Does the DNR need a new tag?

I have caught a couple of tagged sturgeon in the last couple of weeks, and I am not sure if the DNR tags are harming the fish. They seem to be cutting into the top fin of the fish where there is an obvious wound.
Has anyone ever seen this before?
I know the tagging is supposed to be beneficial to the sturgeon, but leaving a 10 year fish with a tag that is sure to be too small in 30-70 years, is that helping anything?
I have not had a chance to send this info to the DNR, but I will, and I will pass on what they say.

Here is the first I got a couple weeks ago – F #29,900.
The wound was not that big, but the wire was digging into the top fin.

Here is the one from last night, smaller fish with a bigger wound – #38,400

Has anyone seen a tag that cut into the fish and then healed itself around the outer wound?

Googled “tagged fish”, and it looks like after a brief investigation there are all kinds of tags that are firstly not made of metal, and the “Anchor” hook tag made of plastic doesn’t require itself to be tied in a circle that will inevitably cut into the top fin. Intuitively, this would seem better as it could not get caught on whatever (like a stick or rock while rubbing rocks during spawning).
It seems like our DNR is using an archaic method of tagging that is injuring the fish.

Make sure you send a link to this post to Rod Jerett. I can see this happening to one fish…but two? Needle in a haystack?

Let us know the history when you get it back from the DNR.

Shall do
BK- what kind of tags were you guys putting in the fish when you had the DNR in your boat? Was there any talk of concern either way?

The same tags that are in your photos.

The only conversation we’ve had about tags is the possibility of infection. This is why they like to have photos of the tagged area.

I was the schmuck that voted no concern. My thought behind this is that even if the tag was completely embedded in the fin, it wouldn’t hurt the fish….unless it was infected..which can happen with any type of tag I ‘spose.

I know when they plant transmitters they generally give fish some antibiotics…although I don’t know if this has been done on sturgeon.

It’ll be interesting to know if this happens on a regular basis….or if you should be buying some powerballs.

The ones I have seen weren’t healed and, although they didn’t look infected, it was obviously agitating the flesh. There is always a chance of infection/fungus when it doesn’t heal over. If there is a better tag, they should use it.

FYI
The DNR folks from Lake City were here recently and shared with me that WI is now using implant tags in which you cant see and need a scanner to recognize it.They did catch a fish that day with the implant tag.A shovelnose if I recall correctly.

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If there is a better tag, they should use it.

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Hard to argue with that!

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it wouldn’t hurt the fish

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After thinking more, I don’t like the hoop aspect of the current tag since it could get caught on things in its daily events, or worse, on my transducer while I’m getting her into boat.

Dean, I think the implanted ones may reduce the helpfulness of the average fisherman’s participation taking place since we would all need the device to detect it, but it does sound like a cleaner solution. Currently, we can aid in the DNR research by reporting status of an individual fish that they may never see again with their limited resources.

Well, I need to think about this on the water, only nine days left….I’ll let you guys know what I come up with.

I am not concerned either. The way I see it, they are currently using the best tagging system possible on the fish, and doing it in a way likely learned by trial and error.

I have traded several emails with Rod Ramsell about the tags discussing fish that we have recaptured from the origional tagging. My only real concern was the wrapped end(tag end where they tie wire ends together) had a tendancy to get stuck in fishing line, and I suggested maybe a cable tie to hold that tight to the loop.

The loops are very large on the newly tagged fish, plenty of room for growth. The wounds are showing some signs of healing, and the tags are very secure as I landed one fish by reeling it in by the tag(my line was stuck in it).

Talking with him, I am confident if a better tagging system comes available that would eb beneficial to the fish.. they would be quick to use them. The recently tagged fish are excellent considering there really isnt a better, less invasive option.

I attatched photos of some of the fish recaptured from recent tagging.

This is the one with the line tangled on the tag.

I personally thank the DNR for making such a great effort on these fish!

StCroixer, I think we’d all agree the implants aren’t a good way to go. We all are pretty eager getting the info to the DNR and you’d think more tag reports would = more data.

Dave…by the looks of your first pic, you had lamprey snacks in the boat..do you prefer salted…or with lime?

Yes.. A lamprey found one of the newly tagged fish for sure. I pulled the lamprey off(big lamprey).

I wonder if the lamprey had anything to do with the heavier bleeding(less healing) in the tagged area? They do have an anti-coagulent(sp?)and it was attatched very close to the wound.