Pat McCroryGovernor

gANCDENR

North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesDivision of Marine Fisheries

Dr, Louis B. Daniel IIIDirector

John E, Skvarla, IIISecretary

February 28, 2013

Dear Volunteer Tagger,

Another year has quickly come and gone and we wanted to again thank you for your continued effort andsupport and provide you a brief update on data gathered over the last year. We have received nearly alltagging records from 2012 but if you still need to submit your records please do so in the near future. You maycall (252-473-5734), fax (252-473-1674), mail or e-mail this information. Also, please let us know if any of yourcontact information, including e-mail address, has changed.

We continue to have good numbers of adult red drum tagged each year. The final tally from 2011 was 1,107red drum tagged and 63 returns reported. So far for 2012 we have had over 880 tagged red drum reported byvolunteers and 61 reported returns. The attached table summarizes the 2012 tag return data and someadditional highlights are included here. The longest time at large was for a red drum tagged by Chuck Hudsonoff of Cedar Island in June of 2002 and recaptured over 10 years later at Point of Marsh (Neuse River) inSeptember of 2012. Of particular note were three fish that Capt. Bobby Smith tagged in the mouth of theNeuse River on September 24, 2007. All three were recaptured during 2012. The first was taken off ofOriental (Neuse River). The other two fish were recaptured on the northern Outer Banks beaches. One wastaken on October 8 in the Corolla surf and the other was recaptured on October 12 just to the north at Corova.These two recaptures represented the greatest distance traveled at 120 and 123 miles, respectively. Mostrecaptures, even those at large for long periods of time, occurred very near the areas where they wereoriginally tagged. No reported recaptures occurred outside of North Carolina during 2012. On another positivenote, we continue to see good numbers of young adult fish entering the adult population. Volunteer taggingoffers us very valuable insight into the fishery and population and continues to be a very useful source of datafor fisheries managers.

We again thank you for your support of this program. Your willingness to participate and your love for theresource should be commended. Best wishes in all your endeavors.

Sincerely,

~?~Lee ParamoreMarine Fisheries Biologist

Send correspondence to:NCDMFPO Box 1965Manteo, NC 27954Attention: Carol Etheridge

or e-mail to: CaroI.Etheridge@ncdenr.gov

3441 Arendell Street, P,O, Box 769, Morehead City, North Carolina 28557Phone: 252-726-7021 \ FAX: 252-726-0254 \ Internet: portal.ncdenr.orqwebmt

An Eoual Oooortunitv \ Affirmative Action Emolover

2012 Tag Recaptures

2012 DistanceLength FL Recap Length FL Days Traveled

Tag# Tagger Tag Date Tag Location (inches) Date Recapture location (inches) Out (miles)

039444 Chuck Hudson 06/29/02 off Cedar Island 29 09/08 Point of Marsh 40 3725 7.5

054273 Norman Miller 11/07/04 Ocracoke Inlet 43 09/22 2 mi. E. of Neuse River Entrance Light 45 2877 25

054554 George Beckwith 09/01/05 lower Neuse River 40 08/30 mouth of Neuse River 42 2556 7

055319 Chuck Hudson 09/07/05 Maw Point 38 08/30 Maw Point 45 2550 1

057036 George Beckwith 08/21/06 Gum Thicket 43 09/03 Neuse River near Oriental 43 2206 7

056949 George Beckwith 09/09/06 off Orchard Creek, Neuse River 45 09/04 Lighthouse Shoal 44 2188 5

059055 Bobby Smith 09/24/07 mouth of Neuse River 46 10/12 Corova surf, NC/Va line 43 1846 123

059056 Bobby Smith 09/24/07 mouth of Neuse River 43 10/08 Corolla surf, off Ramp 18 44 1842 120

059060 Bobby Smith 09/24/07 mouth of Neuse River 42 08/25 off Oriental, Neuse River 43 1798 10

081598 George Beckwith 08/21/08 Neuse R, below Adams Cr 45 08/25 Garbacon Shoal 46 1466 1

084463 George Beckwith 08/21/10 Point of Marsh 42 10/10 Avalon Pier 42 782 93

084480 George Beckwith 08/29/10 Gum Thicket 46 09/15 Gum Thicket 46 749 1

083083 Bobby Smith 09/07/10 mouth of Neuse River 43 09/15 Gum Thicket 43 740 3

084538 George Beckwith 09/06/10 Turnagain Bay 46 09/06 lower Neuse River 46 732 6

034207 'Eric Oiaddorio 09/17/10 btw NR Lt & Pt of Marsh 37 09/13 mouth of Bay River - 728 6

085358 Norman Miller 11/04/10 Ocracoke Inlet 43 08/25 Brant Island Shoal, Pamlico Sound 43 661 21

084099 Norman Miller 10/23/10 n-end Portsmouth Island 47 03/09 South Point Ocracoke surf 47 504 4

084640 I George Beckwith 08/25/11 off Wiggins Pt., Neuse River 37 09/22 mouth of Neuse River 37 395 13

087231 George Beckwith 09/02/11 off South River, Neuse River 43 09/22 mouth of South River 43 387 1

084914 George Beckwith 08/12/11 Lighthouse Shoal 49 08/22 mouth of Neuse River 49 377 2

085950 Justin Trujillo 10/08/11 Bald Head Island 35 10/17 Bald Head Island 37 376 0.5

084845 George Beckwith 08/19/11 off Dawson Creek, Neuse River 33 08/25 Garbacon Shoal 33 373 5

D84739 IBobby Smith 09/03/11 Rattan Bay I 48 i 08/28 Neuse River near Oriental 48 361 12..

083335 Curtis Morris 09/09/11 Rattan Bay I 37 08/23 Gum Thicket Shoal 37 350 6--~ -----

084750 Bobby Smith 09/06/11 off Brown's Creek, Neuse River 46 08/19 Neuse River off Oriental 46 349 6.5

I !-

080623 Pat Bracher 10/24/11 Avon Pier 46 09/14 mouth of Neuse River - 327 68

D84139 J Doug Hinson 10/17/11 Ocracoke Inlet I~- I 08/18 Pamlico Sound, 3 mi off Cedar Island 43 307 14I---- -

D84748 Norman Miller 10/29/11 IOC"CDke Inlet I 47 08/26 mouth of Rattan Ba} _____

I

48,

303 i 28,) --- I --

D86708 ;~orma~ Miller,

10/27/11 --~-l-; 08/03 Gum Thicket Shoal 37 j~:H31Ocracoke Inlet--- --

D85442 Norman Miller 10/05/11 Ocracoke Inlet 28 06/26 inside Ocracoke Inlet 28 1.5, - - - - I -- - --

D86914 Norman Miller 10/09/11 iOcracoke Inlet 32 I 04/21 Portsmouth Island surf mm 10 32 196 . 11-

09/16/11 -Ie~~t~e~ Bear Island; ocean------- ---- - --

I I- ----'

I083338 Curtis Morris 28 02/10 lew near Bear Inlet 28 I 148 I 5

2012 Tag Recaptures

2012 DistanceLength FL Recap Length FL Days Traveled

Tag # Tagger Tag Date Tag Location (inches) Date Recapture location (inches) Out (miles)

086779 Norman Miller 04/30/12 Ocracoke Inlet 45 I 09/05 behind n-end Portsmouth Island 45 129 10.084391 Abel Harmon . 06/21/12 Bluff Point 47 10/19 Hatteras surf, south of Ramp 30. 47 121 48

087616 Jot Owens 05/30/12 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 27 08/16 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 27 79 0.3088129 Jot Owens 06/12/12 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 26 08/09 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 26 59 0.3088136 Jot Owens 06/25/12 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 28 08/16 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 29 53 0.3087272 Jot Owens 04/07/12 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 28 05/30 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 28 52 0.3087607 Jot Owens OS/22/12 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 27 07/12 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 27 52 0.3087647 George Beckwith 08/07/12 btw Cedar Isl.- Brant lsl. Tower 46 09/21 lower Neuse River 2 miles off Oriental 46 46 22088137 Jot Owens 06/28/12 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 27 08/07 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 27 41 0.3088140 Jot Owens 07/05/12 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 27 08/14 Atlantic Ocean 2 mi. off Fort Fisher 29 41 14.5087622 Jot Owens 06/04/12 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 27 07/13 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 28 40 0.3D87469 Bobby Smith 08/25/12 Point of Marsh 36 09/29 Legged Lump, Pamlico S. n-end Ocracoke 36 36 37.5087608 Jot Owens OS/22/12 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 26 06/25 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 27 35 0.3087610 Jot Owens 06/09/12 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 28 07/11 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 28 33 0.3087703 George Beckwith 08/09/12 Brant Island Tower 42 09/10 Cedar Island Beach 42 33 10087624 Jot Owens 06/04/12 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 28 07/04 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 28 31 0.3087716 George Beckwith 08/10/12 Lighthouse Shoal 43 09/07 Maw Point 43 29 4088253 Bobby Smith 09/20/12 Point of Marsh 45 10/18 Jennette's Pier 45 29 83087739 George Beckwith 08/25/12 off Rattan Bay 48 09/16 lower Neuse River off Turnagain Bay 48 23 5088133 Jot Owens 06/12/12 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 27 07/02 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 27 20 0.3087610 Jot Owens OS/22/12 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 28 06/09 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 28 19 0.3088128 Jot Owens 06/12/12 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 28 06/30 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 28 18 0.3087727 George Beckwith 08/24/12 off South River, Neuse River 36 09/08 Brant Island Shoal, Pamlico Sound 36 16 14087620 Jot Owens 06/04/12 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 26 06/18 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 26 14 0.3087570 Mitchell Blake 09/09/12 off Orchard Creek, Neuse River 45 09/20 mouth of South River 45 12 5087402 Henry Kidd 08/25/12 Cedar Island 49 09/02 mouth of Neuse River 49 9 9088129 Jot Owens 08/09/12 Masonboro Inlet Jetty 26 08/15 Masonboro Inlet Jetty I 26 7 0.3086880 Norman Miller I 10/17/12 Ocracoke Inlet 31 10/22 north end Portsmouth Island surf 31 5 2I--

i087652 George Beckwith 08/21/12 off Neuse River Entrance Light 44 08/24 off Cedar Island 44 4 10I

I- --- ---

088190 George Beckwith 08/01/12 NE of NR Entrance Light 35 09/01 mouth of Neuse River I 35 4 5