Abstract
Tag Alabama is a partnership between CCA Alabama, the University of South Alabama Department of Marine Sciences, and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. Tag Alabama gives CCA Members the opportunity to participate in angler-based Atlantic Tarpon, Red Drum, and Speckled Trout research in coastal Alabama and surrounding waterways. After attending a training workshop, each angler receives a tagging kit. The kit includes tags, a tag applicator, and instructions on tagging and data entry into an online database. The program began in 2018 and, in two years, has reached early success with more than 325 participating anglers and over 2,500 tagged fishes. Initially, we have learned about broad-scale spatial and temporal movements of these species in and around the bays and coastal waterways of Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Eventually, we hope to determine life history parameters including fishery dependent size distributions and mortality estimates. Plans to expand the program include adding more species and increased involvement of participants through tournament style tagging events. This program promotes angler engagement in fisheries research and catch and release practices in our area while improving our knowledge on the status of these valuable sportfish in coastal Alabama.
