In a coast wide effort to promote the live release of large striped bass so they can continue to contribute to the future gene pool of the species, the Release A Breeder Club (RBC) has been formed by Stripers Forever, a conservation organization that advocates for wild striped bass. “For reasons not clearly defined, the recreational catch of all wild striped bass along the Atlantic Coast has declined dramatically during the last eight years,” says Brads Burns, president of Stripers Forever, “In the face of this decline, too many large, prime breeding stripers are being harvested by anglers and commercial interests, causing a serious reduction in the striped bass spawning stock biomass.”
The Release A Breeder Club was set up to show that the recreational striper fishery thrives on quality angling, and that releasing breeders 36 inches and larger is a popular and much needed conservation move.
The club offers free recognition on the Stripers Forever website and an elegant certificate for qualifying anglers who submit a photograph of their released fish and/or a statement from a witness, and for guides and charter captains who agree to regularly promote the release of large stripers to their clients. Full details on the Release A Breeder club are available at www.stripersforever.org.
For more information, contact stripers@stripersforever.org.
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