I received information about a tautog I tagged seven years ago, tag number 138508. At that time, the fish was 16.75 inches long. The fish was caught on the Consol. It was recaptured this year by me. The fish was now 24 inches long and still on the Consol. Time at large was 2,499 days.
It was thought this might be the oldest recapture in the Game Fish Tagging Program but a quick check showed another tautog, recaptured this year had been at large longer.
About 8 years ago, I tagged an 11.5 inch tautog on the Westmoreland (tag number 121136). It was recaptured on the Cape Henry Wreck with a reported length of 16 inches. That fish had been at large for 2,826 days.
Both of these fish were re-released with their tags in place.
Fish number 138508