1 · Catch
Hook into an over-slot striped bass or tautog — a fish too big to keep, and exactly the size researchers want data on.
Striped bass & tautog research
Catch it. Tag it. Name it. Release it — all in the name of science.
Fishing with a purpose
A working partner in real fisheries science.
Captain Skippy Charters is proud to play an active role in striped bass and tautog (blackfish) research out of Mount Sinai Harbor on Long Island's North Shore. We've partnered with Gray FishTag Research to give our guests a hands-on opportunity to tag, name, and safely release over-slot striped bass, tautog, and other important species.
Every tagged fish helps scientists learn more about where our fish travel, how fast they grow, and how healthy our local fish populations are. Best of all, our customers get to be part of real, ongoing research that supports the future of sustainable fisheries throughout the East Coast.
Book a tagging tripHow a tagging trip works
Four steps from the strike to the science.
When an over-slot fish comes over the rail, you don't just snap a photo — you put it to work. The whole process takes a minute and the fish swims off strong.
2 · Tag
Captain Skippy places an official Gray FishTag marker, and the fish's length and location get logged for the study.
3 · Name
You get to name your fish. If it's ever recaught, you'll hear where it traveled and how much it grew.
4 · Release
The fish goes back to the Sound healthy, using best-practice handling — bigger spawning fish protected for the next season.
Our research partner
Gray FishTag Research
Gray FishTag Research remains on the forefront of marine science, working to better understand fish migration patterns, growth rates, and other important information about the species we all care about. Captain Skippy Charters gives customers the unique experience to catch, tag, name, and release over-slot striped bass — all in the name of science.
Every tag turned in adds another data point to a picture that benefits anglers, captains, and the fishery for years to come.
Visit grayfishtagresearch.orgA track record of contributing
Three seasons with Cornell Cooperative Extension.
For three seasons, Captain Skippy Charters also worked alongside Cornell Cooperative Extension, helping catch striped bass for their Contaminants in Striped Bass study. This project looked at fish health — including mercury and PCB levels, age, growth, and population trends in the central Long Island Sound — confirming that our local fish are safe and healthy to eat.
It's another way we're helping ensure the fishery we enjoy today stays strong for the next generation.
Want to tag a fish of your own?
Book a trip and ask about the Gray FishTag program when you reach out.
