Elite anglers and anyone else fishing the Harris Chain may encounter big bass with a pink tag on their dorsal area. This is part of TrophyCatch — a statewide program through which the FWC collects data on largemouth bass and promotes Florida fishing.
This optional program encourages largemouth bass anglers to record photo/video documentation of bass weighing 8 pounds or more. Catch details provide invaluable data that guides management decisions, so FWC rewards participation with various prizes.
The agency also tags some of the trophy size fish collected during sampling. Contacting the FWC at 850-363-6037 and providing the tag info are eligible for cash rewards. Lake Beauclair is one of five systems with pink-tagged fish (also Porter Lake, Lake Lochloosa, Northwest Winter Haven Chain, and Lake Okeechobee).
Marbury clarifies that the pink tags have no connection with Breast Cancer awareness efforts, which commonly use the pink ribbon. Rather, pink was chosen as an atypical color to contrast the yellow tags typically used for TrophyCatch tagging.
“Most trophy bass (have) yellow $100 tags,” Marbury said. “The pink tags will be worth more.”
For more information on the TrophyCatch program, visit www.trophycatchflorida.com.
