b"Tagging Rewards Offered for Snapper This summer the Palm Beachritt and club member Jay Young County Fishing Foundation (PB- for donating their cubera catches CFF), through its Game Fish Re- for this first of its kind study.If search Fund, has been presentingyou catch a cubera snapper with $100 rewards to area guides and an- an external tag near its dorsal fin glers who have donated live juveniletry to release the fish, as biologists cubera snapper for a scientific studywill be able to get more information being conducted by the FWCs Fishif these fish live longer.and Wildlife Research InstituteThe PBCFF is also offering $100 (FWRI) in Tequesta.The PBCFFrewards for live juvenile mut-has been collaborating with theton snapper caught in the Lake FWRI lab on this effort for the past two years.BiologistsWorth Lagoon that are successfully tagged with electronic are tagging cubera snapper with acoustic transmitters totransmitters and released.The mutton snapper study is a determine their movement patterns as they mature intocollaboration between Palm Beach County Environmental adults.We have seen more and more juvenile cubera snap- Resources Management, FAU, FWRI and the PBCFF.The per caught in and around local inlets over the last few years.Fishing Clubs foundation held a Mutton Tagging Challenge Biologists believe this presents a good opportunity to collectPop Up tournament in May giving members a chance to more information on a species that little is known about.'cash in' while helping with the study.Congratulations The transmitters send out signals thatto longtime WPBFC member Dr. Ray are picked up by acoustic receivers inWaldner for earning one of the mut-the water and provide a date stampton tagging rewards during the event. with time and tag number.This wayAdditional Mutton Snapper Tagging researchers can monitor tagged fish asevents with rewards are planned for to where they move and how long theylater this year.stay in a particular area.The trans- FWRI biologists have said the re-mitter tags, donated by the PBCFF,wards the PBCFF are offering are pro-have a 4 to 5 year-long shelf-life, soviding enough incentive to get anglers as long as these fish stay in the waterand guides to donate their catch and we should get a good picture of wherego through the logistical challenges to they spend their time, what areas arethe fish alive for tagging.We thank critical for this species and if they ag- them for their commitment to fishery gregate at specific spots that mayresearch and conservation.These indicate a spawning site. partnerships are a continuation of Thus far, FWRI biologists havesimilar efforts that began over fifty tagged 10 cubera snapper from 23years ago at the WPBFC under the inches to 30 inches, that fit the sizeleadership of Johnny Rybovich range of sub adults or teenagers.Ofwhen prizes and rewards were offered the two cubera snapper tagged lastfor sailfish and snook tagging studies. summer, one stayed inshore, mov- The PBCFF is thrilled to be able to ing from Jupiter to Stuart and backprovide these tagging rewards and again.The other tagged fish movedcollaborate with biologists to learn outside to a nearshore wreck.Kudosmore about important game fish and to Captains Ryan Nitz, Mike Mer- the habitats they depend upon.T ighTL inesB uLLeTin- s ummer2021 45"