No limit in summer?

[mwardncsu]

Aug 17, 2021 20:51:21 GMT -5 medicineman said:

I never saw an answer to my question of how many fingerlings were released each of the past few years and what the expected survival rate was. Seems like we will need to increase the numbers if the pressure has increased and we want to maintain the fishery. I would think the guides who depend on the fishery for their livelihood would be leading the discussion.

It’s been in the 300-400k range a year. Expected survival rate is 10% first year, 90% year 2 then around 60% each year thereafter (taking into account angler effects)

The Smith Mountain Striper Club has historically worked closely with DGIF on stocking and the overall management plan. Getting involved with the Club is a good way to support the fishery and the efforts.

The Club is having a “Taco Social” at Crazy Horse this Sunday starting at 4pm to meet members and learn more about the Club. Come on out!

[medicineman]

Thanks Mike. I will definitely be there !

[john]

Fish for green bass and crappie in summer. I know several guides that dont striper fish june july or august. I understand making a living but you can guide for other species.

[medicineman]

What temperature is cool enough that released fish should survive?

[herringbone]

Aug 20, 2021 16:26:36 GMT -5 medicineman said:

What temperature is cool enough that released fish should survive?

Great question, would like to hear myself. medicineman, I respect and thank you for your thoughts and concern on this matter.

[johnr]

I’ve had bigger fish go belly up on the release in early June a few times, so low-mid 70s water temp.

The real trouble occurs when they have to come through 15-20’ of 70+ degree water to get to the boat. And that’s most of the summer into mid fall.

If you look at the dates on the slot limit, they pretty much mark the beginning and end of catch and release fishing for these fish.

[medicineman]

Thank you !

[striperhelper]

I will say that by far (80%) or  more fish caught and thrown back do not survive no matter what size , the smaller fish have a better chance but not much. The DWR has been wrestling with this problem for years.  They get pressure from all sides. I have suggested a moratorium  on all striper fishing for a period of time 2-4 years. The answer is cannot be enforced, if checked fishing, can declare "catfishing" or something else.  The large number of guides would never enforce it. They are only "shooting themselves in the foot" but not intelligent enough to realize it.  They think about TODAY not 5-10 years down the road.  Without them understanding the problem and compliance to the rules by ALL there is no solution and our striper fishery is doomed to fail. Why is the DWR having large mouth bass stocked in the lake , to continue some type of fishery when the stripers are gone.

[herringbone]

Agree 100% here, probably should be on the lg mouth thread on this one, but see your point. I believe the lg mouth stocking is a bigger strain of lg mouth, meaning scientists are helping us catch bigger fish now. I bet most local tourney guys will not like this as they know how to and when to with what they have had for years. Makes ya wonder how you see bigger bags of fish weighed in on tv 🤔.

As far as stripers, I think there’s a good system in place and producing good sized fish. I normally fish Buggs, but fished SML last winter and caught some real quality fish. I didn’t see the numbers that Buggs (smaller fish) produced, but I bet they’re there when timing is right. From what I’ve read, things are on a huge climb from a short while back, so time will tell.

Spent my pennies

[31Airborne]

The F1 hybrid LMB stocking program has a number of elements to it. Yep, they grow faster and get bigger. They can tolerate the colder water temps we see in the winter while growing at a faster rate than northern strain LMB. Then there's some evidence that suggests the F1s are more resistant to LMBV and other fish diseases. Finally, there's more evidence the F1s can out-compete the illegally stocked species (like spotted bass, Alabama bass) for forage. Combined, these help bring a bit of balance to the fishery.

The greatest resource available to us for protecting our fisheries is information. We gotta pump it out there - often and repeatedly. We can never over-communicate the basics of fish care, CNR, limits, and prohibitions against releasing invasive species into our lakes and rivers. We're never gonna fix stupid but if we're diligent in our communications we can deter some of it. The broader the base of respect for the resource we can build the greater the chance we have at maintaining it at a healthy level.

[striperhelper]

Aug 16, 2021 17:23:34 GMT -5 medicineman said:

What is the latest number of fingerlings being released each year? I know the survival rate is extremely low- is there any room to increase the numbers ? Even if the survival rate is 1%, an extra 100,000 released means an extra 1000 fish.

There have been 350,000FRY stocked for a number of years. The extremely low survival rate is due to the size of the FRY. THEY average LESS than an INCH LONG. They are gobbled up by the thousands immediately. I have studied this and IF we would increase the size of the FRY before stocking the survival rate would soar. This takes MONEY!!! Have a required STRIPER STAMP like trout to pay for this, and have a lot more STRIPERS.

[johnr]

But how many more stripers could there be? Have you seen the bait situation lately? It stinks, again.

How many people would buy a striper stamp? Kinda hard to regulate since there’s a dozen other species to fish for in the lake. For me, I’d not buy one.

Just playing devils advocate here. I think the situation is what it is. Trying to manage a non-native, non self sustaining species is always going to be an uphill battle. Personally wish the state would quit wasting our money on these types of projects, and invest in the species that can take care of themselves.

[mississipi]

Wonder if closing the striper fishing for 3 months or so during hot weather has been considered? Other than the guides, I doubt if too many would complain.

[johnr]

I know many other states limit the timeframe in which one may possess a given fish species. For instance, in areas where walleyes are common, they have “seasons”, where at times there is no possession permitted. Growing up in PA, we had seasonal dates when bass and walleye possession were restricted. These times coincided with the times during which the fish were most vulnerable, not as individuals but as a whole population.

During these times of restricted possession, it was pretty much universally understood that one ought not be fishing for those species, even though fishing for them was still permitted.

I’m not sure there is enough respect for the resource or personal responsibility in society these days to have any sort of positive outcome from such restrictions. Peeing in the wind, so to speak.

[medicineman]

Is there any avenue to letting the fry grow larger before stocking? Would it be crazy to suggest that a few coves be designated as release areas and have some sort of artificial cover be temporarily sunk in these areas to give the fry cover and protection? I am not a fish expert but just trying to think of ways to improve the overall survival rate.