tagged fish

[Rmarsh]

Caught a small striper with a yellow tag. Is there usually a phone # on the tag? I couldn't see any writing on it. This is the first tagged fish that I have caught, and I wasn't sure what I should do. I measured the fish, cut the tag off, and released the fish. Now I'm not so sure I did the right thing. Could someone please tell me about tagged fish?
Thanks
Bob M

[Brian L]

I think sometimes they rub the writing off the tags. Not sure if they have any other way of reading them or if they've changed how they do tags. (sensors, etc..) I've caught several tagged fish and with more than half of them I couldn't read the tag. My guess would be same as yours. Remove the tag and release the fish.

[denis]

If the tag is on the back and tied in a knot it should be a ALS tag.

There will be a # on it,call 908-291-0055 they will tell you what to do.

[basswipe]

Yellow is usually an ALS tag.

http://www.alsnyc.org/

[Rmarsh]

Thanks for your replies. When I told my wife this story she looked at the tag and said "when are you going to get some glasses" There was some very small writing on it that I couldn't see. My bad!
Apparently I am in denial about my failing eyesight. Then she printed out a form from the American Littoral Society for me.