3rd Annual Tagging Challenge
Bonefish and Tarpon Trust, Belize River Lodge and Frontiers Travel are hosting our third annual Belize River Lodge Bonefish and Permit Tagging Challenge during the week of March 26 to April w, 2014. We are very excited to have moved the Challenge into March, as we are hoping that the migratory Tarpon will be making a big showing also. Michael Larkin, Ph.D. will be returning to give an updated presentation on the findings of BTT.
Last year, 2013’s Challenge was a hit, even with a smaller number of anglers. Dr. Michael Larkin made wrote a summary of the event,
“Belize River Lodge’s second annual tagging challenge was a huge success! Despite daily high winds of 20+ knots and frequent cloudy skies genetic samples were collected from 8 tarpon and 71 bonefish were tagged. The 71 tagged bonefish more than doubles last year number of 33. Dirk Burgard and Dennis Young won the most bonefish award. Craig Jansen and Chuck Hemingway won the most tarpon award. The largest bonefish was caught by Craig Jansen, and the largest tarpon was caught by Chuck Hemingway.”
We e-mailed a “wrap up” right after the event, and if you would like to refresh your memory, here is the Wrap Up Report.
We changed things up in 2014, and the date for the Challenge is earlier, March 26 to April 2, 2014, however, the cost of the Challenge week is the same as 2013 and the 7 Nights/6 Days Lodge Fishing is US$3,668.00 per person, based on double occupancy.
BRL Fishing Package Includes: Round trip airport transfers in Belize – meeting & checkout services, accommodations, air conditioning in rooms, daily housekeeping, all meals – including a box lunch, soda & drinking water, guided fishing, skiff & fuel, Belize Taxes of 9% Hotel Tax & 12.5% GST tax. BRL Fishing Package Does Not Include: Airfare to & from Belize, fishing equipment & tackle, Belize Fishing License (US$25.00 per angler, per week), alcoholic beverages, tips to guides and staff, Belize Departure Tax (approximately US$40.00 per person – included in ticket or paid at Airport)
Belize River Lodge will again be making a donation to BTT for future studies.
Note: Two more tagged bonefish were landed in November. One was tagged earlier in the 2013 summer and the other was tagged in December 2011. This makes a total of 4 recaptured bonefish in about 1000 tagged. The longest between recaptures was the bonefish tagged December 2011 and recaptured November 2013. Amazingly, there was no real growth seen in that time frame.
The reasons for the Challenge remain the same, tag as many Bonefish & Permit and DNA test all tarpon and hopefully satellite tag large migratory tarpon, in order to see growth and migratory patterns. For more detailed information, our 2013 Challenge and 2012 Challenge information explains.
While visiting, if you have any questions, BTT scientist, Michael Larkin, and BTT board member, Mick Kolassa, will be on hand to discuss and teach tagging and fish handling techniques and to answer questions about BTT’s research and conservation efforts. One of the Mote Marine Tarpon scientist will be at BRL to satellite tag large Tarpon and also to answer any Tarpon questions you may have. Mike will also conduct a presentation of recent scientific findings about our target species on one evening. This will be a great opportunity to swap stories and advice and to have a chance for a one on one talk with a BTT scientist to really get into the “why” and “how” of bonefish, tarpon, and permit biology – and angling. On the final evening of the week we will award prizes to the anglers who tagged the most bonefish, the largest bonefish, and the most and largest permit and the most and largest Tarpon.
We only have a few spaces left for the Challenge week of March 26th to April 2nd for fishing, fun and prizes and at no extra cost to you the angler. Belize River Lodge’s regular rates apply and you receive Frontier’s professional services to help plan your trip. Please join us for our Challenge week and the real challenge is to have as much fun as possible doing what you love – fishing for Tarpon, Bonefish, Permit, Snook and Jacks, Snappers, ‘Cudas, Ladyfish and more.
In addition to participating in a scientific study, your 6 days of fishing at Belize River Lodge will include
* A Welcome gifts for all participants.
* BTT membership for any non-members
* Workshops and presentations on bonefish, permit, and tarpon fishing and science.
* Awards of hand carved wooden trophies for the most and biggest fish tagged of Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon. Carving will be out of beautiful zericote wood and carved by a well-known local Belizean artist.
* Prizes include a Sage 12 wt rod, a Sage 8000 flyreel & two Orvis 8 wt rods.
* An opportunity to help advance our scientific understanding and knowledge through this event.
* Funding for more Bonefish and TarponTrust work later, as both BRL and Frontiers are donating to BTT. Belize River Lodge is donating $500.00 for every angler booked and Frontiers is also making a donation per angler.
* A fantastic time in a wonderful setting, with little hassle to you – all you need to do is contact BRL or Denise Schreiber or Barbara Alden at Frontiers and they will do all the work. Denise’s email address is dschreiber@frontierstravel.com, Barbara’s is balden@frontierstravel.com or call Frontiers toll free at 1-800-245-1950.
The fishing opportunities at the Belize River Lodge are second to none – the Lodge was one of the hosts for the BTT television show “Buccaneers and Bones” and is one of the top locations in the world for catching IGFA registered Inshore Grand Slams and Super Slams.
Learn more about Bonefish & Tarpon Trust.
3rd Annual Bonefish & Permit Tagging Challenge Sponsors:
