Press release [Dec. 7, 2001D]

For more information, contact Lisa Doty, Public Affairs Coordinator - (770) 918-6400
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ANGLERS MUST STILL PRACTICE CATCH AND RELEASE OF STRIPED BASS CAUGHT FROM THE SAVANNAH RIVER
SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (December 7, 2001) - Many anglers have noticed that striped bass fishing on the Savannah River has become increasingly better over the past few years. However, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) reminds anglers that catch and release regulations are still in place for these fish from the mouth of river to New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam. The populations of small and large striped bass have increased greatly since the 1980's, but this is mostly due to stocking efforts by the WRD Fisheries Management Section.
The striped bass population drastically decreased in the Savannah River during the mid-1980's due to the operation of a tide gate and diversion canal in the Back River where the majority of striped bass spawned. The conversion of the tidal freshwater marsh into a brackish marsh made it unsuitable for striped bass spawning and reproduction.
In an effort to restore the freshwater marsh to suitable spawning habitat, the tide gate was removed in 1991 and the diversion canal filled in 1992. However, this by itself was not enough to recover the striped bass population. "To protect the remaining adult fish and the fish to be stocked, Georgia and South Carolina adopted a fishing moratorium," says WRD Chief of Fisheries Management Chuck Coomer. "The Division also adopted a management objective of re-establishing a self-sustaining adult population through stocking."
Since 1995, WRD has stocked approximately 40,000 eight - ten inch striped bass each year into the Savannah River, which is why anglers are starting to see large numbers of healthy striped bass in the Savannah River. Striped bass take four to five years to become sexually mature and about eight years to reach weights of 25 - 30 pounds.
"We know there is a healthy population of adult stripers in the Savannah River now and many anglers are anxious to harvest a large striped bass from these waters," says Coomer. "But before the Division can allow the harvest of striped bass we have to figure out if the population can maintain and reproduce without our help." WRD fisheries biologists continue to conduct research on the striped bass population in the Savannah River. When this research indicates that the population and reproduction rates are healthy, harvest will be allowed. Until then, the Georgia and South Carolina Departments of Natural Resources do not allow anglers to harvest striped bass.
"The Division's stocking program has been a tremendous success and we will continue to place an emphasis on the harvest moratorium until this population becomes fully restored," says WRD Col. Ron Bailey. "Even though harvest is not allowed, anglers are encouraged to enjoy the current catch and release regulations for these fierce opponents."
For more information on striped bass fishing regulations in the Savannah River, call (912) 7272112 or (706) 595-1619. For general fishing information and regulations, go to www.gofishgeorgia.com. ###