PIFG Tag-It Project

08/24/2026

Duane also got out for his usual stroll and connected with a tagged oio. From the looks of how clean the tag is and without a trace of limu, it was tagged very recently. Thanks for supporting the program and reporting the tag!

08/24/2026

Steele got out to go after some bones as soon as weather started looking less threatening and got rewarded. Thanks for the support!

07/19/2026

Steele's first tagged fish. Congrats on a nice one! We have a feeling it's just a first of many!

07/12/2026

Aloha All,

32 fish tagged this month and two recoveries. As summer heats up, we hope that there will be more recoveries. Surprisingly, both fish that were recovered this month were tagged and recovered in short time period and showed little travel.

We welcome and thank the new taggers who ordered tag kits this past month. We understand this is a commitment and want to thank you for supporting a program we believe will ensure fish for our future. PIFG and many passionate fishers have dedicated over 20 years to the pursuit of tagging and releasing fish. As Clay, our long-time tagger and leader shares that each fish that taggers have put back can contribute 100,000s of eggs that will support new fishing opportunities for others. Thank you to all taggers and fishers who have been a part of this journey together.

We also welcome Dash Dickinson, an intern, who will be helping with outreach, listening to the tagging community on how we can improve, and how we can move the program forward. The goal of his internship is to listen and work with our community to help support our taggers and of course - tag fish. He recently created this survey and we will be raffling 3 sets of 10 tags for everyone who completes it. Please help us better support you and our fisheries. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeuvCxfvAhLedlDX4K4mVNXCEg9092ugDBEXkYMmnU9NEDb8Q/viewform

August 15th Tagging Outreach Event & Talk Story Session: We will be hosting a tagging get-together event on the 15th of August on Oahu (location and time to be determined), please reply "Interested" to this email if you are interested in participating. We will follow up with details, timing, and plans in the coming week, but wanted to get word out. If you are on outer-island, please also let us know if you are interested in this event.

Check out the full newsletter here and some great fish pics: https://www.fishtoday.org/tagging-updates/tag-it-july-2026

Upcoming Recognition:

July (Fish Scale / Set of 10 tags / PIFG Special Recognition Item)

Clean Sweep (one of each species)

Random Raffle

Keiki tagger (tagger under 16 - please leave a note in the submission so we know!)

If you have any issues, need anything, or want to talk story, please reach out.

Aloha,
PIFG Tag It Team
Pacific Islands Fisheries Group
website: https://www.fishtoday.org/
email: [email protected]
Order tags: https://www.fishtoday.org/pifg-store

Ordering & Shipping The Lawai’a Magazine is shipped on a quarterly schedule. If you have any issues or need help with your order, please contact Alex at (808) 342-9748 for customer service.For Universities, Libraries, and Educators: If you need an invoice for your order instead of using a credit c...

07/09/2026

If you've ever wanted to watch the process of Naoki Hayashi at work making a Gyotaku print, here's a great opportunity this coming Saturday at Ala Moana Reyns.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1KfiPFPtc7/

07/06/2026

Thad goes to "work" even on holidays. Mahalo for the support!

"4th of July flats session. Targeted ‘ō‘io but only managed two small pāpio. I did see an ‘ōmilu ulua trying hard to get something that was hiding in a coral head on the shallow flats. The one ‘ō‘io I hooked went straight off the flats into the deep channel and cut off on the braid. The white pāpio was tagged and released PIFG .

Evergreen Zephyr Avantgarde ZAGS-92
Daiwa 22 Exist PC LT 3000-XH
SLP Works SLPW EX LT Spool 2 3000D
X-Braid Castman PE 1.5
14 # Varivas Absolute AAA Fluoro leader
Sato Lure Co. Aojako and Mint Chocolate Chubby Grub"

07/04/2026

Long time PIFG/Tag It partner and supporter, Naoki Hayashi always has some good insights on many other aspects of life that he's learned from doing his artwork. We always enjoy his demonstrations and now you can take a class for some hands on learning. Check it out!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DzPYztsvP/

Learn the Japanese art of fish printing at the JCCH! 🐟

We invite you to join us for a JCCH-exclusive Gyotaku Workshop with Naoki Hayashi. With hands-on guided instruction, each participant will make their own original gyotaku print to take home.

📆 Saturday, August 1, 2026
🕙 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
🎟️ $175 ($25 discount for JCCH members with coupon code)

➡️ Spaces are limited! Register at bit.ly/jcchgyotaku

06/20/2026

A workout on the flats AND a tagged fish is never considered a small feat. Thanks for the support, as always, Thad Nakajima!

"Smaller than what I was targeting but at least I didn’t whitewash. Bob Win got one around the same size. Tagged and released, PIFG ."

06/16/2026

Thad takes advantage of good weather to do more tagging. Mahalo!

"Beautiful conditions in the morning for me, Travis Ma and Bob Win. We could see the ulua following behind our plugs in the crystal clear water but they just wouldn’t bite. I decided to try my luck with the jigs before we left and got a 2 and 3 pounder. The smaller pāpio was tagged and released. PIFG

Medusa Custom Works Strange Blue 100HX
Shimano 2020 Stella SW 6k
X-Braid Castman PE 3
Fisherman Super Stealth Shock Leader 60lb
Major Craft Jigpara 40g"

06/05/2026

Aloha All,

Another solid month. Lots of our taggers are connecting on great fish and having really productive outings. We had 56 fish tagged in May. Good luck in June!

Check out the newsletter from all the May fish and recognition: https://www.fishtoday.org/tagging-updates/tag-it-june-2026

June Recognition:
For the tagging in June recognition, we are Grateful to Nanko's Fishing Supply for donating a Rod and Reel Combo for the Most Papio Category.

June

Most Omilu tagged (Nanko’s Special Whipping rod combo)

Most Ulua Tagged (Set of 10 tags)

Random Raffle (PIFG Tagging Shirt)

Please reach out if you need anything or would like to contribute in other ways.

Aloha,
PIFG Tag It Team

Pacific Islands Fisheries Group
website: https://www.fishtoday.org/
email: [email protected]
Order tags: https://www.fishtoday.org/pifg-store

Ordering & Shipping The Lawai’a Magazine is shipped on a quarterly schedule. If you have any issues or need help with your order, please contact Alex at (808) 342-9748 for customer service.For Universities, Libraries, and Educators: If you need an invoice for your order instead of using a credit c...