The TSBA
is committed to support all concepts that improve the Striped & Cherokee
bass fishery in Tennessee. We want the fishery to be strong & healthy
for years to come so everyone can enjoy this great experience on our many
fine lakes & rivers. One major issue which every conscientious striper
anglers should wrestle with is when to practice " Catch & Release "
& when when should we catch our legal limit & go home. At
our meetings there is usually a discussion on this vital issue. Let me
summarize the information that was passed out in a phamphlet by the TWRA
for those members who could not attend.
The first
thing to realize is that Striped & Cherokee bass are hard fighters
& they are in a vulnerable condition when they are finally brought
to the boat. Even under the best of conditions, they do not survive as
well as other species when released. Don't assume that your released
fish will survive just because it swam away. According to the TWRA, adhering
to the following will maximize the number of Stripers and Cherokee bass
that will survive.
1. During
the hot weather months ofJuly, August& September, released fish will
suffer an extremely high mortality rate due to high water temperature.
Catch & keep your legal limit & call it a day or switch to other
species.
2. The
survival rate for Striped and Cherokee bass caught and released during
the fall, winter and spring periods is significantly higher as the water
is colder. However even during this period, anglers are encouraged to use
restraint.
3. When planning to "Catch and Release", try to not play the fish any longer
than necessary. Fighting the fish to exhaustion will lower its chances
of survival. Some anglers use heavier line and set the drag tighter so
that the fish can be caught and released sooner.
4. Remove the hook carefully and release the fish without taking it out
of the water whenever possible.
5. If the fish is hooked deep, simply cut the line. Also never release
a fish if it is bleeding profusely,. Keep it as part of your limit.
6. If you want to take a picture of your prize, do it as quickly as possible
and minimuze the time that it is out of the water.
7. Please share this information with all your Striper buddies.
*Following the above will minimize the number Stripers and Cherokee bass unintentionally killed by "Catch and Release" fishing.
Striper/Cherokee
Identification
In a previous newsletter, I published an article on what to do if you think
that you have caught a Striped bass or Cherokee (Hybrid) bass that might
be a new state record. This article contained a section on how to identify
a Cherokee from a Striped bass. One of the distinguishing characteristics
was stated to be a difference in their tooth patches. Evidently this is
not true as Stripers and Cherokee bass do NOT have different tooth patch
configurations. Positive identification can be made from its external shape
and the pattern of the stripes. Even then there are examples where it is
hard to distinguish between the two species. The best thing to do is to
get it weighed on a certified scale as quickly as possible. Time is of
the essence. A TWRA fisheries biologist can positively identify it later.