The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Striped Bass – One of California’s Iconic Game fish
Can We Save Them?

Striped Bass has been one of the mainstays of central California sport fishing for at least the past 100 years. In the San Francisco bay area there are many dedicated charter boats that focus most of their year on taking the public out to fish for them in the bays and under the Golden Gate. In the Delta and tributary rivers there are many guides that spend a significant part of their season fishing for stripers. Thousands of recreational fishers target them many months of the year from the Monterey Bay to the beaches of Marin County, the shoreline of San Francisco bay, as well as throughout the Delta and its estuary. Stripers are likely the second most prized game fish in California behind only trout. They are a focus for many fly fishers, and they are an important part of the fishing fabric of California.

Stripers are currently the target of many in this state for purposeful extinction. The battle for water continues to heat up, and the past three years of drought made us all realize how far water users will go to obtain water. Stripers have been identified as predators of ESA listed fish species – salmon, steelhead, delta Smelt. This is no surprise to any of us. That said, we all know they have lived in balance with all these species for more than 100 years, but the dire condition of these listed species is driving our public fish agencies to take extreme actions, and reducing predation is one of them. We have our work cut out for us with the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Fish and Game Commission to counter requests to take them off the game fish list, and eliminate any management regulations.

The single most pressing challenge to Striped Bass is the current lawsuit, “Coalition for a Sustainable Delta, et all vs. John McCammans (DFG Director), et all. It is the lawsuit that the NCCFFF has joined as defendant interveners, along with CSBA, CSPA and Striperfest (though not listed as interveners). This is literally, “ The fight for the life of striped bass in California.” It is not important to understand all the claims here, but to know that the goal is to focus attention on other causes of fishery declines rather than diversions of water from the Delta. Coalition for a Sustainable Delta is an organization formed by big water users in the southern San Joaquin valley, and who have an interest in diverted water for agricultural use as well as other needs.

NCCFFF is committed to supporting this suit any way we can, and for a victorious outcome that protects the striped bass fishery well into the future. We have prevailed in the summary judgment request from the Plaintiffs, but it has come at a cost. The next step in the legal process will be taking this suit to trial,with associated costs for providing a defense a challenge to the groups and individuals involved.

It is time for the fishing community to rally around striped bass, and pull together for their benefit.

Striperfest, CSBA and NCCFFF will continue working together to develop funding strategies for the case with appeals to their chapters, clubs and special angler events. It is going to take all of us working together and contributing time, money and effort if we are to save the striped bass fishery as we know it. That is why the NCCFFF Council is asking for your continued support in the form of individual contributions, as well as support from your associated clubs. http://www.nccfff.org

Up coming angler events where you can show your support:
NCCFFF Placerville Fly Fishing Festival, October 2nd, Sportsman’s Outdoor Expo, http://www.nccfff.org
Striperfest on November 6th, Facilities at Sugar Barge Marina, http://www.sugarbarge.com.
Striperfest details to be listed at: http://www.danblanton.com/bulletin.php

beside money how about a letter writing campaign? I've always hoped that BB's could help unify anglers for just this type of enviromental cause. We need to also pressure the various grovermetal agencies and their the directors to do the right thing as well.

or will it just be like a lot of political things?,,we just don't have the political clout up north like they do down south.



Paul

Carpy:

Lots of letter writing going on. Those that want to participate can get on the NCCFFF Conservation Network Alias by contacting Mark Rockwell, see below:

September 4, 2010
John McCamman, Director
California Department of Fish and Game
1416 Ninth Street, 12th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Director McCamman,

I write to urge the California Department of Fish and Game to continue in earnest, without capitulating to the plaintiffs, defending striped bass in the lawsuit to declassify them as a regulated and protected game fish. The economic and recreational value of our striped bass is profound as I am sure you are keenly aware. Many anglers, such as me, make all or a portion of our income guiding anglers on the Bay/Delta system, targeting striped bass.

The science clearly shows, as well as any “scientific data” can, that striped bass are not responsible for the dramatic decline of salmon, steelhead and various smelt species, native to the Sacramento/San Joaquin river and Delta system. the concept of predator control to protect a listed species has been discredited by scientists. Only in limited and very narrow habitat conditions, like that of the Aleutian Canada Goose, has predator control been successful. The Bay Delta, Pacific ocean and major tributary rivers is not a limited habitat, and striped bass are not the only predator in these habitats. DFG has a responsibility to both of your constituents - fisherman and stripers - to protect their interests.

Again, I urge you, no matter what the cost, to continue the effort to keep our striped bass protected as a game fish. Please do not give up the fight!
Sincerely,
Dr. C. Mark Rockwell, D.C.
V.P. Conservation, Northern Calif. Council,
Federation of Fly Fishers
Past President, Gold Country Fly Fishers
19737 Wildwood West Dr.
Penn Valley, CA 95946
530 432-9198
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www.nccfff.org