So, if I understand right, during the spring run you will be able to keep (3) fish over 26" up until June 1st and then only catch and release for the rest of the summer. Am I missing something or does this logic seem a bit backwards? That would mean you can keep (3) prespawn/spawning fish, but once they have spawned you can not keep any. Personally I’d be fine with all catch and release until things get better, but if you are going to be able to keep a few I would think it would have made more sense to make it catch and release a few months in the spring up till June 1st and then allow people to keep a few once the spawn is over.
Anyone know the logic behind making the summer catch and release while being able to keep fish during the spring spawn?
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
Briefly, a 26 inch fish has had the chance for one spawning season behind it. Fish released in the summer succumb to stress mortality in the warmer water. Reducing the limit to 3 from 5 was a workable compromise reached by the stake holders in the fishery. Much effort was expended to reach a regulation that would help the Santee fishery without closing it altogether. The hope is that if an angler is not allowed to keep warm weather fish, the effort will not be expended. The Saluda will support a summer catch and release fishery with cooler water temps, but, please refrain from this practice in the Congaree as the water is just to warm. Remember, the resolutions must meet the scrutiny of the legislature’s agendas and getting a closure passed would have been impossible. DNR did the best job that they could considering the processes in place. Good fishin’.
flatliner, thanks for the reply…you’re obviosly much more up on the subject than me… but with that said, I still have the same question…
Reading your reply just gives me more reason to think that it would have made more sense to make it catch and release for say Mar, Apr and May instead of June, July and August. The fish are spawning and the water is cooler. Many of the early spring fish are caught in the Congaree and would be released while the water is still relatively cool.
As you say, the summer months have a high fatality rate on released fish (with the exception of fish released in the Saluda) But, with the new law, the summer months are exactly when you must release all fish as there can be no fish in posession.
Also, “The Saluda will support a summer catch and release fishery with cooler water temps, but, please refrain from this practice in the Congaree as the water is just to warm.”
The problem is that if you refrain from releasing fish in the Congaree in the summer months it can cost you a lot of money if you get caught.
I know there’s a lot of people with different interests that must be satisfied when a law like this is written. My point was just that it seemed to me that making the catch and release period in the spring, instead of the summer, would have been more benificial to the fishery.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
I think the point is don’t taget them in the congaree when the water is warm. Also people won’t go out and chase striper if they can’t keep them. Just ask Lynn, he waited anxiously all summer for the lifting of the no fish rule.
ok i see what he meant now as far as just not targeting them at all in the warm waters…thanks
looking promising with the lake up…hopefully we’ll get lots of rain this spring and have plenty of water running for them this year
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
Tom is right. Better to not target stripers in the Congaree in the summer. I believe DNR would have closed the fishery if they had the authority to do so. Unfortunately, all of the game and fish laws must come from the legislature and I fear that re-election is ultimately more important than the resource. Released fish will survive in the spring and a 3 fish limit will get you off the river sooner with less impact. Thanks for your concern for the resource. You are spot-on with the desire for a wet spring and good flow. The droughts that we’ve endured over the past decade have certainly effected the recruitment rates.
And don’t call me flatliner, I feel old enough as it is.