DYC Tagging

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Tag Placement – Please look after the fish

The preferred tag placements are shown on the diagrams below

Plan Ahead

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When handling and releasing a fish. Plan ahead Plan ahead

Minimize stress and exhaustion by using tackle strong enough to land fish quickly.
Set hooks quickly to minimize the opportunity for fish to swallow hooks and avoid the use of treble hooks.
When practical, bend down the barbs on hooks or use barb less hooks.

Handling a fish

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Handling a fish.

• Minimize handling. Minimize trauma and damage to fish.
• Do not touch the eyes or gills. Control the fish, gently but firmly so it cannot "flop" around and cause itself any further injury. Do not use a gaff.
• The first step toward correctly tagging a fish is to have the tag in the applicator, a wet towel and a measuring device ready before the fish is brought into the boat.
• Place one wet towel over the fish's eyes while it is still hanging from the hook.
• Lay the fish on a wet, smooth, flat surface with the measuring device under it or immediately adjacent. Such a surface reduces slime loss while the measuring device allows for a quick, accurate length assessment before the fish is returned to the water.
• Large fish are best released by leaving them in the water and removing the hooks. Small fish should be brought on board and handled with a damp towel or damp cotton gloves, which will minimize damage to the skin and protective slime of fish.
• If it has noticeably suffered by capture do not waste time tagging it. Release it gently, or keep it if legal and you intend to eat.

Removig the hook

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Removing the hook.

• Remove the hook if possible. Use the right tools to remove the hooks. Needle nose pliers work well for fish hooked in the mouth, while a deep-throat de-hooker or disgorger should be used for deeply hooked fish.
• Cut the leader close to the fish's mouth if hook removal is not possible.
• Never pull or jerk on the leader to remove a hook.

Tagging a fish

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What to de when tagging a new fish. or a fish which was already tagged

• The most important information on a tag is the tag number. This is the key to identifying the fish.
• Measure and record both the total length XX, fork length X and girth length of the fish, or estimate the length if you do not have a measuring device.
• Possibly take a picture of the fish and send it to us together with the Tag Card Information.
• Record the species of the fish date of catch, and exact location where the fish was caught.
• Record any information about the fish which could be useful; for example, any unusual markings or wounds.
• Carefully observe the procedures for recording of fish details, etc. requested by the tagging program organizers and ensure that these are reported promptly.

Recovery of a tagged fish

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Recovery of a tagged fish.

Should you catch a tagged fish, it is very important to report it promptly. The information that Tagging Programs request is fairly simple:
• the species of fish caught,
• the date the fish was caught,
• the specific location where it was caught,
• whether it was kept or not, and
• most importantly, the tag (i.e., serial) number.
• Possibly the fish's length x, length XX, girth and weight if you know it.

If you release the fish:
• Do not remove the tag.
• Record the information requested above and send it in promptly to us or to the agency listed on the tag.

If you keep the fish:
• Remove the tag.
• Don't scrape off any algae, because you may also remove the lettering on the tag.
• Tape the tag to a card and send it in promptly to us.

Applicator needles

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Applicator needles.

• Fix in a suitable handle or pole of timber/plastic with a wrist strap so that it floats when you drop it in the water.
• A screw-chuck type screwdriver handle is useful when using multiple pre-loaded applicators.

Care of Applicator

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Care of Applicators.

• The tip only of the applicator should be kept sharp to a V point and preferably spiked on a cork etc. when not in use to prevent damage or injury.
• IMPORTANT: When sharpening the applicator take care not to create a cutting edge on the rear of the sliced off part.
• After use, wash in clean water and dry. Unless an unavoidable situation of extreme emergency, do not use applicator as a bottle opener.

Loading of Applicators

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Loading of Applicators.

• It is a good idea to keep a pre-loaded one, with the tags, your measure, notes and a pen, in a handy place so that the fish does not have to wait too long for you to find them, or place a tag in the applicator prior to catching a fish that you may wish to tag.
• Keep the tag's corresponding card in a secure spot where it will not blow overboard or otherwise get lost.
• The correct way to load the tag into the applicator is to insert the tag's streamer into the needle opening and slide the tag into the needle until the barb rests against the back edge of the needle’s point.
• If the tag does not slide easily out of applicator then it is either clocked with debris or bent. This must be rectified otherwise you will probably get a hung- up tag.
• Loosely fitting tags can be secured by making a slight bend in the printed marker. do not alter the applicator.

Insertion of tag

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Insertion of tag into the fish.

• Place the tag in the back musculature from 1/4 to 1/2 the fish's body length behind its head.
• Remove a scale with the applicator point just below the base of a dorsal spine, usually the second to fourth depending on the species. Avoid placing the tag deeply into muscle.
• Hold needle with exposed plastic tag barb facing down toward the fish in line with fish and its trailing tip pointing toward the fish's tail.
• Start inserting the needle at a shallow angle, under the scales, until you feel it pierces the skin, then raise the needle to an angle of 45 degrees so making clearance for the barb.
• When the barb is below the skin, return to a shallow angle and insert the applicator point deep enough to allow the barb to pass between the spines that radiate of the backbone at the midline of the back. This permits the barb to lock around one of the spines ensuring that the tag will not be shed. A slight 'click' can be felt as the barb slides over and locks behind it. Typically 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches of the tag head should be buried in the fish.
• Take not to hit the fish's spine, which will cause paralysis.
• Pause for a second then withdraw the needle smoothly.
• As a final step give a light tug on the tag to make sure that it is securely implanted and will help “set” the tag. Particularly with a small tags/small fish do not place any undue strain on either tag or fish after insertion.

Release the fish

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Release the fish gently.

• Also the goal is to release healthy fish. If a fish is gut-hooked, hooked in the gills, or in an eye, do not tag it. Understand the fish are not going to be willing participants.
• If the fish is stressed or exhausted, revive it by gently moving it forward through the water until it is able to swim off. Best done if you put one engine in gear.
• Once you feel that the fish is recovering strength and is trying to swim on its own, then gently release hit. Fish showing undue stress, damage or inability to swim should not be released if tagged.

Dec catches

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pic

Longer tag applicator

Longer applicator

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How to Prepare a longer applicator

Materials Needed:
• Power drill with 1/8th in. bit (not shown)
• 1 – small tube of silicone caulk (A)
• 1 – 3 to 4ft 3/4 in. PVC schedule 40 pipe (B)
• 1 – plastic end cap to fit 3/4 in. pipe (not shown)
• 1 – standard dolphin tag applicator (C )
• 1 – 3 in. length duct tape (D)
• 1 – 1/8th in. diameter X 1 1/4 in. stainless steel bolts with nut (E)
• 1 – 7 in. long wire or piece of plastic 1/16th in. diameter. (F)
• Finished applicator for large fish. (G)

Construction is simple and quick.
• Step 1. Drill a 1/8th in. hole through the center of the pipe 4 1/2 inches from one end. Insert the bolt and secure it with the nut. A dab of silicone caulk on the bolt threads will keep the nut from backing loose in the future. Place a small amount of silicone on the inside wall of the end cap for an adhesive and slip it onto the other end of the pipe.
• Step 2. Apply a moderate coating of silicone to the wire or plastic rod leaving 1 in. clean to hold it by. Slowly insert the wire into the applicator needle where the tag goes. Spin the wire inside the needle to ensure that you get a thin coating on the inside of the needle. This coating will provide a little friction to the tag to keep it from falling out when the applicator is pointed downward during tagging. Caution: too much silicone in the needle will prevent the tag from being fully inserted into the needle.
• Step 3. Wrap a single layer of duct tape around the top of the wooden handle opposite from the needle. The tape should provide enough additional friction to hold the applicator up inside the pipe while tagging the fish. If the applicator is still loose in the pipe with one layer of tape, add a second layer of tape.
• Step 4. Slide the applicator into the pipe until it rests firmly against the bolt. The needle should extend 2 1/2 in. beyond the pipe. You now have an in-water tagging stick