Caspar Cove, 8-25-08 (tagged rockfish)(updated 8/26)

Drove out 128 with Sean early to find out the that the sheep were up before us, so we decided to go Caspar cove, which is nice little retreat for these conditions.  Fishing was pretty slow, in fact I didn't catch anything but a couple blues and a gopher, but Sean landed a decent ling and a vermilion, so it wasn't all that bad.  It definitely was a nice day on the water, better than being at home.  Sean graciously handed me a few fish to have for a rocky dinner and when I got home noticed an orange floy tag on one of the gopher rockfish.  I was surprised to see a tagged rockfish up in Mendocino County as I was unaware of any tagging studies going on up here (I'm a local fish biologist).  I called the number on the tag but haven't gotten a reply yet.  I also gave a call to Kristen Green, the researcher doing all the tagging down at Duxbury Reef and she said it wasn't hers.  I've also put in a call to CDFG in Ft. Bragg to find out more information on the project and I'll let everyone know when I hear something. Here's a pic of the tag:
 

it says "REWARD" on it Im super interested to see where it came from.

That maybe a tag from a rockfish study Kon Karpov did here in the Mendo area about 10 -15 years ago.  Funny, a guy from work told me that his friend caught a tagged gopher out at Caspar about a week ago.  If it's from that study, it shows how long those gophers live and stick around.

That is totally cool, Joe.  I'll be looking forward to hearing more about it.   

Gopher Rockfish
Length: To 17 in
Life Span: To 35 years.
from Cal. Finfish and Shellfish I.D. Book

   Wow, What are th odds of catching a tagged fish.....it will be interesting to read all the details about the history of this fish. Just for reference if one of us was to catch a tagged fish and actually recognize it on the water should we record the information and release the fish? Or do they want the fish for study? Now we will all be looking for that needle in a haystack. 

   Wow, What are th odds of catching a tagged fish.....it will be interesting to read all the details about the history of this fish. Just for reference if one of us was to catch a tagged fish and actually recognize it on the water should we record the information and release the fish? Or do they want the fish for study? Now we will all be looking for that needle in a haystack. 

Allen,
If you catch a tagged fish, just record the # on the tag, the phone # to call, the color of the tag, type of rockfish with picture if possible and the metric length.  All of these will important to the researcher who tagged the fish.  So if you can get all this, release the fish and hopefully someone catches it again.  I have a feeling there are going to be more rockfish studies in the near future, I wish I could do one, more time on the big blue!!!

Neat-o!
That's an interesting catch Joe. I too will be interested to see what response you get.

we'll be expecting a complete report&follow-up of this catch Joe.....way to GO!
 

I believe the tagged rockfish is from this study by CDFG Ft. Bragg from 1995-1998.  I left a message for the researcher but he is on vacation until September. I will post when I hear more.  By the way, anyone have a ton of money so I can tag rockfish off the Sonoma and Mendocino coasts when the MLPA's are set?  Dare to dream!

2. Nearshore Reef Fish Tagging Project (Northern California)
Between 1995 and 1998, our catch, tag and release program headquartered in Fort Bragg captured 12,293 fish, of which 11,275 were tagged and released. A reward program was established to entice fishers to bring in tagged fish, offering rewards worth up to $1000.  Currently, the percentage of fish tags returned ranges from 1% to 7%, dependent on species.  Analysis of this still-growing volume of data is currently under way. Preliminary results from tag returns suggest a high degree of residentiality (staying close to a ‘home’ territory) for gopher rockfish, china rockfish, black-and-yellow rockfish, kelp greenling and cabezon. Long-distance
movement has been documented for black rockfish, yellowtail rockfish, canary rockfish (northward), vermilion rockfish (southward) and lingcod (north and south, as well as nearshore-offshore).  Results also indicate that rockfish survive over the long term after having their swim bladders punctured. Puncturing rockfish swim bladders relieves overinflation, which occurs when the are brought rapidly to the surface. Additional studies are needed to isolate tagging, hooking, and other causes of mortality for all species of concern, and to determine degree-of movement for species such as cabezon, black rockfish and gopher rockfish.

Nice report, thanks.  I bet it wasn't released far from there.  Good information on the swim bladder.  I still carry a needle and vent them.  Seems to work.

entice fishers to bring in tagged fish, offering rewards worth up to $1000. 

I gave you the fish...tag not included! 

entice fishers to bring in tagged fish, offering rewards worth up to $1000. 

I gave you the fish...tag not included! 

Watch out when a guide gets desperate/territorial - ever see "When Animals Attack"?!   

Looks like $300.

Pretty cool.

Watch out when a guide gets desperate/territorial - ever see "When Animals Attack"?!   

Me and Bluefin go way back.  Its all good.  NOW WHERE IS MY MONEY KID!