Retention of Passive Integrated Transponder Tags in Flathead Catfish

Abstract

AbstractWe evaluated short‐ and long‐term retention of passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags at two anatomical tagging locations in flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris (n = 72 fish; total length range = 421–854 mm). Tags were injected into the dorsal musculature immediately posterior to the dorsal fin and into the opercular musculature immediately posterior to the left eye. Short‐term tag retention evaluated at 1, 3, and 7 d posttagging was 100% at both tagging locations after accounting for one tag failure (at the dorsal musculature site) that occurred during the initial tagging procedure. Long‐term (300‐d) tag retention was 100% for the dorsal musculature site and 98.5% for the opercular site. Mortality of tagged fish was low (8%); the mortalities that did occur were probably not related to tagging. Our results indicate a high rate of PIT tag retention in flathead catfish at both anatomical locations. Additionally, utilization of the opercular musculature as a PIT tagging location for this species may reduce the potential for accidental tag consumption by anglers.