Stainless steel head dart tags (SSD)

Stainless steel head dart tags (SSD) are for marking large fish such as billfish and sharks which can not be easily brought aboard. The tag head is specially ground and sharpened to anchor smoothly in firm tissue or muscle. All metal used in the dart head and wire is 316S grade surgical steel. SSD tags are made with the stainless steel wire covering the inside of the first 7cm of the marker. Some researchers prefer to have stainless steel cover the length of the tag if there is a high likelihood of the tags being bitten by other sharks or predatory fish. These tags have superior legibility and integrity to our competitor’s products.

Plastic head intra-muscular tags (PIMS/PIMA)

Like the SSD tags the plastic head intra-muscular tags - type PIMS (small) and PIMA (large) - are also used for tagging large gamefish that can not easily be brought on board. The tag head was developed by the Billfish Foundation (US) and the US National Marine Fisheries Service and has become the favoured tag for billfish in most parts of the world. These tags are not suitable for tagging sharks due to the toughness of the skin. There is some evidence that the softer, rounder nylon head promotes tissue healing faster than in the stainless steel head version resulting in an apparent increase in tag retention over SSD tags in some species of billfish. There is also some published evidence (in tuna) of higher mortality with this tag type compared with standard plastic tipped dart tags so the right tag for your needs will be determined by a number of factors including your study objectives as well as cost considerations.

Hallprint's PIMS and PIMA tags will not suffer problems associated with detachment of the marker that have been reported from similar tags made using these heads by other manufacturers. This is because our markers are moulded to the monofilament to produce an integrated unit without the need for glue or print-obstructing mono doubles to keep the marker on. We consider that print legibility and retention on our tags is also far superior to our competition - view this for yourself by asking for some free samples.

Application instructions for stainless steel dart (SSD) and plastic head intra-muscular (PIM) tags

Application methods for both tag types are very similar despite significant differences in the physical appearance of the tags and applicator needles.

To load the tag onto the applicator attach the stainless steel dart head or plastic intra-muscular head to the applicator needle. A rubber band or other stopper device should lightly hold the tag in place against the tagging pole.

Ensure that the tags are not exposed to above ambient temperatures for long periods and avoid storing them in direct sunlight for long periods of time. A clean airtight container should be used to house the tags when not in use.

Bring the fish alongside the boat as quickly as possible. One person should hold the leader. The tagger should be positioned slightly behind the fish to get a good angle for tagging. The tag is then “harpooned” into the dorsal muscle (back) area of the fish at a 45 degree angle to allow the tag to lay along the fishes side as it swims. The SSD and PIM tags are both intramuscular tags and a good anchor can be formed without locking on to any specific bony structure. A reasonable estimate should be made of the fishes’ length before it is released. Record the information on the tag card immediately.

Tagging poles are normally made from 20 to 25 mm diameter wooden dowels. Varying length dowels are needed depending on the species and size of fish being tagged. If big game fish such as marlin or large sharks are your target a 1.5 metre to 2.5 metre pole should be used depending on your boat freeboard. A “V’ notch at the opposite end of the pole is often valuable in de-hooking caught fish immediately after tagging.

To mount the tagging applicator to the tagging pole, drill an appropriate sized hole about 1.5 inches (3.81 mm) deep being careful to ensure that the hole is perfectly aligned with the pole. Place a small amount of strong bonding glue (epoxy works well) in the hole and on the base of the applicator. Holding the applicator on the middle of its tapered shoulder with pliers, centre the large end over the hole, driving the applicator 1.5 inches down into the pole by hammering on the pliers and not on the applicator. Hammering on the end of the applicator usually breaks the applicator.