Mobile, Ala. – On Monday, the Delta and Bay Conservation Center at Five Rivers hosted the annual two‑day Tag Alabama Pro‑Am Fishing Tournament. The event, a partnership between the Coastal Conservation Alliance (CCA) and the University of South Alabama, paired seasoned fishing guides with volunteer anglers to tag and release inshore gamefish for scientific study.
Event details and participation
Dozens of anglers arrived at the dock for a mandatory noon check‑in and final tally of fish tagged. Over the two days, 17 teams competed, with ten teams fishing on Monday alone. The tournament emphasizes stewardship rather than prize money; participants fish for pride and to aid ongoing conservation efforts.
Tagging results
Dr. Sean Powers, director of the Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences at the University of South Alabama, reported the day’s totals. “Today, we tagged ninety‑seven speckled trout and seventeen redfish,” he said. Additional catches included puppy drum and white trout, bringing the overall count to 172 fish tagged and released.
CCA officials noted a recatch rate of about 16 percent, indicating that a meaningful portion of the tagged fish are being recaptured and providing valuable data on movement patterns.
Conditions and participant comments
Richard Rutland of Cold Blooded Fishing praised the day’s environment: “It was beautiful out there. Absolutely beautiful. We had great conditions. Tide conditions were great. Moon conditions were great. Water temperature’s just right. It’s kind of the sweet spot of fall right now.” Robby Howard of Coastal Fins added, “Speckled trout, redfish, puppy drum and some white trout. We had a great day. I think we tagged over thirty fish today.”
Conservation impact
Since its inception nearly six years ago, the Tag Alabama program has tagged and released roughly 15,000 inshore gamefish. Dr. Powers explained that the data do more than track fish movements; they help estimate fishing mortality and guide state management decisions. “We can advise the state on when fishing mortality is high or low, and it lines up with what the state says for both redfish and spotted sea trout,” he said.
The collaboration between CCA Alabama and the University of South Alabama underscores the community’s commitment to responsible fishing and scientific research. By involving local anglers, the tournament builds public awareness of the importance of data‑driven fisheries management.
Looking ahead
Organizers hope the tournament will continue to grow, drawing more volunteers and expanding the scientific dataset. As the fall season progresses, the sweet spot for water temperature and tide conditions is expected to persist, offering future opportunities for anglers to contribute to conservation while enjoying the sport they love.
Original reporting: FOX10 WALA Mobile (news) — read the source article.
