A Description And Some Results Of A Florida State Wide Fish Tagging Program

During the period 1960-1962 a state-wide fish tagging program employing substantial rewards to sport fishermen for tag returns was conducted in Florida. A total of 19,470 fish including 5,328 largemouth bass were captured, tagged, and released. There were 24.2 percent of the tagged bass, 4.5 percent of the bluegill, 3.8 percent of the shellcracker, and 8.9 percent of the crappie returned. Little difference in returns was noted between fish which were transported prior to release and those which were released into the waters from which they were captured.