Antennas & Tags, Keep or release? WA & OR

[Vinny]

I need some help on this one.

1) Are antennas always found only trailing from the fish's mouth?

2) Can you keep WA caught hatchery fish with an antenna? ODFW says release fish with antenna from mouth or body.

3) Do antenna ever protrude from behind the dorsal fin or is that spot reserved for tags.

4) Are fish tagged elsewhere (other than behind dorsal fin)?

5) Are both wild and hatchery fish tagged?

6) Are antennas (& transmitters) placed in both wild and hatchery fish?

7) What are the configurations for tags (e.g. orange spaghetti tag approx 1 - 2 inches long)?

8) Do antenna ever have a plastic coating or are they a bare metal wire and how long are they?

9) For fish that can be kept, what's the procedure for tag reporting and/or transmitter return?

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks ,

Vinny

[Hoosier Daddy]

Don't know the regulations on keeping antennaed fish in Oregon or Washington. Since these fish are usually used to study migrations, and tagging them is expensive and time consuming, I would say that even if you could keep them, you shouldn't do it. Kind of your part to help the resource. I have seen transmitters that went inside the fish and attached to the outside. And antennaes that were plastic coated and bare. One of the areas for outside attachment is behind the dorsal, so its not just reserved for colored tags, just the most common spot. I have seen/heard of both wild and hatchery fish tagged with both kinds of tags for various reasons.
External tags like spaghetti tags come in hundreds of configurations from what you described to longer, shorter, disc shaped, zip tie thingy's, etc. If it don't look right, it's probably a tag! And there are many tags used that you won't even be able to detect on your own.
My advice on tagged fish: if its radio tagged (looks like a wire trailing or you can see the transmitter) let it go, if you can get phone numbers or addresses off it, write them down and give them a buzz, otherwise, just put it back. If its externally tagged otherwise (colored or numbered tags that are easily visible) just write down the numbers, colors, address/ph. number, description of tag and its location, and if the fish is legal, take it. If you keep the fish, send the tag in with catch information, if you let it go, write it all down and send it in or call someone.
Like I say, the radio tags are expensive stuff, and take a lot of effort to put out, so they should go back if possible. Other tags are usually cheap and easy to apply, so not such a big deal. They might even be being used for catch rates, so go for it.

Hope it helps.

[Vinny]

Thanks Chnookie,
That's good info & advice.

Monday, I caught a 23" buck steelie that was brighter than other fish I've seen recently. I let it go, as it had an orange spaghetti tag. I thought it was an antenna. I wished I'd looked closer and recorded some data.