Rutgers University is currently conducting a study on striped bass in the Mullica River/Little Egg Estuary. The movement of striped bass with surgically implanted ultrasonic transmitters (acoustic tags, see picture) is being monitored by microphones suspended below red buoys that are moored throughout the estuary. We hope to define stock characteristics based on separation between migratory and resident fish, overwinter habitat, and potentially, spawning requirements. Can you help?

Please return healthy surgically tagged fish to the water alive. Implanted fish are marked with a spaghetti tag reading:

"Please release. Carries internal acoustic tag. Rutgers University. (609) 296-5260 x 262  ID######".

If you feel that a tagged fish will not survive (e.g. gut hooked), or see the tag after the fish has died, please cut out and return the acoustic transmitter to:

Rutgers University Marine Field Station
Attn: Striped Bass Tagging
132 Great Bay Blvd.
Tuckerton NJ 08087.

Avoid fouling the monitoring buoys with fishing gear or propellers. Buoys are red soft plastic fenders with an antenna, and are marked "Rutgers University".

To learn more or to participate, look for a link to the bass tagging program at our website at http://www.stripertracker.org/. Get an in-depth look at what we are doing, what is already known about striped bass, and what we hope to find out. Adopt a striper for the price of a tag and get weekly updates on contacts with your fish as well as having you or your company name listed as a sponsor on the web site!