2023 Top Fish Taggers for the Cooperative Tagging Center
NOAA Fisheries greatly appreciates the many tagging teams and anglers who tag and release fish to support our science. Here, we highlight the top taggers from 2023.
Learn more about the Top Fish Taggers for the Cooperative Tagging Center.
When a tie exists, the angler listed first is the person who submitted their tag data first.
Billfish Category
Blue Marlin
Captain | Number of Tagged Fish | Angler | Number of Tagged Fish |
Adam Resmondo | 8 | Daniel Carter | 2 |
Daniel Bryant | 3 | Lewis Norry | 1 |
Derek Biel | 2 | Stanley Weldman | 1 |
White Marlin
Captain | Number of Tagged Fish | Angler | Number of Tagged Fish |
Ricky Wheeler | 10 | Noah Hansen | 4 |
Steve Summers | 10 | Chris Jobes | 4 |
Justin Nigham | 4 | Harrie Sammen | 3 |
Sailfish
Captain | Number of Tagged Fish | Angler | Number of Tagged Fish |
Paul Ross | 105 | Jerry Slipakoff | 15 |
Alex Adler | 51 | Brandon Simmons | 6 |
Nelson Delatorre | 40 | Jordan Pacifico | 6 |
Swordfish
Captain | Number of Tagged Fish | Angler | Number of Tagged Fish |
Blake Devine | 14 | Keith Ashworth | 2 |
Vince Riera | 2 | Chris Jobes | 2 |
Jarrett O’Grady | 2 | Matthew Ferry / Michael Russano | 1/1 |
Spearfish
Species | Captain | Number of Tagged Fish | Angler | Number of Tagged Fish |
Mediterranean | Vince Riera | 2 | Rick Benitez | 1 |
Mediterranean |
|
| Keith Ashworth | 1 |
Longbill | Ricky Wheeler | 1 | Artie Wever | 1 |
Roundscale | No One | 000 | No One | 000 |
Tuna Category
Bluefin
Captain | Number of Tagged Fish | Angler | Number of Tagged Fish |
Peter Bacon | 31 | Hunter Wright | 27 |
Toni Riera | 17 | Philippe Lombardo | 5 |
Philippe Lombardo | 8 | Hans Lugus | 4 |
Yellowfin
Captain | Number of Tagged Fish | Angler | Number of Tagged Fish |
Blake Devine | 25 | Danny Eagle | 8 |
Ricky Wheeler | 18 | Dennis Midkiff | 5 |
Thadd Champagne | 5 | Michael Wiedenfeld | 2 |
Bigeye Tuna
Captain | Number of Tagged Fish | Angler | Number of Tagged Fish |
Ricky Wheeler | 1 | Jeff Kneebone | 1 |
Skipjack Tuna
Captain | Number of Tagged Fish | Angler | Number of Tagged Fish |
Ricky Wheeler | 2 | Danny Eagle | 2 |
Albacore Tuna
Captain | Number of Tagged Fish | Private Angler | Number of Tagged Fish |
Vince Riera | 1 | Rick Benitez | 1 |
Small Tunas
This category includes blackfin, little tunny, and Atlantic bonito.
Blackfin Tuna
Captain | Number of Tagged Fish | Angler | Number of Tagged Fish |
Ricky Wheeler | 23 | Danny Eagle | 5 |
Thadd Champagne | 14 | Thadd Champagne | 1 |
Little Tunny
Captain | Number of Tagged Fish | Angler | Number of Tagged Fish |
Diogo Godoi | 99 | Charles Abercrombie | 4 |
John Mauser | 78 | Kevin Connolly | 1 |
Jamie Boyle | 69 | Joe Vanasse | 1 |
Scientific Tuna Tagging Efforts
Species | Captain | Number of Tagged Fish | Angler | Number of Tagged Fish |
Bluefin | Diego Bernal | 15 | Jeff Kneebone | 36 |
Yellowfin | Diego Bernal | 10 | Jeff Kneebone | 23 |
Blackfin |
|
| Jeff Kneebone | 13 |
Little Tunny |
|
| Jeff Kneebone | 1 |