Puncture Cull Tags

How is this still happening?

I certainly don’t see it as much as I used to. But it amazed me catching a 14 incher the other day with cull tag puncture marks on both sides. The biggest tournament organization (WMB) over here banned them years ago. However it’s obvious others are less conservation minded. It really shouldn’t be that hard to take care of your fish as best you can. It shouldn’t take rules to motivate that either. The non puncture cull tags have come a long way. I’ve been using various versions for a long time now. I will admit I used puncture style tags when I first started too…20 some years ago. But it didn’t take long to make a switch after seeing the damage they did. I used to have to buy a new set of the accu cull style ones every few years and it was well worth it. I’ve been using the TH Marine ones for a couple years now and have had really good luck with them. I don’t know what the others are like but I have no regrets with those.

I also don’t tag fish unless I have to. If I catch a big one, I’m probably not culling it out later. In the big side it goes without a tag. I keep hearing reports about big fish with puncture cull marks too. I’m not sure how that makes any sense? Anyway make the switch and take care of your fish!