Tagging Tips
Before setting out on a day of fishing
Save your hand--use name and address labels or an address stamp on your tag cards.
Save postage--Up to 8 cards can be mailed in an envelope for a first-class, 47-cent stamp.
Please return the tag cards in numerical order, as soon as possible.
Here are some additional tips from a long-time tagger.
- Organize your tags
- Thread the tag in the applicator and attach it to the data card
- Don"t forget your pencil
- Record pertinent information immediately (specie, location, length, weight, and any comments). It’s easy to forget details later.
- Date of trip and your name and address can be filled in later.
- REMEMBER—fork length is the length for science and tag cards, total length is the measurement of regulation.
Save your hand--use name and address labels or an address stamp on your tag cards.
Save postage--Up to 8 cards can be mailed in an envelope for a first-class, 47-cent stamp.
Please return the tag cards in numerical order, as soon as possible.
Here are some additional tips from a long-time tagger.
Fishy Facts
Size and duration of program:
The tagging program celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015—1965 to 2015
Over 1200 taggers and tagging clubs tag about 20,000 fish per year.
Type and numbers of fish tagged:
What tagging tells us about fish:
(Note: the term “return” refers to the recapture and reporting of a previously tagged fish)
The tagging program celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015—1965 to 2015
Over 1200 taggers and tagging clubs tag about 20,000 fish per year.
Type and numbers of fish tagged:
- Striped bass is the specie tagged most often, averaging 15,000 per year.
- Summer flounder is second, averaging 2,500 tagged per year.
- Bluefish is third, averaging about 1,300 tagged per year.
- Winter flounder, black sea bass, tautog, cod, croakers, scup, and weakfish are also tagged.
What tagging tells us about fish:
(Note: the term “return” refers to the recapture and reporting of a previously tagged fish)
- The longest striped bass return was “out” 11 years, 9 months. That"s 4,291 days at sea.
- The longest bluefish return was “out” four years to the day. It was tagged in Massachusetts and recaptured in New York.
- The longest summer flounder return was “out” 8 years and 1 day; it was tagged at 11” and at recapture had grown to 26” (6 ½ lbs).
- The longest winter flounder return was “out” 4 years, 8 months; Tagged in the Middle Bay off Southern Long Island, it was recaptured nearby in Great South Bay.
