How To Start Tagging Sharks

I know of only three organizations that you can contact to get into a shark tagging program. NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) has an Apex Predator Program, Texas Shark Rodeo (Sharkathon) and Tag Louisiana (Louisiana residents only). I urge you to contact these organizations to become involved in a shark tagging program. If you go to the "Rules" section on the Texas Shark Rodeo website or Sharkathon website there is some great information about how to tag and fin clip sharks. 

www.fisheries.noaa.gov - Send an email to sharkrecap@noaa.gov to request tags
www.TexasSharkRodeo.com
www.TagLouisiana.net

I carry a shark bag with me when I am fishing. This helps be prepared to catch, tag, DNA sample and release sharks successfully. The timeline that we impose on ourselves is 3 minutes. We have three minutes from when the shark hits the sand to take three separate measurements, dehook, tag, fin clip, take measurement picture and identify the sex. Three minutes is not a lot of time.  In order to be prepared, I want everything I need together in one spot.

My shark bags contains:
1) Utility knife (to puncture the skin for the tag)
2) Tag Stick
3) Shark Tags
4) Fin Clip Vials
5) Game scissors (for the fin clip)
6) Bolt cutters
7) Tail rope
8) Diagonal cutters
9) Dehooker
10) Tape measure

The information that you get from the shark needs to be written down otherwise you will forget it. It is good practice to write the sharks measurements in the sand while you are handling the shark. Once the shark is swimming away, grab the shark log and write down all of the information you took. My shark log has sections to annotate the total length, nose to fork length, girth, sex, tag number, vial number, angler name, date, time at hook up, time at landing, time at release. I now make these shark logs available for purchase.  Check them out in the store section. 

You need to get a tripod and Bluetooth shutter. Practice makes perfect. Most shark tournaments require a picture with you and the shark. Do your best to make sure the shark is straight and is completely in the picture. I recently got docked 11" on a shark’s length in a tournament because the shark was at an angle.