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North Carolina Launches First Ever Redfish Migration Tracker
Saltwater anglers in North Carolina are about to learn a whole lot more about their redfish, thanks to a new satellite tracking tool built just for them.
A new satellite tracking system now lets the public follow the movements of tagged red drum along the coast in near real time, offering one of the most detailed looks ever created for the species.
The interactive platform comes from the North Carolina Marine & Estuary Foundation at ncmefoundation.org, which partnered with the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries to expand a long-term tagging effort. For anglers and conservationists, it is the first tool of its kind in the state that blends science, mapping technology, and public engagement.
“Red drum are an iconic symbol of North Carolina’s coastal communities and a key driver of our state’s four billion dollar saltwater fishing economy,” said Foundation Executive Director Chad Thomas. “This tool invites the public to engage directly with real time science from the field and to see why protecting their habitat matters.”
The tracker is built using Mapotic, the same mapping company behind OCEARCH’s shark-tracking platform. Users can watch individual fish travel through inlets, cross sounds, roam spawning grounds, and even leave the state’s waters as migration patterns shift.
The platform emerged from a 2024 pilot study in Pamlico Sound where biologists tagged ten adult red drum. That effort helped refine how tags are attached and how satellite data transmits through the Argos network. In 2025, the project expanded to forty additional fish spread along the coast, with help from recreational fishing guides and the state’s annual longline survey.
Each tag is designed to stay on the fish for anywhere from 30 days to a full year. After its programmed interval, it detaches, floats to the surface, and begins sending daily location data. Since red drum spend more time near the surface than many species, some tags may transmit early, giving the public a live look at where fish are traveling.
According to Cara Kowalchyk, Red Drum Project Lead Biologist with the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, the data will help fill a major research gap for both state and regional stock assessments. “This project addresses a high-priority research need for estimating adult population movement rates,” she said.
Beyond its scientific impact, the platform highlights the importance of the species to everyday anglers. Roughly three million fishing trips each year in North Carolina are linked to red drum, underscoring their value to coastal communities and the state’s fishing economy.
To explore the live map and follow individual fish movements, visit ncmefoundation.org
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