A Cooperating Angler (Redfish Report)

Back in July, I was staked out on the edge of a grass flat in the lowcountry marsh. I intended to pole the flat as the flood tide pushed up. Standing on my platform, I saw a big bronze shape suspended in the water column headed toward the grass from the open bay. Not yet tailing- but what we call a “floater”. Some floaters eat, some don’t, but I tried my luck. I flicked the crab fly in his path, anticipated his arrival- tick, tick, boom. After a sporting fight I landed the fish and immediately noticed a tag. Photo the tag, measure the fish, quick selfie on the phone, back in the water.
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Tagged fish get reported to the DNR, who track size and distance travelled. Anglers get to pick some swag from the website and get a package in the mail with the report. Mine arrived yesterday. A fun program!
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So cool!

What was the info on the report?
 
Paige said:
So cool!

What was the info on the report?
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Report:

Tag Number, Release Location, Release Length (29.75”), Recapture Date (7/2), Days at Liberty (582), Distance Traveled (0.8 miles), Growth (1.25”), Previous Recaptures (0).

In 582 days the fish traveled 0.8 miles, grew 1.25” and was never caught (or not reported if caught). Must be a good flat, seems like a content fish.
 
Well-done!
 
Nice that they acknowledge that you are actually an important part of the program. State of washington does coded wire tags on salmon, but gives you nothing for catching tagged fish ☹️. You even have to look up the data yourself these days, they stopped even sending out letters a few years ago.
 
Very nice! I used to work for the Department at Ft. Johnson when the red drum project was in its infancy fifty years ago. Prior to about 1980 nobody knew that spot-tail bass ever ventured up into the marsh and fly fishing for them was unheard of.
 
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bekko said:
Very nice! I used to work for the Department at Ft. Johnson when the red drum project was in its infancy fifty years ago. Prior to about 1980 nobody knew that spot-tail bass ever ventured up into the marsh and fly fishing for them was unheard of.
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That’s fantastic, thank you for your efforts! I’m on James Island and am fortunate to enjoy this fishery a couple days a week.
 
Lived by Cape Lookout for quite some time and enjoyed the fall migration of the “..punkins” on the Eastside late October and November. Some bulls between 40-50# played hardball at times but if th3 sharks were around we let them be. Really going to miss fishing the skinny water near Bear Island in late Dec & January for the slot fish. 6-7 weight fun. They own a face only a mother could love.
 
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