As a catch and release only bass fisherman, I was thinking of tagging my own fish. Is this legal in Massachusetts ? I have contacted numerous agencies and have yet to receive a response after several attempts over a one year period. I know you can buy tagging guns in the large retail sporting good stores but that doesn't make it legal in Mass. Anyone with info would be greatly appreciated.

Good question

Call the Dept of Environmental Protection

There is nothing in the anglers guide in CT that mentions that

I have a degree in Bio and thats always interested me too

But I never put anty effort into it so I'll live through you

Let me know how it goes

Per the Mass D.E.P. tagging of fish is not legal.

Why ?

Definately illegal but the only way I could see getting caught would be if the caught you with the tagging device. Why do you want to tag the bass you catch?

If I've ever caught the same fish more than once, I'm comfortable not knowing it.

Why: Disease transmisson by the tag itself, or mishandling the fish and compromising it's slimy coating making it suceptible to fungus etc. and improper tagging method could hurt the fish or cause it's death among other reasons.

When fishing certain ponds (half acre to one acre) I use to just tie a small piece of line in the hole my hook left.

Basically, I am interested in the growth of the bass in our area compared to the rest of the country. People say there are very few "lunkers" in the Northeast. In learning how a bass grows over a month,6months,a year...etc we could debunk this theory and possibly learn what the "big ones" are doing to become as big as they are.

It is legal in RI and the state even provides the source of where to buy the tags.  

They aren't cheap and YOU have to pay for them.  They are about $300 for 100 tags (numbered)

Contact the "Littoral Society" to learn more about tagging laws in your state.

It is legal in RI and the state even provides the source of where to buy the tags.

They aren't cheap and YOU have to pay for them. They are about $300 for 100 tags (numbered)

Contact the "Littoral Society" to learn more about tagging laws in your state.

Great Post LBH: They also will teach you how to both safely handle the fish and tag it. Some states used to ask for a scale from the fish, I do not know if this is still asked.