Anglers on Florida's east coast are likely to have a good tarpon season next year according to a couple local anglers.
Paul MacInnis and John Mallory participate in a DNA sampling program conducted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. Tarpon are caught and their DNA is sampled by rubbing a sponge on the tarpon's jaw and placing the sample in a container that is returned to the Tarpon Genetics Recapture Study team.
Genetic samples collected by the angling public are used to determine recapture rates, health, migration, and movements of individual fish. These results can then be used to manage tarpon stocks. To obtain a DNA sample kit (view instructions), call 1-800-367-4461 or e-mail TarponGenetics@MyFWC.com with your mailing information.
MacInnis reports,“I checked out Merritt Island after we had that heavy rain in October. I found thousands of baby tarpon had invaded the canals. In two trips I used up my supply of DNA sampling kits and reached my goal of 50 samples.”
He went on to say that his biggest tarpon in those two trips after the rains was 12 inches and the average size was 6 inches. This could definitely be good news for catching tarpon next year. His largest tarpon of the year was 40 inches and his smallest only 4 inches. Obviously small by tarpon standards, but super fun when caught on an appropriately sized fly rod. MacInnis was catching the small tarpon on tiny brim flies on a 4wt fly rod.
John Mallory has consistently been a top contributor to the DNA sampling study. He said he quit tarpon fishing over the summer because it was so slow. He reported that he had only taken 20 samples. Like MacInnis, Mallory likes to catch the juvenile tarpon on fly.
He said the tiny tarpon (this year's spawning class) showed up in September. Since then he has been fishing all day, every day and is now up to over 200 DNA samples. His smallest was less than 3 inches long.
The encouraging news, according to Mallory, is that this is by far the biggest push of baby tarpon he's ever witnessed in the canals. A mild winter could result in an outstanding tarpon fishery next year.
Congratulations are in order for MacInnis and Mallory for their great fishing skills and their outstanding contribution to the science needed to mangage this great fish.
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Angler Alert: Don’t forget to log you catch online at the Angler Action Program.
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