Once it was discovered that super-sized striped bass were in Lake Russell, no one wanted to protect them more than the very fishermen hell-bent on catching them.
“There was a lot of interest in preserving the trophy fishery, particularly from organized angler groups,” said Dan Rankin, a fisheries biologist with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. “They wanted to do something to protect what we had there, and that’s what led to the law change.”
Fishing clubs and organizations such as the Greenville-area Striper Kings, the Appalachian Striper Club, and the Striped Bass Conservation Coalition, among others, lobbied long and hard for the change.
Discussions about protecting Russell’s striped bass went on for years, which only generated additional support. Rankin said that angler surveys prompted more positive reaction.
“There seemed to be a real majority of anglers who wanted to see it be something unique,” Rankin said. “And even anglers who fished for other species thought it was a good thing for us to manage for.”
The regulation, went into effect on July 1, 2010, made it unlawful to take or possess more than two striped bass per day, only one of which may exceed 34 inches in length.
“It allows for some harvest of smaller fish, and that helps keep a low-density population,” Rankin said. “And once those fish get into larger and older classes, they really start packing on the weight.”
Rankin said it’s still a bit early to determine the impact the regulation has had on the fishery, but so far anglers seem to be enjoying the results.
“It’s a different fishery, and with the way it’s being managed, it’s becoming a great fishery,” angler Rich King said. “It’s a true trophy fishery, which is very rare.”
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