American Fisheries Society releases Spring/Summer NSBA Striper Tube™ report
Study finds 100% success in cooler weather

From NSBA Reports

A study was recently conducted by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Fishery Research Group to evaluate the use of the NSBA “Striper Tube” as a viable catch-hold-and-release tool to allow the culling of live striped bass during fishing tournaments. The AFS results are in and the findings of the study have shown 100% success in the cooler weather conditions (Mid-Late fall, Winter, Early-Mid Spring) and that NSBA Tube does in fact work. There are still environmental limitations that restrict the effectiveness of releasing live stripers during periods of warm or hot water conditions. Here are some brief bullet points of the study:

Summary of AFS Striper Tube™ report

• The Study was a spring and summer study, with separate results from both – and separate analysis from both. The study states that during cooler weather there was zero mortality of striped bass held in the Striper Tube™. During cooler weather periods, the study findings support the NSBA endorsement of using the Striper Tube™ as a culling device for striped bass on the water – like largemouth fishermen do with the traditional live wells for culling smaller largemouth – thus clearing the way for late fall, winter and early spring use of Striper TubesTM to cull live striped bass and to bring them alive to tournament weigh-ins.

• The Striper Tube™ performed as a tool of keeping striped bass alive in both study periods, but environmental conditions affect their ability to be used effectively during hot surface water periods as a culling tool for striped bass. The scientific study findings clearly show the recovery of striped bass held in Striper TubesTM– even during hot summer months when survival rates are at the lowest. This was done by blood analysis and charting of the physiological reaction of striped bass angled and released – and angled and held in Striper TubesTM before releasing.

• The study states that further study is needed for tournament handling of larger striped bass (over 35 lb. class fish), and that the Striper Tube™ does indeed serve its designed purpose (even in hotter weather). This could also potentially be combined with an alternative method of returning the fish to cooler water columns to improve the survival of striped bass during hot summer periods. (Side note** the larger fish and tournament handling portion of this recommendation has been completed by Shawn Young via PHD requirements through Clemson University.)

• The study states that despite the recovery of the striper in Striper TubesTM, the summer mortality was over 80% and thus the recommendation from these fisheries scientists explained that the current creel and size limits are probably ineffective in managing striped bass (specifically on Lake Murray) during hot summer periods. The recommendation also states that a moratorium of striped bass fishing during the July–August period may be the best management tool. As an additional recommendation is to ban the release of striped bass during these extreme hot weather periods. In other words, summertime fishing means catch a limit and quit.

Summary and Actions: To summarize, the study can be broken down into two main findings. First the Striper TubesTM work and should be endorsed as a culling device in cooler water periods. Second, the study shows that striped bass that had recovered physiologically to near normal blood chemistry levels in the Striper Tube™ during summer periods had a better survival rate then fish released by the boat without holding them to recover in the Striper Tube™. However, the mortality rate of these “recovered” fish was still significant and should lead state and federal agencies to reconsider their current management programs for striped bass during hot summer periods.

The NSBA accepts and endorses the recommendations of the biologists including the increased restrictions during the summer.

• The NSBA will maintain its reduced emphasis on summer tournaments and will impose the following restriction on tournaments owned and sanctioned by the NSBA in the freshwater and saltwater striped bass fisheries.

Striper Tubes™ may be used to cull live fish during tournaments for any period where the results prove acceptable, except:

During the period from July 1 to September 15, all NSBA and NSBA sanctioned tournament rules will be modified to state that the tournament “Catch” limit is the legal creel limit and all participants must quit fishing and leave the water as soon as they catch a number of striped bass (includes hybrid striped bass) that equal to the legal creel limit for their boat. We hope our example will be followed by other striped bass clubs and associations. It is the NSBA ambition that the state and federal agencies will follow with fishing regulations that are enforceable.Background: In 2001 the NSBA announced its launch and introduced live-release striped bass fishing in a manner unprecedented before in the striped bass industry. The NSBA position was that this direction in striped bass tournament fishing matched the decision and example of BASS founder Ray Scott in the 1970’s, as a paradigm shifting move for striped bass tournament fishing that would allow striped bass tournament fishing to grow in popularity as a sport.

During the 2002 NSBA Tournament year, the NSBA introduced the Striper-Tube™ to striped bass fishermen as well as area biologists and actually conducted its own studies with remarkable results. In December 2002, with assistance from biologists from both Georgia and South Carolina, the NSBA conducted the first major live-release striped bass tournament as our Inaugural National Championship was completed with an astounding 98% live-release rate. “These fish are in remarkable condition, and I see no reason why they cannot be released” said Wade Bales, South Carolina biologist. When asked if he thought the Striper Tube™ could be used to support hatcheries by allowing fishermen and tournaments to capture, recover, and transport the fish to hatcheries, Bales replied, “I cannot be certain because I do not know if there has been a physiological change due to stress, but they appear to be vigorous and healthy and on the surface–I see no reason why they could not be used for brood fish, but before a hatchery could commit to using them, studies need to be done.”

The Benefit: While most tournament fishermen and fishery biologists were very interested in live-release and the Striper Tube™, many reserved their enthusiasm, waiting to see if the fish survived after release. Tournament fishermen wanted the Striper Tube™ as a tool to increase their ability to cull fish in tournaments where creel limits were small. This would give them the opportunity to remain on the water and fish instead of being sent to the sidelines because of a quick bite. The NSBA hoped the Striper Tube™ could also be used as a tool to help fishery biologists meet stocking needs. As fishermen began to grasp the live-release concept for culling live fish from the boat, the concerns about the delayed mortality of stripers held in striper tubes continued to be on the top of our agenda. Although the NSBA believed the fish lived on release, no one knew for certain if they survived the long haul.

The Scientific Facts: It is the hopes of the NSBA that the facts will be used by all involved to move the sport of striped bass fishing toward the NSBA goal of responsible Catch-and-Release. (When reasonable survival can be expected in cooler conditions). Latest Developments: Since this study took place, an independent study by Shawn Young and Clemson University was completed concerning the tournament caught striped bass long term survival. It was presented to the SC Chapter of the Southern Division of the American Fishery Society in February 2005 and the NSBA is currently anticipating its official publication. This is the third set of scientific tests done using the Striper Tube™.

Young presented his dissertation for his Doctorate Degree in Marine Biology by:
• Testing the Striper Tube under tournament conditions where fishermen, not biologists used Striper Tube™ and went out and caught striped bass, held them in a Striper Tube™ and then transported them to a tournament ramp, and

• Measured the survival rate of the fish by telemetry tags inserted in the abdomen and tracked the fish for 2-periods. The first period was to test the mobility of striped bass once released for the first 24-48; the second period was to track them to see if they returned to the area of original capture. Young tracked them for up to 6-weeks. A copy of the results can be obtained by contacting Dr. Jeff Iksley at Clemson University, or the SC Chapter of the SD-AFS.