Biologists at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) are asking Tampa Bay anglers to report tagged snook and spotted seatrout. Anglers who catch tagged fish are asked to release the fish unharmed, if possible.
A total of 60 fish, 30 snook and 30 seatrout, have been tagged with sonic tags to monitor their travels during spawning season. These tags, which have been surgically implanted in the belly of the fish, will not be visible but fish are marked with a dart tag placed under the dorsal fin.
If you catch a tagged snook or seatrout in the Fort De Soto area, please contact FWRI by calling 1-800-367-4461 or e-mail tagreturn@MyFWC.com with the following information:
• Tag number found on the dart tag
• Fish length (total length)
• Capture date, location, and time
• Angler name, address, phone number, and e-mail.
All tag reports will receive a reward. If the fish is harvested, anglers are asked to save the internal organs and sonic tag so an FWRI biologist can pick them up.
Article originally published Summer 2007.
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