FWC Needs Anglers Help with Tarpon Program

[Capt Bob]

FWC has initiated a study on Tarpon. Unlike traditional string or spaghetti tags which have a life span of around 3 years, the new way to track and study Tarpon involves DNA. The DNA base will allow the biologists to gather info on Tarpon which they do not have at this time. They do know that they can live 50+years, but they do not know if they travel? or are they home bodies to a specific local, they know they spawn offshore but do not know, how, where, or when. Any angler who fishes for Tarpon are invited to participate, the gathering and drop off of samples is amazingly simple and costs the anglers nothing to participate. And it does not harm the Tarpon....the beauty of the new system is that the info stays in the system like forever and they can compare the data almost instantly and with DNA if a fish is caught 40 times it creates a stream of data for the biologists to better understand this highly prized catch and release trophy fish. Guides and recreational anglers are invited to participate

Drop off locations are being developed all across the state so dropping off your samples is as simple as a trip to one of your local tackle shops...selected tackle shops across the state and local FWC locations will be drop off points and distribution points for the DNA sample collection kits

The World Class Angler im Marathon has already agreed to be both a drop off location and a resupply point for the samples and the kits.

Contact...Biologist Mike Hourihan at...mikehourihan@myfwc.com for more info

Check out: http://research.myfwc.com/features/view_article.asp?id=26619

[BottomKnocker]

Are they only interested in Tarpon caught in FL? Several large ones (13) i believe were caught up here near the Chesapeake Bay in Va last year.I was lucky enough to land one about 78" estimated 130-140 lbs and released as are almost all of the ones captured here. Would like to help out and spread the word to the poon hunters here if they are interested. Most of the fish caught up here seem to be mature or over the 70 lbs mentioned.

[Capt Bob]

use the contact e mail and ask them??