(From L – R) Craig “Bubba” Janssen, BRL Guide Dirk Burgard, Chuck “Bingo” Hemingway, and BTT’s JoEllen Wilson
In early April, Belize River Lodge hosted its 5th and final Tagging Challenge Week where anglers compete in a week-long competition to tag permit, fin clip bonefish and collect scales from tarpon. Individuals receive awards for sampling the largest and most fish for each species and the proceeds from the Challenge are donated to BTT. This year, nine anglers participated in the Challenge and they were accompanied by BTT’s Juvenile Tarpon Habitat Program Manager, JoEllen Wilson.
When all was said and done, the anglers collected a total of 47 bonefish fin clips and 6 tarpon scales. Unfortunately, the group was unable to tag a permit. Belize River Lodge also made a generous donation of $4,000 to BTT to help continue the research of these valuable flats species.
The lucky winners of this year’s Challenge were Craig “Bubba” Janssen with the most tarpon caught (2) and most bonefish sampled (20), and angler Chuck “Bingo” Hemingway won the largest tarpon award with a 60 lbs. fish and the largest bonefish sampled at 17″ which tied with angler Gene Weber.
Unique opportunities like the Tagging Challenge allow anglers to interact with BTT scientists while immersed in a flats fishery that they may only see once every few years. Although this week’s anglers hailed from Seattle, Bozeman, MT, and San Francisco, they all share a passion for flats fishing and conservation. These lodge hosted trips also provide the opportunity for BTT to educate on the importance of conserving these valuable flats species and what steps are being taken in order to do that. While staying at the lodge, JoEllen presented to the group on the advancements of juvenile tarpon habitat research, the importance of protecting existing natural habitats and using habitat restoration to repair altered habitats. The anglers were very inquisitive and asked questions about catch-and-release mortality, the disadvantages to satellite tagging and the morphology of a tarpon’s mouth as it eats a fly.
A special thanks goes out to Belize River Lodge for their continued support of BTT and to the anglers that participated in last week’s Challenge. BRL plans to host future competitions, but the format has not yet been decided. Stay tuned!
