SC Marine Game Fish Tagging Program

Results

Over the past twenty-seven years close to12,000 anglers have participated in the program. Over 100,000 fish have been tagged with an overall recovery rate of around 13%. This is one of the highest recovery rates for any multi-species tagging program worldwide.

By far, the most popular inshore marine game fish in the state is the red drum or spottail bass as it is often called. With the help of cooperating anglers, close to 45,000 red drum have been tagged since 1989. Approximately 7,000 of these fish have been recaptured. The angling public has provided biologists with valuable information on movement, seasonality trends, growth rates and general population dynamics of this highly sought after gamefish.

Tagging data associated with coastal migratory pelagics and offshore highly migratory species has been used in making fisheries management decisions not only in South Carolina but also in surrounding states. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council have incorporated data generated from this program into fisheries management plans. Information on billfish, amberjack, cobia and king mackerel migrations and recapture rates has been provided to the NMFS for several years. Data on amberjack migration was utilized by the NMFS in developing a seasonal closure and bag limit to protect spawning stocks. A blue marlin tagged in this program and subsequently recaptured in the South Atlantic resulted in ICCAT dropping their 5 degree dividing line for Atlantic stock blue marlin.