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Striped Bass Fingerlings Released by Gulf Coast Research Laboratory

Thu, 11/14/2013 - 02:10pm | By: Martha Brown

Striped bass fingerlings have been released into major tributaries of coastal Mississippi by The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory. (Submitted photo)

The University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) is in the process of releasing more than 20,000 Phase II Gulf Race striped bass fingerlings into the major tributaries of coastal Mississippi including the Pearl, Jordan, Biloxi, Tchoutacabouffa, Ft. Bayou and East and West Pascagoula.

These fish have been raised at the Lyman Fish Hatchery, just north of Gulfport where the GCRL Striped Bass Restoration Project is housed. GCRL scientists have worked in partnership with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) since 1967 to replenish the coastal striped bass population. More than 14 million striped bass have been released into Mississippi Rivers and striped bass are caught regularly by recreational anglers.

A release is planned for Thursday, Nov. 14 in Ft. Bayou at the Percy Miller Launch Ramp. These tagged fingerlings will be an average 150mm in total length. Seventeen fish from this group will be implanted with an acoustic tagging device which will allow their movement to be tracked via receivers in place along sections of the river. The acoustically tagged fish will be released in the Biloxi River after a five day quarantine period to monitor their health.

The tags used are clearly visible to anglers.

What Anglers Need to Know

  • Striped bass are regulated as a freshwater game fish in Mississippi, with a daily creel limit of six fish and a minimum length of 15”. These limits are also applicable in all Mississippi waters, salt and fresh.
  • It's perfectly legal and acceptable to catch and keep tagged striped bass that meet the legal limits.
  • Your report of catching a tagged striped bass is highly valuable to GCRL scientists, even if the fish isn't tagged. Reporting a catch is simple, and you can keep the fish. The scientists just want some basic information. Please contact Jennifer Green at the GCRL at (228) 818-8820 orJennifer.L.GreenFREEMississippi. You may also contact Paul Mickle at (601)307-5591 or Paul.MickleFREEMississippi

    Helpful information to report includes: length, weight, tag number (if tagged), location the fish was caught, and date.