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^^The FUTURE of BLACK DRUM^^
From my view point the future is bright....tagged and released BABY BLACK DRUM into the surf all weekend, Saturday until I ran out of tags....38 was last count I think. Then back at it again this morning,tide was dead low around 1030 and the little ones came in w/ the tide in the afternoon...stayed long enough to fill another sheet half full with 11 more today. Taylor blues were in N out both days,4 went home for the grill last nite and 2 today as bait.....hard to say how many 1000's of little drum are in the surf. There should be some great study info for the tagging program from these little guys in the future !! All fish were between 7 and 11 inches.

So, what benefit comes from tagging all these fish? Is it just a little red tag or does it have something written on it (serial number?) If I catch one of these tagged fish, should I contact someone? I guess I'm just trying to understand... what's the point?

The point is ::

The Virginia Game Fish Tagging Program (VGFTP) is an effort to involve the recreational angling public in the conservation and management of marine finfish. The program provides an avenue for anglers with an interest in conservation to assist in collecting scientific information about the movements and biology of fish by tagging targeted species of marine game fish. Fish caurrently targeted for tagging include red drum, black drum, cobia, flounder, speckled trout, black sea bass, tautog, spadefish, sheepshead, and gray triggerfish.

You can track growth,migration and range with the tag.

Each tag says "REWARD- Please call 757 491-5160" and a tag number #TB 000 000 00

I submit all the info about the fish each week. TAG NUMBER,SPECIES,DATE,LOCATION,LENGTH,CONDITION,HOOK REMOVED,BAIT......THEN WHEN YOU CATCH A FISH WITH A TAG YOU CALL THE NUMBER. ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS AND THEY SENT YOU A T-SHIRT,BALL CAP OR TACKLE BOX .

THEN THEY KNOW WHERE THE FISH WAS CAUGHT,IF IT MOVED AND HOW FAR WHEN IT WAS CAUGHT AGAIN. AND HOW MUCH IT GREW IF IT DID. SOME COBIA HAVE BEEN TAGGED IN VIRGINIA AND SHOWED UP 7 YEARS LATER IN TEXAS !!

http://www.vims.edu/adv/recreation/tag/

http://mrc.virginia.gov/vswft/vsft2.shtm

http://www.mrc.virginia.gov/vsrfdf/pdf/ ... _May06.pdf

ahhh...that's pretty interesting stuff. Thanks for the explanation.

Here is the brand new one that just came out-

The '06 numbers are finally complete- got this link in my in box last week and here it is for you to check out !!



http://www.vims.edu/adv/recreation/2006%20Annual%20Report/06TagReportrh.pdf