Fig 1
shows a picture of a tag with a single barbed
nylon head with a yellow plastic streamer.
The attached streamer has a send address
and ID number written in black along its
length on one side. The tag is supplied
on a card that has a corresponding ID number.
The card is to be filled out at the time
of tagging and forwarded to the appropriate
organisation by the angler. The completed
card lists all the relevant information
required by the research bodies. (This system
applies to all the different tags available.)
The single barbed nylon tagged is designed
only for use on small fish species. ( i.e.
less the 20lb) It is to be placed just below
the dorsal fin under the skin into the muscle
hump of the fish. This will lodge the barbed
head securely in between the bone structure
of the fish.
(These tags can be obtained through most
game Fishing Glubs, GFAA or NSW Fisheries)
Using your the Top
Shot Tackle Australian reversible Tag receptor
needle (See Fig
2) the yellow
streamer is fed down inside the bore of
the receptor needle Fig
3. (Other
versions of tag receptor needles involve
attaching the tag to the tip of the needle
and then fixing the streamer to the pole
with a rubber band.)
Feed the streamer down the bore until the
nylon barb sits neatly against the back
of the opening. Fig
4 The tag
is now ready for application.
Fig 5
shows the stainless steel bladed tag also
with a yellow streamer. This tag is designed
to be used on Sharks and large pelagic fish
e.g. Billfish, Tunas, Wahoo, Sailfish. Etc)
The most common applicator for this tag
is a 50mm long pin, which is slotted on
the end. The blade is placed in the slot
as shown in Figs.6
and 7.
Similar to the nylon tag set up, the yellow
streamer of the bladed tag is then stretched
along the outside of the pole and normally
fixed in place with a rubber band. (However,
when using a Top Shot Tackle needle no rubber
bands are required as the streamer is simply
loaded internally down the bore of the Top
Shot tag receptor needle making the loading
process simpler, quicker and dramatically
reducing any tag release failure)
Note//
a)
IGFA rules state that the legal dimensions
for both the stainless steel and nylon barb
tag receptor needles are a length of no
more than 50mm and a maximum of 5mm.
b)
The traditional needles for the above tags
are normally supplied as separate units
e.g. a slotted pin or a sliced 5mm pipe.
As shown in the picture the Top Shot Tackle
Australian receptor needle has incorporated
both set ups into one reversible combination
of tag receptor needles. Other manufacturers
are following Top Shots lead to create their
own multi function tag receptor needles.
In recent months a new tag was officially
introduced to Australian anglers at the
Lizard Island tagging tournament. This new
tag has been specifically designed and introduced
into Australia through GFAA for use on the
billfish species only. The Bill Fish Foundation
out of Florida has used this type of tag
extensively in the USA. The version that
has been supplied to the Australian market
is a slightly smaller version of what has
been previously used in the USA. (Anglers
need to be aware that any Bill Fish Tag
receptors they may have now will probably
not fit the new tags.) This new tag is constructed
as an inert nylon bullet shaped head with
two sliced wing barbs and a 2.5mm hole through
the centre. It is highly distinguishable
from the other two tags because of its bright
orange colored streamer. See Fig
8
The standard tag receptor needle that has
been used in the USA for this tag has the
following dimensions: a straight 60mm long,
5mm diameter stainless steel shaft which
has 20mm section machined down to 2.5mm
and pointed off on the end. This section
is required fit the hole found through the
center of the nylon tag.
The process for loading this type of tag
is similar to loading the S/S bladed Tag
but instead of loading into a slot it is
loaded onto the solid 2.5mm pointed pin
end See Fig
9 the streamer
is then laid along the outside of the pole
and fixed in place with a rubber band.
Again the Top Shot Tackle version of this
needle is loaded similar to the others but
simpler and quicker to load as no rubber
bands are required around the out side of
the pole. The streamer is simply loaded
internally down the bore of the receptor
needle. See Fig10,
11. Again
the internal loading dramatically reduces
the likelihood of any tag release failure.
Note//
The legal dimensions
for this tag receptor needle are a length
of no more than 76mm and a maximum diameter
of 8mm. As from the 16th November 2002 these
dimensions have been added to the GFAA rules
and regulations. President of the GFAA,
Mr. Grahame Williams has at this stage endorsed
the Top Shot Tackle and Tailored Marine
Accessories version of their manufactured
tag receptor needle. These needles are available
in most outlets throughout Australia.
