Evaluation of Visible Implant and Sequentially Coded Wire Tags in Sea‐Run Cutthroat Trout

Abstract Sea-run cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarki were tagged with visible implant (VI) tags inserted into the transparent periocular tissue. Sequentially coded wire tags were placed in the snout of the same fish to evaluate long-term retention and visibility of VI tags. Fish ranged from 200 to 307 mm fork length at the time of tagging. Tags were recovered 3–21 months after tagging through voluntary returns from anglers and from hatchery rack returns. Ninety-four percent of the 156 tagged fish recovered from the hatchery rack retained the VI tag. All but one of the VI tags were visible and readable in situ after recapture.