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Tuna Cell,
I've tagged almost 1000 fish (bass and blues) for Pam Carlsen at the ALs. It's much easier from a boat but it's not too difficult from the surf (sandy beach) in the daytime if you are prepared and have rehearsed all the steps.
At night it's more difficult but then again everything is more difficult to do at night.
The trick is to have your fish tag (already threaded in the ss needle), wet rag for fish, dry rag to give you a grip on the fish while it's lying on the beach, measuring tape, scissors/pliers, flashlight and if you are old like me, reading eyeglasses, ALL WITHIN REACH.
I pre-record the fish tag number on pages of an inexpensive (79 cents) 3X5 inch spiral bound mini-notebook with lined paper(available at CVS or local stationery store) using a Sanford fine point waterproof permanent marker laundry pen. It's OK if some of the pages of the paper notebook get damp (they will dry out later at home), but you must use a pen with waterproof ink.
Gently but quickly drag your catch up on the beach, remove the hook, put wet, not dry, rag over the head of the fish to calm it down (also helps to talk to your fish and reassure it everything will be all right-honest), use dry rag to give you a grip on the tail/body of your catch while inserting tag/needle, tie knot, trim excess tag, measure fork length, drop your accessories onto the dry rag on the beach, and quickly bring your catch back to the water's edge for a gentle release. That's the best part-quality time spent releasing a fish.
If you keep your tagging needles in a small piece of stryofoam you won't lose as many needles. My biggest problem tagging fish on the beach is needles lost in the sand after I return to the spot on the beach where moments earlier I tagged a fish.
Tagging on a beach/jetty takes practice but more importantly it takes PREPARATION.
Bluefish are not very controllable with just a wet rag over their eyes but if you insert the point of a small hand gaff under their lower jaw and out through the mouth they are cooperative. Their jaw skin is tough here. No harm to the bluefish-no bleeding either.
Hope these thoughts helps. PM me if you have any more questions.
Bill Brett
When fish is strong enough to swim away, let her go
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