A Pilot Study of a Local Aggregation of Forage Fish Using Visible Implant Elastomer Tags

Due to generally high abundance, predation rates and mobility, forage fish are not commonly considered good candidate species for marking studies. In the spring of 2014, while collecting fin clips for genetic analysis from Surf Smelt (Hypomesus pretiosus), several previously sampled fish were recaptured. This observation led to questions about local movements and distribution of Surf Smelt. After a holding trial to assess mark retention rates, The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife began a pilot study to mark and re-capture adult smelt within Eld Inlet, located in southern Puget Sound. Using a beach seine, four locations were sampled for adult smelt once a month during December, January, February and March. Smelt were tagged using a Visible Implant Elastomer (VIE) tag, and released. Fish were tagged with various combinations of mark placement and color denoting the date and location that the fish were originally encountered. Over twenty four hundred smelt were marked and at least 24 were re-captured. Most recaptures occurred within the same month as the initial capture; however, four fish which were initially encountered in December were re-captured in February. Complete first year’s results of the study will be presented.