Sport FiShTag & Release

Program

What’s happening in Sport Fish Tag and Release research?

Our Research Partners

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sport Fish Restoration Program

and

the thousands of anglers who make this research possible!

AA/EOE/ADAI 11/08

703 East Beach Drive • Ocean Springs, MS 39564Phone: 228.872.4202 • FAX: 228.872.4204www.usm.edu/gcrl

The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) has been a leader in angler-cooperative marine sport fish tag and release since 1989. Thousands of volunteer anglers across the northern Gulf of Mexico and the southeastern United States have assisted GCRL researchers with investigating the movement patterns of important fishery species, namely, cobia, tripletail and spotted seatrout.

The Sport Fish Tag and Release Program relies on the fishing community to tag fish and report recaptures, which is vital to determining movement patterns and growth rates. The involvement of anglers in these activities provides information which is difficult to obtain by other means.

program hiStoryThe Tag and Release Program began in 1989 with

the Cobia Project in an effort to develop a database on the migratory patterns and growth rates of this species. In 1995 the Spotted Seatrout Tag and Release Program was established to evaluate movements of this species in Mississippi coastal waters. The Tripletail Tag and Release Program was added as a research component in 2001. These programs have been well-received by the sport fishing

community and are recognized in the International Game Fish Association’s listing of fish tagging programs.

For more inFormation: Read Hendon

read.hendon@usm.eduCenter for Fisheries Research and Development

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory

Volunteer anglers form the backbone of the tagging research.

(Photo submitted by Brian Kiel)

Sport FiShTag & Release

Program

What’s happening in Sport Fish Tag and Release research?

Our Research Partners

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sport Fish Restoration Program

and

the thousands of anglers who make this research possible!

AA/EOE/ADAI 11/08

703 East Beach Drive • Ocean Springs, MS 39564Phone: 228.872.4202 • FAX: 228.872.4204www.usm.edu/gcrl

The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) has been a leader in angler-cooperative marine sport fish tag and release since 1989. Thousands of volunteer anglers across the northern Gulf of Mexico and the southeastern United States have assisted GCRL researchers with investigating the movement patterns of important fishery species, namely, cobia, tripletail and spotted seatrout.

The Sport Fish Tag and Release Program relies on the fishing community to tag fish and report recaptures, which is vital to determining movement patterns and growth rates. The involvement of anglers in these activities provides information which is difficult to obtain by other means.

program hiStoryThe Tag and Release Program began in 1989 with

the Cobia Project in an effort to develop a database on the migratory patterns and growth rates of this species. In 1995 the Spotted Seatrout Tag and Release Program was established to evaluate movements of this species in Mississippi coastal waters. The Tripletail Tag and Release Program was added as a research component in 2001. These programs have been well-received by the sport fishing

community and are recognized in the International Game Fish Association’s listing of fish tagging programs.

For more inFormation: Read Hendon

read.hendon@usm.eduCenter for Fisheries Research and Development

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory

Volunteer anglers form the backbone of the tagging research.

(Photo submitted by Brian Kiel)

Important Terms and AbbreviationstL

total length of the fish, in inches

FLfork length of the fish, in inches (cobia only)

time at Libertythe time period between when a fish is

tagged and when it is recaptured

Distance traveledthe distance traveled, in miles,

between the tagging and recapturelocations, based on the most direct route

tagging KitS

5. Release the fish as soon aspossible, reviving it if necessary.Record all information onthe tagging data cardand mail it to projectpersonnel.

1. Land the fish as soonas possible using anappropriate size net.

3. Insert the taginto the fish,taking care notto penetratetoo deeply.

2. Take an accuratelength measurementand record the data.Covering the fish’s eyeswith a wet towel mayhelp calm the fish.

4. Pull slightly on thetag to make sure itis firmly in place.

proper tagging teChniQUeS

Spotted Seatrout Tag and Release ProgramThe focus of the Spotted Seatrout Tag and Release Program

has been on Mississippi-caught spotted seatrout (speckled trout) due to the localized movements of the species. In recent years, that focus has also shifted to spotted seatrout that meet or exceed the state’s minimum size limit (i.e. legal fish) due to a lack of data on the movements of larger fish. Mississippi’s recent reduction in the minimum size limit for spotted seatrout from 14 to 13 inches TL has not changed the goal of this research. We still ask that anglers only tag Mississippi-caught specks 14 inches TL or longer.

Mississippi’s spotted seatrout generally exhibit limited movement patterns, as detailed in a paper published in Gulf of Mexico Science. Copies of this publication are available upon request. Of the more than 17,000 spotted seatrout tagged and released through this program from 1995-2008, approximately three percent were recaptured and reported to

project personnel. Tagging results revealed that more than 90 percent of tagged fish had moved less than 10 miles upon recapture and only three fish had traveled 30 miles or more. Fish movement did not appear to be related to fish size or

time at liberty. The fact that only one percent of recaptures exhibited interstate movementssupports the Gulf-wide notion that spotted seatrout

are generally resident fish within the coastal waters of each state. Results from this ongoing research support the current strategy of managing spotted seatrout on a state-by-state level.

Participation in this research has been low in recent years. We encourage all anglers who fish in Mississippi waters to participate in this tagging program to help learn more about the movements of large spotted seatrout. Every fish tagged and recaptured gives us more knowledge about the habits of this popular coastal species.

We would like to thank the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sport Fish Restoration Program for continued funding of this research. Special thanks to all of the anglers and boat captains who have participated in this program over the years; this truly is YOUR research project.

Acknowledgmentsprogram CoorDinatorS:Read Hendon and Jim FranksGulf Coast Research Laboratory

Michael BuchananMississippi Department of Marine Resources

Bob GasawayU. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sport Fish Restoration

Special thanks to Danny and Laurie Pitalo of Gorenflo’s Cobia Tournament (Biloxi, Miss.), Tommy Holmes of the Outcast Cobia Tournament (Pensacola, Fla.) and Kelley Clements of the Harbor Walk Cobia Tournament (Destin, Fla.) for their assistance in recruiting anglers (taggers) during tournament meetings. Many thanks also to David Hall of Hallprint Ltd. for his advice and support over the years.

This brochure was prepared by Read Hendon and Jim Franks of the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Center for Fisheries Research and Development. Cover photo courtesy of Doug Olander, Sport Fishing Magazine.

Commercial crabber Nick Drinnen, of Englewood, Fla., has tagged more than 1,000 tripletail. We would like to recognizeNick for his tremendous contribution to this research.

Participating anglers are provided with a free tagging kit, which includes tags, tag cards, a tag applicator, instruction booklet and a pencil. The type of tag used for these programs is a “dart tag”, developed and manufactured in Australia by Hallprint Pty. Ltd. (http://www.hallprint.com). The tag consists of a polyethylene streamer bonded to a nylon dart head made of non-toxic materials and is inserted below the spinous dorsal fin of the fish. When properly inserted, the tags produce no long-term injury and can remain firmly implanted for years. Each tag is attached to a corresponding data card, on which the requested information about the catch is to be recorded. Anglers are asked to mail their data cards to the GCRL within a reasonable time period so the data can be archived. If the original tagging data is not on file when a fish is recaptured, nothing can be learned about that fish’s movements or growth. Consequently, the time, effort and resources expended on that particular fish are wasted.

Anglers interested in tagging any of the target species should call or email project staff to request the free tagging kits.

Dyan.Gibson, 228.818.8818or dyan.gibson@usm.edu

Fish illustration courtesy of Marty Wilson, Art FX Studios

More than 1,600 anglers have received tagging kits for cobia since 1989. A total of 15,650 cobia have been tagged and released with 1,004 of those fish (6.4 percent) reported as recaptured through 2008.

The program has evolved on the regional level with anglers from Texas to Virginia contributing to this research. However, the northern Gulf, particularly northwestern Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana, remains the most productive area for the tag and release of cobia, accounting for over 83 percent of all fish tagged. While angler participation has remained high in the northern Gulf, there has been a recent decrease in the number of cobia tagged in the south Florida area, an active zone in their general migratory route. To address this lack of data, we ask for assistance from south Florida anglers with tagging fish in this vital area. Additionally, numerous reports of recaptured cobia have been received but movement patterns could not be estimated because no tagging data had been returned for those fish.

A trend in the migratory behavior of cobia has emerged from the data, which suggests cobia overwinter in the south Florida area with a subsequent migration north along either

side of the Florida Peninsula in early spring. Gulf fish generally arrive in waters along the Florida Panhandle in March and April and then move to waters off Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas by May, where they reside through fall. A return migration to south Florida is assumed for many fish.

While most data support this migratory trend, potential non-migratory groups of fish have also been reported. For instance, there may be a group of cobia that does not leave south Florida waters, as fish have been tagged throughout the year in that area. Additionally, winter recaptures of cobia in northern Gulf waters are rare but suggest some fish may not

Cobia Tag and Release Program

Schools of migratory cobia present an excellent opportunity for tagging.

(GCRL file photo)

CoBia top tagging angLerS 2004 - 20082004 ................... Tim Falzone (Gulf Breeze, Fla.)2005 .................. Nick Drinnen (Englewood, Fla.)2006 ..................... Tom Stephens (Sarasota, Fla.)2007 ....................... Chris Lister (Pensacola, Fla.)2008 ......... Brennan Moore (Orange Beach, Ala.)

2004 .................Myles Colley III (Pensacola, Fla.)2005 .................Myles Colley III (Pensacola, Fla.)2006 .....................Tom Stephens (Sarasota, Fla.)2007 ................. Tommy Holmes (Pensacola, Fla.)2008 ............... Bo Keough (Orange Beach, Ala.)

CoBia top tagging CaptainS2004 - 2008

510 miles to Topsail Beach, North Carolina. These data suggest future management of the species may require a regional approach in order to establish uniform limits on the species among states within its migratory range. It stands to reason that movements between the relatively small coastlines of Mississippi andAlabama are certainly possible, as are interactions of fish between Alabama and Florida waters as well as Mississippiand Louisiana waters.

(Continued)

(Tripletail...continued)

Accurate length measurements and timely data reporting are essential to the program’s success.

(Photo submitted by Greg Hildreth)

leave that area but simply overwinter in deeper waters, returning inshore as water temperatures increase in spring and summer.

In addition to those potentially non-migratory groups of cobia, recent data suggest that cobia migrations may be a function of their locations within the Gulf. Most of the data from this research pertains to fish tagged east of the mouth of the Mississippi River; consequently, there is a lack of cobia tagged off western Louisiana and Texas. Satellite tagging data and anecdotal evidence suggest those western Gulf fish may migrate seasonally along the Texas coastline, to and from south Texas and Mexican waters, much like Florida-tagged fish migrate along the western Florida Peninsula in spring. These potential migrations across international boundaries could have important management consequences, and we ask for assistance from Texas anglers in learning more about the western Gulf fish.

South Florida

Eastern Gulf

Western Gulf

Atlantic Waters

TAGGed in:Cobia Movement Among Regions, 1989-2007

56% South Florida

32% Eastern Gulf

6% Western Gulf

6% Atlantic Waters

12% South Florida

66% Eastern Gulf

17% Western Gulf

6% Atlantic Waters

5% South Florida

18% Eastern Gulf

73% Western Gulf

5% Atlantic Waters

17% South Florida

21% Eastern Gulf

4% Western Gulf

58% Atlantic Waters

ReCAPTuRed in:

More than 2,000 tripletail have been tagged and released from 1996 through 2008. Of those fish, 229 have been recaptured, resulting in an astounding recapture rate of 11.1 percent. Due to the efforts of dedicated anglers, most of the information gained through this research pertains to tripletail occurring in Florida waters, as 78 percent of all fish have been tagged along the Florida Peninsula. Tagging data show that tripletail occur year-round in Florida waters but only occur seasonally in the northern Gulf, having been tagged from May to October in Alabama and Mississippi waters. The year-round occurrence of tripletail along the Florida Peninsula is likely attributable to the warmer water temperatures during winter.

Although tripletail is considered a coastal pelagic species, tagging data suggest they do not follow the same migratory pattern as cobia. A few long-distance movements along the Florida Gulf and Atlantic coastlines have been observed, but no clear migratory trend has emerged from the data. For instance,

three fish tagged in Florida Atlantic waters off Cape Canaveral were recaptured at the same location six months to two years later. Also, of 10 fish tagged in winter off Englewood (western Florida Peninsula), four were recaptured the following spring 120 to 180 miles south in Florida Bay and six were recaptured the following spring/summer 30 to 55 miles south around Sanibel Island and Fort Myers. Conversely, one winter-tagged fish off Bonita Beach traveled 125 miles north to Tampa Bay by late summer. Fish tagged in February off Bonita Beach and in March off Englewood moved more than 200 miles north to Apalachicola Bay by May and July, respectively. While no clear seasonal trend is evident, data suggest that tripletail occurring in coastal waters of the Florida Peninsula may be resident fish there. The fish exhibit some degree of extended movements within those waters but remain in the same general region.

In northern Gulf waters recaptures of tripletail provided data primarily on short-distance movements from May through October. No outstanding movements were observed with the

exception of one tripletail that was tagged in the Mississippi Sound in August of 2005 and then recaptured the following summer in the western Mississippi Sound. Because tripletail do not occur in northern Gulf coastal waters during winter, it is safe to assume that this fish left Mississippi waters only to return the following year. This particular recapture, coupled with the lack of recaptures of northern Gulf fish in Florida coastal waters, leads us to believe that northern Gulf tripletail act independently of those fish off the Florida Peninsula and may follow a general onshore-offshore migration pattern. However, recapture data for tripletail in northern Gulf offshore waters are needed to verify this theory.

Unlike cobia, only two tripletail recaptured to date have exhibited movement across state coastal boundary lines.

Both fish traveled north from Cape Canaveral, Florida. One was recaptured off St. Simmons, Georgia and the other moved

tripletail are often associated with structure and Sargassum weed-lines, as seen here. (gCrL file photo)

tripLetaiL top taggingangLerS 2004 - 20082004 .................. Nick Drinnen (Englewood, Fla.)2005 .................. Nick Drinnen (Englewood, Fla.)2006 .................. Nick Drinnen (Englewood, Fla.)2007 .................. Nick Drinnen (Englewood, Fla.)2008 .............................. Troy Perez (Mims, Fla.)

Tripletail Tag and Release Program(Cobia...continued)

Biloxi, Miss., artist Marty Wilson generously donated the artwork for the tripletail promotional t-shirt.

(Continued)

More than 1,600 anglers have received tagging kits for cobia since 1989. A total of 15,650 cobia have been tagged and released with 1,004 of those fish (6.4 percent) reported as recaptured through 2008.

The program has evolved on the regional level with anglers from Texas to Virginia contributing to this research. However, the northern Gulf, particularly northwestern Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana, remains the most productive area for the tag and release of cobia, accounting for over 83 percent of all fish tagged. While angler participation has remained high in the northern Gulf, there has been a recent decrease in the number of cobia tagged in the south Florida area, an active zone in their general migratory route. To address this lack of data, we ask for assistance from south Florida anglers with tagging fish in this vital area. Additionally, numerous reports of recaptured cobia have been received but movement patterns could not be estimated because no tagging data had been returned for those fish.

A trend in the migratory behavior of cobia has emerged from the data, which suggests cobia overwinter in the south Florida area with a subsequent migration north along either

side of the Florida Peninsula in early spring. Gulf fish generally arrive in waters along the Florida Panhandle in March andApril and then move to waters off Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas by May, where they reside through fall. A return migration to south Florida is assumed for many fish.

While most data support this migratory trend, potential non-migratory groups of fish have also been reported. For instance, there may be a group of cobia that does not leave south Florida waters, as fish have been tagged throughout the year in that area. Additionally, winter recaptures of cobia innorthern Gulf waters are rare but suggest some fish may not

Cobia Tag and Release Program

Schools of migratory cobia present an excellent opportunity for tagging.

(GCRL file photo)

CoBia top tagging angLerS2004 - 20082004 ................... Tim Falzone (Gulf Breeze, Fla.)2005 .................. Nick Drinnen (Englewood, Fla.)2006 ..................... Tom Stephens (Sarasota, Fla.)2007 ....................... Chris Lister (Pensacola, Fla.)2008 ......... Brennan Moore (Orange Beach, Ala.)

2004 .................Myles Colley III (Pensacola, Fla.)2005 .................Myles Colley III (Pensacola, Fla.)2006 .....................Tom Stephens (Sarasota, Fla.)2007 ................. Tommy Holmes (Pensacola, Fla.)2008 ............... Bo Keough (Orange Beach, Ala.)

CoBia top tagging CaptainS2004 - 2008

510 miles to Topsail Beach, North Carolina. These data suggest future management of the species may require a regional approach in order to establish uniform limits on the species among states within its migratory range. It stands to reason that movements between the relatively small coastlines of Mississippi and Alabama are certainly possible, as are interactions of fish between Alabama and Florida waters as well as Mississippi and Louisiana waters.

(Continued)

(Tripletail...continued)

Accurate length measurements and timely data reporting are essential to the program’s success.

(Photo submitted by Greg Hildreth)

Important Terms and AbbreviationstL

total length of the fish, in inches

FLfork length of the fish, in inches (cobia only)

time at Libertythe time period between when a fish is

tagged and when it is recaptured

Distance traveledthe distance traveled, in miles,

between the tagging and recapturelocations, based on the most direct route

tagging KitSParticipating anglers are

provided with a free tagging kit, which includes tags, tag cards, a tag applicator, instruction booklet and a pencil. The type of tag used for these programs is a “dart tag”, developed and manufactured in Australia by Hallprint Pty. Ltd. (http://www.hallprint.com). The tag consists of a polyethylene streamer bonded to a nylon dart head made of non-toxic materials and is inserted below the spinous dorsal fin of the fish. When properly inserted, the tags produce no long-term injury and can remain firmly implanted for years. Each tag is attached to a corresponding data card, on which the requested information about the catch is to be recorded. Anglers are asked to mail their data cards to the GCRL within a reasonable time period so the data can be archived. If the original tagging data is not on file when a fish is recaptured, nothing can be learned about that fish’s movements or growth. Consequently, the time, effort and resources expended on that particular fish are wasted.

Anglers interested in tagging any of the target species should call or email project staff to request the free tagging kits.

5. Release the fish as soon as possible, reviving it if necessary.Record all information on the tagging data card and mail it to projectpersonnel.

1. Land the fish as soon as possible using an appropriate size net.

3. Insert the tag into the fish, taking care not to penetrate too deeply.

2. Take an accuratelength measurement and record the data. Covering the fish’s eyeswith a wet towel may help calm the fish.

4. Pull slightly on the tag to make sure it is firmly in place.

proper tagging teChniQUeS

Spotted Seatrout Tag and Release ProgramThe focus of the Spotted Seatrout Tag and Release Program

has been on Mississippi-caught spotted seatrout (speckled trout) due to the localized movements of the species. In recent years, that focus has also shifted to spotted seatrout that meet or exceed the state’s minimum size limit (i.e. legal fish) due to a lack of data on the movements of larger fish. Mississippi’s recent reduction in the minimum size limit for spotted seatrout from 14 to 13 inches TL has not changed the goal of this research. We still ask that anglers only tag Mississippi-caught specks 14 inches TL or longer.

Mississippi’s spotted seatrout generally exhibit limited movement patterns, as detailed in a paper published in Gulf of Mexico Science. Copies of this publication are available upon request. Of the more than 17,000 spotted seatrout tagged and released through this program from 1995-2008, approximately three percent were recaptured and reported to

project personnel. Tagging results revealed that more than 90 percent of tagged fish had moved less than 10 miles upon recapture and only three fish had traveled 30 miles or more. Fish movement did not appear to be related to fish size or

time at liberty. The fact that only one percent of recaptures exhibited interstate movements supports the Gulf-wide notion that spotted seatrout

are generally resident fish within the coastal waters of each state. Results from this ongoing research support the current strategy of managing spotted seatrout on a state-by-state level.

Participation in this research has been low in recent years. We encourage all anglers who fish in Mississippi waters to participate in this tagging program to help learn more about the movements of large spotted seatrout. Every fish tagged and recaptured gives us more knowledge about the habits of this popular coastal species.

We would like to thank the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sport Fish Restoration Program for continued funding of this research. Special thanks to all of the anglers and boat captains who have participated in this program over the years; this truly is YOUR research project.

Acknowledgmentsprogram CoorDinatorS:Read Hendon and Jim FranksGulf Coast Research Laboratory

Michael BuchananMississippi Department of Marine Resources

Bob GasawayU. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sport Fish Restoration

Special thanks to Danny and Laurie Pitalo of Gorenflo’s Cobia Tournament (Biloxi, Miss.), Tommy Holmes of the Outcast Cobia Tournament (Pensacola, Fla.) and Kelley Clements of the Harbor Walk Cobia Tournament (Destin, Fla.) for their assistance in recruiting anglers (taggers) during tournament meetings. Many thanks also to David Hall of Hallprint Ltd. for his advice and support over the years.

This brochure was prepared by Read Hendon and Jim Franks of the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Center for Fisheries Research and Development. Cover photo courtesy of Doug Olander, Sport Fishing Magazine.

Commercial crabber Nick Drinnen, of Englewood, Fla., has tagged more than 1,000 tripletail. We would like to recognize Nick for his tremendous contribution to this research.

Read Hendon at 228.872.4202or read.hendon@usm.edu

Fish illustration courtesy of Marty Wilson, Art FX Studios

Sport FiShTag & Release

Program

What’s happening in Sport Fish Tag and Release research?

Our Research Partners

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sport Fish Restoration Program

and

the thousands of anglers who make this research possible!

AA/EOE/ADAI 11/08

703 East Beach Drive • Ocean Springs, MS 39564 Phone: 228.872.4202 • FAX: 228.872.4204

gcrl.usm.edu

The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) has been a leader in angler-cooperative marine sport fish tag and release since 1989. Thousands of volunteer anglers across the northern Gulf of Mexico and the southeastern United States have assisted GCRL researchers with investigating the movement patterns of important fishery species, namely, cobia, tripletail and spotted seatrout.

The Sport Fish Tag and Release Program relies on the fishing community to tag fish and report recaptures, which is vital to determining movement patterns and growth rates. The involvement of anglers in these activities provides information which is difficult to obtain by other means.

program hiStoryThe Tag and Release Program began in 1989 with

the Cobia Project in an effort to develop a database on the migratory patterns and growth rates of this species. In 1995 the Spotted Seatrout Tag and Release Program was established to evaluate movements of this species in Mississippi coastal waters. The Tripletail Tag and Release Program was added as a research component in 2001. These programs have been well-received by the sport fishing

community and are recognized in the International Game Fish Association’s listing of fish tagging programs.

For more inFormation:Dyan Gibson

dyan.gibson@usm.eduCenter for Fisheries Research and Development

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory

Volunteer anglers form the backbone of the tagging research.

(Photo submitted by Brian Kiel)