Tagging is very important for all species but we must use what we learn to improve our fisheries. 

[Tacklebox Joe]

That's a cool story john! 

[bassnblues]

Never thought of doing it. How do you get started?

[Hotrod]

 

[Capt John S]

http://www.littoralsociety.org/fish_tagging.aspx

Tacklebox Joe touched already on how to get started through the American Littoral Society. There is a $35 membership fee, and it's $6 per 10 tags. I think it's a great program, other then my concern I mentioned previously. As soon as I find time, I'll research if any other programs exist.. The "ALS" is the only one I'm aware of right now for inshore species.

For the Bluefin tags.. visit.. http://savethebluefin.ning.com/page/bluefin-tuna-catch-release
A really cool program if you target BFT!

If anyone else knows of tagging programs, please let me know.

[Bucktail]

Never tagged any fish.  I've caught a few tagged stripers and just threw most of them back with the tag still on.  But I did cut one off and send it in and they sent me a certificate and a free hat.

[Noworries2009]

I have caught several tagged stripers in recent years. There are several organizations tagging including NJ Fish&Wildlife. I believe they give out the hats when a tagged fish is caught and you call in the info and answer a few questions.

[captain joe]

I am a member of the Earn Your Stripes Fishing Team and also just joined the American Littoral Society program for this coming year. Think it is a great idea.

Check out the website and join the club. It's free.
http://earnyourstripesfishing.com/

[Capt John S]

Thanks Capt.. I'll check out the club!

[Capt Buddy]

I am a firm believer of working with a fish tagging. One of the big issues we are fighting in the Gulf of Mexico is the mortality rate on grouper. The NMFS says that 35% of all grouper caught and release die. Due to a tagging project I have worked with the real number is about 10%. This is a big difference when you start working on a stock assessment. If we had not had this tagging study the battle would be lost before it even started. We are still in a battle over it but we do have the true facts not the made up numbers the NMFS uses. The ones of you tagging fish keep it up and the ones that are not please get started. It will make a difference when you have to take on a battle over your fishery.

[Capt John S]

Capt. Buddy.. Well said.. The tagging can only give us invaluable info for the future.. Which, especially with the situations we're facing as an industry and within the recreational sector, will turn into much needed "real" info.

Here is a link from the "ALS" on the fish that were caught with tags in 2009,
http://www.littoralsociety.org/userfiles/doccenter/2009RecaptureData.pdf

Just take a peek into it guys.. Especially within the Stripers.. The area they cover, the amount of time til recapture.. Why are we, as sportsman, not more involved in this? Isn't this information we should be proud to help compile?

[ajz3]

Very interesting stuff. May need to research this more.