http://www.wistv.com/story/38139544/new-size-limits-and-dates-in-place-for-santee-striped-bass
Wow. I really wish they would move the limits down to 3 on Clarks Hill and Hartwell. Heck even 5 would be so much better than the ridiculous 10 fish limits in place now.
I agree Chip. The bag limits on the Savannah chain, excluding Russell, are way too high. In most cases, 3 or so 21-28 inch fish are plenty to give a nice fish fry for a family of 4. I would also support a 3-5 fish per angler limit on the Hill and Hartwell.
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F150 4 Stroke Yammy Jammer
Santee fish is the only population that can reproduce natural so there needs be stricter limits. Clarks hill and hartwell are a put and take fishery so if they lowered the limits, then DNR would just stock less fish. You can’t have millions of top predator fish without harvesting the fish, you’d be left with a bunch of skinny stunted fish or they would start eating on bass and crappie and boy would those green carp guys raise he!!
Oh, I agree that the DNR would use it as an excuse to reduce stocking. But Hartwell has had 2 unbelievable fish kills in the last 5 years and is a shadow of what it was. The hybrids are doing OK but there aren’t enough of them. Letting people take 10 fish per person when the lake is in trouble is ridiculous. But unfortunately it would take GA and SC to agree to a reasonable limit and I’m not sure about GA but it would require the SC Legislature to agree on it. It’s out of the DNR’s hands.
I can assure you that Hartwell and Clarks Hill are way way off from hitting a carrying capacity of hybrids/stripers that would begin to stunt the fish. The fish kills and guides make dang sure of it. Tennessee has had a 2 fish limit since I can remember and they have some of the best striper and hybrid fishing in the country.
maybe they should just stop all tourments on the hill and hartwell they take most of the large fish. the guides target the hybrid so they can get home quicker and less damage to thier gear. no i am not a guide.
Quite the contrary Dennis, I feel we tournament anglers are among the best stewards of the resource. On our team, we always harvest the first 2 legal fish for the body of water or tournament rules. If subsequent fish won’t help us upgrade, they usually go right back in the lake. The amount of trophy sized fish harvested in most tournaments is very miniscule in whole scheme of things. Over the years, I have caught several 20+ pounders on the Hill. All were put back to fight another day. None were caught during tournaments. Would we have kept them on tournament day? You bet. Again though, I feel that is not enough to cause irreparable harm to the fishery. Sure enough, a fish taking an ice bath and hot grease swim will not grow anymore.
As for guides, I recently aced my Sea School exam and am in the process of finalizing my paperwork for the Coasties. Plan is to be able to entertain clients as soon as this summer break from teaching. I hope to resist the temptation to park on schools of small fish just to get off the water quickly. Like a deer hunter targeting spotted fawns, that is not right.
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F150 4 Stroke Yammy Jammer
quote:Funny...you'll be the only one left on the pond after the "other" guides finish up with their fawns.
Originally posted by Fogman I hope to resist the temptation to park on schools of small fish just to get off the water quickly. Like a deer hunter targeting spotted fawns, that is not right.Xpress HB-22
F150 4 Stroke Yammy Jammer
During the 5-and-done period on Murray, I think I’ll still will be off the water fairly quick most days. Even for my personal fishing, I’m very selective about what I drop lines on. Still, it is what it is with the law. However, on the Hill, I can take the time to search for quality fish of 5 pounds and better. Usually, we find a way to make it happen.
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F150 4 Stroke Yammy Jammer
The striper fishery on Lake Murray is a “put and take” fishery. The fish are stocked in the lake to be harvested at some point. I keep very few fish, if any, but I don’t have any problems with people keeping them as long as it’s within the law.
-The size of a fish is directly proportional to the time between when it’s lost and the story is told. - Me
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