Georgia anglers who catch tagged saltwater fish have a new way to report their catches and earn rewards including T-shirts, hats and other gear.

The Coastal Resources Division (CRD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources today announced the launch of an online form at CoastalGaDNR.org/FishTag to report tagged red drum, black drum and tripletail. The effort is part of the Cooperative Angler Tagging Project, which has tagged more than 7,000 fish since it began in 1998.

The information from tagged fish yields life history data, including growth, movement and habitat preference, explained Donna McDowell, the project’s coordinator.  

“This project helps CRD track different species and gives us a better picture of the health of our fishery,” McDowell said. “We wouldn’t be able to do this project without the anglers up and down Georgia’s coast to help report these fish and play an important role in conserving our saltwater fisheries.”

CRD encourages anglers to bookmark CoastalGaDNR.org/FishTag on their smartphones and report fish as they are caught. The website is responsive, meaning it automatically resizes for easy viewing on smartphones and other devices. Anglers can even upload a photo of their fish to send to CRD.

In appreciation for reporting a tag recapture, anglers receive a reward. Additionally, both the tagging angler and the angler who reported the recapture receive a report that gives the history of the fish. Included in the report are the date, location, size and equivalent information on the recapture.

Anglers can still report tagged fish by calling 912-264-7218 or by mailing recapture information to Coastal Resources Division, Attention: Cooperative Angler Tagging Project, One Conservation Way, Brunswick, GA 31520.

For more information, visit CoastalGaDNR.org/CooperativeTagging or call Donna McDowell at 912-264-7218. Learn more about the marine fishes of Georgia by visiting www.marinefishesofgeorgia.org.