Striped Bass Conservation Coalition (SBCC).

Statement of Purpose

The Striped Bass Conservation Coalition, Inc. (the “Coalition”) is established for the specific purposes of organizing anglers with common interests in (1) understanding striped/hybrid bass fishing and (2) preserving the striped/hybrid bass fisheries across the United States of America. This purpose will be achieved by promoting, establishing, and aiding independent, local organizations conducting activities related to either freshwater or saltwater striped/hybrid bass fishing (the “Participating Clubs”). The Coalition will treat sound conservation and wildlife practices, on the one hand, and issues of fishery educational and fellowship, on the other hand, as having equal priority aimed toward the goals of Promoting, Preserving, and Protecting America's Striped Bass Fishery.

By encouraging anglers to join Participating Clubs and by establishing and aiding Participating Clubs, the Coalition will create a network of Participating Clubs committed to the Coalition’s purpose.  All Participating Clubs whether established by the Coalition or already established, shall be and remain independent of one another and independent of the Coalition and may choose to participate in or withdraw from the Coalition at any time.

The Coalition is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future tax code.  The specific purpose of the Coalition is to establish, promote, and preserve striped and hybrid bass fisheries across the United States of America through education, scientific studies and projects.

Coalition Objectives

Conservation

The SBCC will target areas where anglers and biologists can put resources together to promote, preserve, and protect the striped bass fisheries in both fresh and salt water. A major function of the Coalition is to help promote and develop research studies to continue to improve the striper fishery.

Education

The SBCC has an established purpose to educate people in the special and significant issues dealing with the striped bass and other members of the temperate fish family, as well as how all groups of fish, and other water life work together to make up a well balanced marine, lake, river eco-system.  The Coalition will provide educational opportunities to the American public to include assisting teachers in providing students more educational opportunities whenever possible.  The Coalition will make available to its members every educational opportunity including the Striped Bass Magazine.  It is our belief that the more you know and understand the issues surrounding the striped bass fishery, the better you are prepared to discuss and defend it from those who have no regard for the fishery.

Fellowship

The SBCC is not intended to be a Striper Club, or to compete with local striper clubs for members. It purpose is to unite people with a common goal of assisting and improving the striped and hybrid striped bass fisheries from across the United States. In doing such, a major part of the Coalitions function will be assisting with getting new Striper Clubs started near lakes that have striped and hybrid striped bass stocked. Then the Coalition will help that Club to become independent and self-managed, and then to assume the responsibility to become the primary local voice to promote and protect their local striper fishery.

Protection

A major function of the Coalition would be a place to draw support and political power that comes with numbers. As long as there are people out there who, either due to stubbornness, or ignorance, promote the idea of catching striped bass and cutting their throats, or tossing them up on the bank to kill and waste them, we must work together to make sure the real story, of how stripers compliment the fishery, gets to the public.

Legislation and Regulation

The Coalition believes that the biologists are the experts; however, sometimes Fishery Promotion & Expansion must be accomplished through New Legislation.  For example, South Carolina and Georgia have worked together to make the Savannah Riversystem striper and hybrid fishery something to be proud of. However, neither state has an area that can be called a trophy striper fishery that is designated specifically to produce that "Wall-hanger" fish that many sport fishermen seek. Additionally, the striped bass is considered by many to be a "meat fish" rather than a sport fish. The Coalition would like to see a trophy striper fishery set up. Here is what Warren proposed to the SC and GA biologists in 1999, and continues to work for to this day:

Location: LakeRussell, Savannah River System

• Since Lake Russell is not an official striper fishery with an annual stocking program from either SC or GA;
• And, since the original plans for GA have not produced a significant middle GA area lake fishery for trout on LakeRussell;
• And, since many states are successful at producing trout and striped bass lake fisheries simultaneously;
• And, since the state of GA is continuously looking for a solid dependable source of striped bass brood fish;
• And since LakeRussell is the source of many large striped bass caught each year;
• And, since Lake Russell Dam already has oxygen lines installed above the Lake Russell dam which will help keep a population of large stripers healthy during the hot summer months on Lake Russell;
• And, since SC and GA have developed an agreement by which GA will spawn stripers for the Savannah River system and SC will raise them to stocking age and stock them;
• And, since any new fishery, and thus new fishing regulations will have little to no adverse impact on others using this lake (including largemouth fishermen, crappie fishermen, etc.);
• And, since the current SC State record Striped Bass was caught from LakeRussell. And its age having been determined to be from the year class 1-year before the Russell Dam was closed off;

We would like LakeRussell to be officially recognized as a SC/GA Trophy Striper Fishery with special rules and regulations established to make it work.

• StockLakeRussell annually with a nominal stocking of 50,000-75,000 stripers and 0- hybrids, with the actual stocking numbers would be determined by the Lake Thurmond DNR biologists.
  Establish a LakeRussell specific slot and creel limit regulation that includes only 2-fish per angler per day. All stripers measuring between 32 and 42 inches must be returned to the water.
  Anglers may keep only one fish per day over 42-inches as part of their two fish creel limit. All other fish kept must measure less than 32-inches.
  No striped or hybrid striped bass fishing in LakeRussell from June 15 until September 15 each year. And no striped bass or hybrid striped bass allowed being in possession during this time period.
• These new proposed regulations would not adversely affect any current fishermen since the fishery will be virtually gone in a few more years without annual striper stockings. Additionally, with a small annual stocking, we feel that the fishery would not exceed the lakes potential. SCDNR and GADNR will be responsible for managing this new fishery.
• Additionally, this system would follow a similar one that takes affect for the 2001-2002 season on Lake Cordell Hull in Tennessee. South Carolina is the state where the freshwater striped bass fishery was born. Our state and its fishermen deserve to have a trophy striped bass fishery.

This is an example of what a National Coalition can do for its anglers.