More about us.

Local anglers. Real data. Better rivers.

We’re building a community-powered conservation platform that turns everyday anglers into data contributors, students into emerging scientists, and local ecosystems into living laboratories. Through real-world fish tagging, environmental monitoring, and AI-driven analysis, we provide cost-effective, high-resolution insights into fish health, habitat change, and species adaptation. Our mission is to bridge the gap between citizen science, academic discovery, and agency-scale research—empowering communities, informing policy, and protecting the freshwater fisheries that connect us.
To empower conservation through the fusion of grassroots participation, academic engagement, and cutting-edge technology. By harnessing AI and real-time environmental data, we aim to transform how fish populations are monitored, understood, and protected. Our vision is a future where local anglers, students, scientists, and agencies work together to generate actionable insights that shape smarter regulations, preserve native ecosystems, and sustain the fisheries we love for generations to come.
We partner directly with local high school STEM programs, offering students hands-on internships that bridge classroom learning with real-world conservation. Our interns contribute directly to fieldwork, data analysis, and help shape the software behind our platform.

Meet the Team

Mike Bailey

FOUNDER
Mike is the founder of Fishtagged and serves as the organization’s Director of Field Research. With over five decades of experience in small business and a deep-rooted passion for meteorology, hydrology, and technology, Mike brings both vision and field expertise to the project.
Peter Chang

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
Peter brings a disciplined, systems-oriented mindset to the organization’s development. He leads efforts to identify and implement emerging technologies that enhance our data collection, analysis, and community engagement strategies—ensuring Fishtagged remains at the forefront of citizen-powered conservation.
Janice Bailey

ACADEMIC OUTREACH COORDINATOR
Janice helps build bridges between the classroom and the field—connecting educators, students, and researchers to real-world environmental science. When she’s not hiking local trails, paddling the Potomac, or spending time with her grandchildren, she’s working to inspire the next generation of conservation-minded scientists and technologists.
Jackie Chang

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Jackie brings almost 10 years of fly fishing experience, positioning her as both a passionate advocate for women in the fishing community and a strong voice for conservation. Through her leadership and authentic engagement, she helps shape Fishtagged’s identity as a brand rooted in community, stewardship, and adventure.
Stephen Catalano

COMMS + CREATIVE
Stephen shapes the organization’s visual identity and storytelling strategy. His work will educate and engage the community while amplifying the mission of citizen science and environmental conservation. Through powerful photo and films, Stephen ensures that the Fishtagged narrative reflects the dynamic and impactful work being done on the ground.
Clark Hile

FIELD RESEARCH COORDINATOR
Clark’s passion for the outdoors is only matched by his dedication to the local fishing community. As Fishtagged’s Field Associate, Clark serves as a key liaison with anglers, sharing insights, gathering feedback, and helping foster connections that support the organization’s mission.
Scott Broom

COMMUNICATIONS
A passionate outdoorsman, Scott is a self-declared Potomac “River Rat,” having fished, hunted, and camped on nearly every section of the river from Cumberland to the Anacostia. His adventures are often shared with his loyal hound, Diego, as they navigate the river in Scott’s Towee guide skiff. Despite all his effort, he remains a poor angler, bad knot tier, and worse turkey hunter.

STEM Interns: The Next Generation of Conservationists

Oren Hurwitz

Oren’s enthusiasm and innovative mindset make him a valuable part of our team. While working with us, he has created an interactive map showcasing points of interest along the Potomac, adding fresh, engaging content to our website. Community-focused and full of energy, he lifts morale, drives progress, and brings ideas to life.
Olivia Suh

Olivia is a student in the Global Ecology Program at Poolesville High School. With experience in logistics, research, and communications, she helps document, organize, and improve the systems we use to process and present data on our fish. Whether she's leading lobbying campaigns or organizing public events, Olivia’s focus is always on creating impact through structure, strategy, and service.
Santiago Torres Espina

Santiago is a senior at Poolesville High School. He’s helped compile historical and current information in order to present the data in an accurate context. FishTagged has deepened his understanding of the local ecosystem and allowed him to contribute to a local project in a meaningful way.
Krit Socrates

Krit was the first intern at Fishtagged, looking through thousands of photos to log tagged fish, creating a program that extracted data from these photos, and writing a research paper about the patterns of the Smallmouth Bass. Introduced to fishing and hands-on conservation ecology through this project, he's excited to see what this project will do for the fish in the Potomac and for the scientific community that studies them.