Mass marking program key to Lake Michigan fish management | Paul Smith

Racine’s Fifth Street public boat launch became a live research site during the 2026 Salmon-A-Rama Fishing Tournament, running July 11 to 19. On July 18, anglers including Manuel Martinez and Jenny Meyers brought catches of salmon and trout to a fish cleaning station while fisheries staff checked specimens. Three technicians from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service used the Great Lakes Mass Marking Program’s coded wire tags to track fish populations. The 1-millimeter magnetized cylinder is implanted in hatchery snouts and linked to unique IDs. Scientists record species, sex, weight, length, and fin clips, aiding management.