A Summary of MARMAP's Reef Fish Tagging Activities off the Southeastern United States

H.Scott Meister and John C.McGovern
SCDNR-Marine Resources Division, MARMAP program, 217 Fort Johnson Rd., Charleston, SC 29422-2559; 843/795-6350; FAX 843/762-5110; meisters@mrd.dnr.state.sc.us; mcgovernj@mrd.dnr.state.sc.us

Several reef fish species have demonstrated extensive migrations, distribution gaps, or unusual size gradients that require research to clarify stock identification and assess the impact of potential regulations. To address these questions, as well as to provide data for sound management of the resource, mark/recapture experiments are being used by the Marine Resources Monitoring, Assessment and Prediction Program (MARMAP) of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. During 1995-1998, a total of 16,642 reef fish including vermilion snapper, red porgy, white grunt, gray triggerfish, greater amberjack and gag grouper were captured in the South Atlantic Bight through deployment of chevron trap or hook and line gear over known live bottom locations. These fish were then tagged in the abdomen, shoulder, or both, and released alive. Tag recapture rates were 12% for greater amberjack, 9% for gag, 6% for black sea bass, 3% for gray triggerfish, 2% for vermilion snapper, 2% for white grunt, and 1% for red porgy. A total of 3,354 gag and 1,897 amberjack were tagged off NC, SC, GA, and FL. Recapture data indicate that gag and greater amberjack are capable of moving great distances. All gag that moved >100 NM (22%) were tagged off SC and recaptured off GA, northern FL, central FL, the FL Keys, western FL, and the FL middle grounds in the Gulf of Mexico. Most greater amberjack that moved >100 NM (29%) were tagged off SC and recaptured off GA, northern FL, central FL, southern FL, western FL, AL, northern Cuba, southern Cuba, and Cancun, Mexico.