05-09-2022, 08:13 PM
I sent an inquiry to Chris Crockett of DWR...guessing that the sutures might be for tracking implants. As usual, Chris responded promptly and included a link to a DWR news release. Thanks, Chris.
Pat, you are correct, the pike has an acoustic tag implanted in its abdomen to allow tracking via several transponders located in the lake (or via a boat mounted transponder). The wire/line extending from the fish's abdomen is essentially the antenna for communicating with the transponder. We also place numbered floy/external tags on them to help further identify them as a fish we would like released. Send my thanks to the anglers for releasing these tagged fish. I know the regulations are a bit complicated, but we are using these fish to track pike movements, thus our desire for them to be released. The number of tagged fish is a fraction of the total population, releasing these will not alter the population in the lake. Some individuals have called me upset that we ask for some to be killed, others to be released, but it's a common fisheries tool (Google "Judas fish" for examples of how it's been used elsewhere). For now we are trying to better understand where they spawn, timing, etc (as well as their behavior the rest of the year).
https://wildlife.utah.gov/news/utah-wildlife-news/858-anglers-report-release-tagged-northern-pike-utah-lake.html
[font="Tahoma", sans-serif]Chris Crockett[/font]
[font="Tahoma", sans-serif]Central Region Aquatics Manager[/font]
[font="Tahoma", sans-serif]Utah Division of Wildlife Resources[/font]
[font="Tahoma", sans-serif]1115 North Main Street[/font]
[font="Tahoma", sans-serif]Springville, UT 84663[/font]
[font="Tahoma", sans-serif](801) 491-5678[/font]
[font="Tahoma", sans-serif]chriscrockett@utah.gov[/font]
Pat, you are correct, the pike has an acoustic tag implanted in its abdomen to allow tracking via several transponders located in the lake (or via a boat mounted transponder). The wire/line extending from the fish's abdomen is essentially the antenna for communicating with the transponder. We also place numbered floy/external tags on them to help further identify them as a fish we would like released. Send my thanks to the anglers for releasing these tagged fish. I know the regulations are a bit complicated, but we are using these fish to track pike movements, thus our desire for them to be released. The number of tagged fish is a fraction of the total population, releasing these will not alter the population in the lake. Some individuals have called me upset that we ask for some to be killed, others to be released, but it's a common fisheries tool (Google "Judas fish" for examples of how it's been used elsewhere). For now we are trying to better understand where they spawn, timing, etc (as well as their behavior the rest of the year).
https://wildlife.utah.gov/news/utah-wildlife-news/858-anglers-report-release-tagged-northern-pike-utah-lake.html
[font="Tahoma", sans-serif]Chris Crockett[/font]
[font="Tahoma", sans-serif]Central Region Aquatics Manager[/font]
[font="Tahoma", sans-serif]Utah Division of Wildlife Resources[/font]
[font="Tahoma", sans-serif]1115 North Main Street[/font]
[font="Tahoma", sans-serif]Springville, UT 84663[/font]
[font="Tahoma", sans-serif](801) 491-5678[/font]
[font="Tahoma", sans-serif]chriscrockett@utah.gov[/font]