In Hawai‘i, fishing isn’t the only thing passed down through generations. Kaua‘i fisherman Cory Olores grew up watching his father carefully tag and release his catch. Today, he’s continuing that legacy through the Pacific Islands Fisheries Group’s Tag It project. The program has harnessed the capacity of anglers across Hawai‘i and led to more than 20,000 tagged fish. The tagged fish provide critical data for scientists to understand and ensure abundant fish populations.
For Fish, Fishermen, and the Future
NOAA Fisheries works to expand access to U.S. recreational fishing through science-based conservation and management. And no one wants to preserve their way of living and pastime more than fishermen.
The Tag It program empowers local anglers to be part of improving their fisheries. “Everyone’s so passionate about our resource, about access to it, and about perpetuating that for future generations,” said Alex Min, Tag It project coordinator, “That’s why we’re involved with tagging.”
Tags Tell a Story
Scientists use data to understand how fish populations are doing. That’s where partnerships between fishermen and scientists are vital. Tag It participants collect and share key data from tagged fish like length, date and time of catch, and location. (Don’t worry—the program uses general location to compare capture locations, so it doesn’t reveal secret fishing spots.)
“Whatever type of information I can give them, I’ll give them,” Olores said of the ulua he tags and releases. “I’m trying to save the fish—to get information to preserve the fish for future generations.” Olores first witnessed his father tag fish as a kid on Kauaʻi and has always been curious about how he can help maintain fishing opportunities in Hawai‘i.
Each time someone tags a fish, it adds a detail to the storyline. This helps scientists piece together how fish live, move, and change over time. The more data we have, the clearer the story becomes. And this helps anglers, too.
“It’s actually making me open my eyes more to figuring out the way they live,” Olores said. “I’ll take a picture; I’ll jot down what time I caught it; and I look at the tide … [and see] they actually bite better at this tide. I’m actually recording my catches and seeing what’s working better.”
Year-Round Fishing Tournament Open to All
According to Min, Tag It is such a great program because it’s fishermen-led, and anyone can join. One way to get started is the 2025 Tagging Tournament, a year-long event that NOAA Fisheries is supporting to enhance public-private partnerships in recreational fishing. Active taggers take on different challenges each month. Whether it's the most tagged fish in a day or a species-focused challenge—there’s an opportunity for every angler.
“I love the people. We have some of the best anglers and fishermen in the ranks tagging fish,” Min said. “It’s just incredible … we’re really fortunate to have that kind of talent and capacity tagging fish for the future.”
