Tagging Data
We have converted the data to PDF format so that you can search the report for specific taggers, locations, species, etc. When you open the PDF file, click on the find icon (binoculars) on the toolbar on the top of the page. When the find window opens, type in the word you wish to find. Your browser will highlight the first instance of that name. To find the next instance, click on the find again icon (binoculars with curved arrow).
2002 Fish Tagging Data download pdf
2003 Fish Tagging Data download pdf
2004 Fish Tagging Data download pdf
2005 Fish Tagging Data download pdf
2006 Fish Tagging Data download pdf
2007 Fish Tagging Data download pdf
2008 Fish Tagging Data download pdf
Fish Tagging Study Sheds New Light on Bluefish Behavior
Pam Carlsen, our former fish tagging director learned recently that 20 years of our fish tagging data have been used in a National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) study of the migration patterns of bluefish. The study results are reported in a paper written by Gary R. Shepherd of the NMFS at Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and published in the NMFS Fisheries Bulletin: The Migration Patterns of Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) along the Atlantic Coast Determined from Tag Recoveries. Joshua Moser (NMFS), David Duel (Deceased, NMFS), and Pam Carlsen (ALS) also contributed to the study.
This project has provided new information about this important species and clearly demonstrates the value of the partnership between science and the recreational fishing community forged by the American Littoral Society through its volunteer, catch-and-release fish tagging program.
The study incorporated data gathered by tagging and releasing bluefish and reported recaptures in Atlantic coastal waters between 1963 and 2003. The field work was performed by NMFS scientists and by American Littoral Society volunteers. During the study period, 15,699 bluefish were tagged by NMFS and 20,398 were tagged by the Society and a total of 1,539 returns were reported. According to the paper, this compilation of tag-recapture information is the largest known repository of tagging data for bluefish.
A wide variety of fishing gear was used to catch the fish. American Littoral Society’s volunteer recreational fishermen, used hook and line. NMFS taggers used a variety of gear including gill nets deployed from research vessels, hook and line, commercially operated pound nets and beach seines.
The goal of the study was “to investigate the migratory behavior of bluefish along the Atlantic coast by using the results of these previously unpublished tagging studies…” According to the paper, the study also set out to examine the single-stock hypothesis proffered by other recent studies of the species in the context of tag recovery information.
Atlantic coastal bluefish are known to migrate from coastal New England to southern Florida, a distance that can be as far as 2,000 kilometers. This study has greatly expanded our knowledge of bluefish behavior including that
Ø The migration patterns of bluefish are size related. Fish change their migratory patterns as they grow. Smaller, juvenile fish follow a path closer to shore. Larger fish (3 pounds and greater) travel farther offshore and may even winter over in offshore waters.
Ø Bluefish form three groups that follow three, distinct seasonal migratory patterns: 1) North-south between the middle Atlantic and Florida 2) north-south within the middle Atlantic 3) inshore-offshore off the coast of Florida.
Ø Bluefish average swimming speeds varied with the season. Based on study data, average swimming speeds peaked in October-November (5.3 km/day) and May (4.9 km/day). Overall average speed was 2.6 km/day.
Ø Bluefish swimming speeds varied with size. Smaller fish (12 to 18 inches) traveled faster than larger fish (18-26 inches)
The data unearthed no evidence that contradicted the hypothesis of other recent studies that Atlantic bluefish comprise a single genetic stock.
We congratulate and thank our taggers for their many years of dedication! Since the inception of our fish tagging program in 1965, our taggers have provided 43 years of data to the National Marine Fisheries Service database that have been used in many scientific studies of Atlantic coastal fish. This study is especially important to the Society because it focuses on the behavior of a species that is important to our membership base and to the culture and economy of the New York Bight where the Society is most active. On learning of the study, Pam Carlsen, said, “Our fish taggers care about fisheries conservation. They faithfully pay dues, purchase tags, and give all their data to science.” She concluded, “If anyone would like to join this admirable bunch, check out the instructions on our fish tagging pages or call Jeff at 732.291.0055.”
A PDF of the complete paper can be downloaded from http://fishbull.noaa.gov/1044/shepherd.pdf.