For the third straight year, March Merkin Permit fishing tournament proceeds have been donated to Bonefish & Tarpon Trust and directed to Project Permit. 2012 proceeds were in excess of $17,000. In 2010, the all catch and release March Merkin tournament served as the kickoff for Project Permit, a research study aimed at answering basic questions about permit populations, growth rates and movements. The program is sponsored by Costa, in conjuction with Bonefish & Tarpon Trust.
Points in the event are awarded not only for length, but for tagging as well. In a new twist for 2012, BTT provided special reward tags to be used by tournament anglers for tagging during this year’s event. Any individual recapturing a reward tagged Permit is entitled to receive $100. Please report all tagged permit recaptures with the following information; length, location of capture and date. There is a phone number, and unique ID number on all tags.
Thank you to tournament director Jon Ain and the March Merkin committee for their continued support. More information about Permit tagging as well as scientific and conservation issues affecting Bonefish, Tarpon and Permit can be found at www.bonefishtarpontrust.org.
