Striped Bass Tag Recovery Program

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What to do if you catch a striped bass with an HRF tag.

When you catch a striped bass with an HRF tag, regardless of whether you inent to keep the fish or not:

  • Cut off the tag
  • Print and fill out the tag questionnaire*.
  • The oldest striped bass ever caught were estimated to be between 31 and 36 years old
  • Attach the tag to the questionnaire or note and send to:

Hudson River Foundation
Box 1731
Grand Central Station
New York, NY 10163

* If you cannot print out the questionnaire, please write a note with the following information:

  • Date and location of the fish catch
  • Length of the fish (from the tip of the upper jaw to the tip of the tail)
  • Condition of the tag insertion site
  • Whether or not the fish was released in good condition

Common questions about the Striped Bass Tag Recovery Program.

Tagged Stripe Bass Release Sites

Tagged Stripe Bass Release Sites

Why are fish tagged?

Fish are tagged to get answers to a wide variety of questions concerning their abundance and behavior. Much has been learned about the migrational patterns of Hudson River striped bass through this program.

Where are tagged fish released?

Tagged striped bass are released at several sites located in the lower Hudson River and New York Harbor. See map at right.

How many fish are tagged?

Each winter from November to April approximately 10,000 - 25,000 striped bass are tagged in the Hudson River. Over 400,000 fish have been tagged through 2004.

How long are the fish when they are tagged?

In the HRF program, most striped bass are between 7 and 12 inches when tagged.

How are the fish tagged?

The tag is placed into a small incision made in the area of the fish's belly. The wound is treated with a disinfectant and the fish is quickly placed back into the river.

Can I tag fish for the Hudson River Foundation?

HRF does not have a tagging kit for recreational anglers. Anglers can tag a wide variety of fishes through programs of the American Littoral Society:

logo
  • American Littoral Society
  • 18 Hartshorne Drive, Suite #1
  • Highlands, NJ 07732
  • Phone: 732-291-0055
  • littoralsociety.org

Striper Facts

  • Striped bass eggs hatch in about two days and young grow to 6 inches in one year
  • Female striped bass can mature as early as age 4, but do not reach full productivity until age 8. Males reach maturity by age 2 or 3. On average, of the 600,00 eggs a young female may lay, only 600 will hatch. Of those, only 3 will reach age 2. Older females may produce over 3 million eggs.
  • The oldest striped bass ever caught were estimated to be between 31 and 36 years old
  • Striped bass are considered "true" bass. Smallmouth, largemouth, rock and spotted bass are all members of the sunfish family.
  • Although striped bass are found from the Saint Lawrence River to the Gulf of Mexico, only three populations migrate along the Atlantic: Hudson River, Delaware River, and Chesapeake Bay.
  • The all-time angling record is 78 lbs 8 oz, taken off Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1982. The commercial record is 125 lbs, near Edenton, NC in 1891.
  • Angler returns of tags have shown that Hudson River striped bass travel as far north as Nova Scotia, and as far south as North Carolina.
  • The oldest striped bass ever caught were estimated to be between 31 and 36 years old
  • The first striped bass fishing clubs were organized just after the Civil War, and used carrier pigeons to correspond with one another.
  • At one time, striped bass were so plentiful, they were used to fertilize farmer's fields.
  • According to the Hudson River Foundation's records of tags returned, some of the most productive fishing spots in the NY area are Liberty Island; South Street Seaport; Coney Island; 69th Street Pier, Brooklyn; and Liberty State Park, NJ.

Related Media

Event
CAC Meeting Jan. 28th 2016 1–4 PM
Submit Proposal
The Tibor T. Polgar Fellowship Program Due Feb. 22nd 2016 5PM
Fund
New York City Environmental Fund

The New York City Environmental Fund was established in 1994 by the New York State Department

Hrecos.org
Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System