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Striped Bass Time Line
1614
Captain John Smith, wrote in his journal in 1614 "that Striped Bass was a most sweet and wholesome fish as ever I did eat".
1623
Plymouth colonists, with only one boat and net, were able to catch enough Striped Bass to feed themselves throughout the summer.
1634
New England's Prospects written by William Wood in 1634 “The Basse is one of the best fishes in the Countrey, and though men are soone wearied with other fishe, yet are they never with Basse.” After three and a half centuries striped bass are still counted among the most delectable East coast species.
> 1639
n 1639 a law was passed in Massachusetts making the sale of striped bass for fertilizer illegal.
1660
A similar reduction has taken place in the abundance of the striped bass or rock fish, a species inferior to none in its excellence and economical value for food . John Jbsselyn, gent., in 1660, says that three thousand bass were taken at one haul of the net in .New England.
From
1669
In 1669, revenues from the fishery were used to build the first public schoolhouse in North America. Over fishing, even in colonial times, caused a drastic decline in striped bass, resulting in the need to regulate the fishery. Once it was realized that the ...Stripers were once so abundant that the colonists used the fish to fertilize their fields. In 1669, revenues from the fishery were used to build the first public schoolhouse in North America. Over fishing, even in colonial times, caused a drastic decline in striped bass, resulting in the need to regulate the fishery. Once it was realized that the striped bass population was in trouble, the Massachusetts Bay colonists were prohibited from using striped bass as fertilizer.
1670
In 1670, Plymouth Colony established a free school with income from coastal striped bass fisheries. Thus, one of the first public schools in America was supported by this highly valued ...The striped bass, or "striper," one of the most avidly pursued of all coastal sport fish, is native to most of the East Coast, ranging from the lower St. Lawrence River in Canada to Northern Florida, and along portions of the Gulf of Mexico.
1792
The specific name lineatus, or "striped," was bestowed by Bloch in 1792. North of the Delaware River it is universally called striped-bass, but in more southern waters it is known as rock or rockfish, from its habit of foraging on rocky shores in search of crustaceans and small fishes. From this vernacular name comes the generic name Roccus. It is found from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Florida, but is most abundant from Buzzards Bay to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina .
1825
Eyewitness documentation of very large striped bass in the Piscataquis River in 1825 has profound significance for our understanding of the natural ecology of the Penobscot River marine-riverine ecosystem. The gentle gradient and lack of any steep falls on the mainstem Penobscot above Indian Island means striped bass had access to the entire Penobscot River mainstem, the lower reaches of the East and West Branches of the Penobscot in Medway and East Millinocket, and the ...
1850
Mace Sloper, in Knickerbocker Mag., March, 1850. Striped Bass. (Lnbrax liueatus.) One of the most highly esteemed fishes of the Atlantic coast, called also Streaked Bass and Rock-fish
1869
The Squibnocket Club, formed in 1869, sat on Squibnocket Point, still a favored location for catching big Derby striped bass. According to the notes of the late Dr. John Cunningham of Boston, the clubhouse was a substantial building on a high cliff with a large living room, many bedrooms and a large porch where members could sit and watch the fishing action on the eight different bass stands including one conveniently connected directly to the porch.
1879
1879, Striped Bass were introduced to California from the East Coast. Since then, they have been introduced into many freshwater lakes. Striped bass are also known as rockfish. History has recorded a 17 pound striper taken in Monterey Bay only four years after the original stocking. Only ten years after the first planting, a 45 pound striper was displayed and sold in the San Francisco Market. Within twenty years, the commercial netters sold over one million pounds of delicious striped bass in California fish markets. While striper plantings in San Francisco Bay can only be described as incredibly successful,
In compliance with the request of the California fish commissioners to bring lobsters, striped bass, eels, and black bass to California.
1879
In 1879, a market fisherman of Fire Island, LI, shipped to market over 10,000 Ibs., caught in his nets during a period of only eight days.' But even so great a catch pales before the scene described by John Smith (Pocahontas John), when alluding to the striped bass as found in the James river during the early Colonial days ...
1882
The second and only other plant of striped bass in California waters was made in 1882, when Mr. J. (i. Woodbury, of the California fish commission, carried about 300 fish, 5 to 9 inches long, from the Shrewsbury River, New Jersey, to Suisun Bay, where they were deposited at Army Point, about 3 miles from the preceding plant. The results attending the attempted introduction of striped bass in California have been most remarkable, considering the very meager plants.
1883
Striped bass have been taken in Hie Bay of San Francisco weighing 4 pounds, and one taken in the Buy of Monterey in September, 1883. weighed nearly 17 pounds. It will be some time before striped bass will be very plentiful, as the immense area in which they travel will have to be well stocked before any one place would have any considerable numbers for the fishermen to work upon.
1884
In 1884, Mr. J. Dock. Harrell, of Osyka, Mississippi, forwarded a small fish for identification and stated that some of the same kind caught in the Tangipahoa River weighed from 2 to 3 pounds each. In a subsequent letter it was reported the same fish as becoming numerous and that since the forwarding of the specimen others of the same size had been caught and great schools of still smaller ones had been seen.
1889
Published in 1889, "Striped Bass Fishing" by A. Foster Higgins tells readers about a 110-pound striper taken off Orleans, Mass. He addresses a concern of 19th century striped-bass fishermen: "Nearly, if not all bass fishermen agree in the opinion that the steam powered menhaden fishermen have greatly injured the striped bass fishing -- both by depriving them of food they most eagerly seek, and also by driving them off their feeding grounds, by their huge nets."
1891
A 125 lb fish reportedly caught off of North Carolina in 1891.
1903
At Halifax as many as 6 fish of average weight of 50 pounds were taken by the netters in just one morning in the year 1903, suggesting what great numbers ascend the stream. Susquehanna River. It is on the Susquehanna River that enlightenment is afforded regarding the capture of striped bass on hook and line
1907
The three years' operations at Weldon have demonstrated the possibility of propagating striped bass in North Carolina, and the 6514000 eggs secured in 1907 yielded 3680000 fry. Difficulty is experienced, however, in obtaining ripe fish. The propagation of striped bass was also taken up, experimentally, on the Pacific coast, under the supervision of the superintendent of the Baird (Cal.) station, in cooperation with the California Fish Commission.
1911
A Striped Bass bass caught with rod and reel was caught by William "West of Napa, in the Napa marshes, on a spoon September 26, 1911. Its length was 51 inches, girth 31 inches, weight 62 pounds. Seemingly, there are millions of striped bass in San Francisco. San Pablo and Suisun bays and the rivers and sloughs flowing into them.
1913
April, 1913, Mr. Edward Ackerley, of Tarrytown, NY, wrote to the Commission that small striped bass are plentiful in the Hudson in the vicinity of Tarrytown, and that spawning grounds of the striped bass exist in that region .
1914
Striped Bass entered Oregon's Coos Bay region circa 1914. Populations continued to spread, both naturally and by planting, until today, you can encounter striped bass from Washington's Columbia River drainage to California's southernmost ...In addition, the kelp beds and protected coves on California's northern coastline provided additional habitat, and striped bass were on the move north within the first ten years of being introduced into San Francisco Bay.
1919
Saturday, November 15, 1919, the California Fish and Game Commission shipped about 2500 striped bass 2 to 5 inches in length to the Fish and Game Commission of the Territory of Hawaii to be planted in streams in the vicinity of Honolulu.
1929
Fish and game officials began experimenting with Striped Bass in the Salton Sea. In 1929, striped bass were brought in from the San Joaquin River, but none survived.
1935
In 1935, commercial fishing for striped bass was banned. Despite the removal of commercial fishing, the striped bass population seems to have continued its decline.
1940
Oliver Lake was formed by the construction of the William Bacon Oliver Dam in 1940. The dam was named for Alabama congressman William Bacon Oliver. The Lake is nine miles long with a surface area of nearly 800 acres. Lake recreation includes picnicking, boating, and fishing, and the bass fishing is reported to be outstanding. The moving water on the lake provides an excellent habitat for catfish, striped bass, spotted bass and crappie.
1942
February 17, 1942 the Santee Cooper Dam was completed. A discovery was made about Striped Bass… Originally thought of as a saltwater species of fish, Striped Bass would come from the ocean and migrate up fresh water rivers to spawn and then return to the ocean once the spawning rituals were complete. This ritual spawning always occurred in the early spring of each year for centuries. It just so happened that the Santee Cooper Dam was finished and landlocked during what was thought as a migration run.
1945
Massachusetts had outlawed any netting of striped bass in 1945.
1950
Incorporated in 1950, The Massachusetts Striped Bass Association has a rich history and tradition as the oldest salt water fishing club in New England open to the public.
1951
Formed when Wolf Dam was built on the Cumberland River in 1951 resulting in some of the best striped bass fishing in the United States.
1955
In 1955, just below West Point, two young marine biologists discovered the existence of "the principal spawning area" of the Hudson River's population of striped bass. With the river's only dam nearly a hundred miles above the area.
1956
California Department of Fish and Game decided to plant 50,000 striped-bass fingerlings a year in Lake Millerton. The first 4000 were stocked in September of that year. They were hauled from the Tracy pumping plant which fed the Delta- Mendota canal. Millerton was the first lake in California to receive stripers.
1956
Lake Ouachita in Arkansas receives its first Striped Bass Stocking
1965
The first state to adopt the striped bass, or rockfish, was Maryland, on April 8 , 1965.
1968
In April of 1968 the Game Commission obtained a supply of day old striped bass fry from the South Carolina Wildlife Resources Department. The fry were placed in ponds at the Richloam hatchery where they grew and thrived to a fingerling size of several inches. Three lakes were selected for the initial experimental stocking program. Each lake contained a dense shad population.
1971
Lake Mead is stocked with striped bass
1972
Lake Anna in Virginia striped bass stocking began in 1972, striped bass, and walleye stocking were made to improve and diversify the fishery. Blueback herring and threadfin shad were successfully introduced in the 1980's to provide additional forage for pelagic (open-water) predators.
1974
The California Striped Bass Association (CSBA) originated with a Chapter in Stockton, California on April 14, 1974 and remains the oldest fresh-water fishing club in the state of California. The CSBA is a non-profit organization to preserve, conserve and enhance striped bass while promoting recreational sport fishing, environmental awareness and good fellowship. Today CSBA is one of the largest and most active fishing clubs in California's Central Valley.
1979
In 1979, the Cooperative Striped Bass Study (COSBS) was formed, for the primary purpose of studying the effects of toxic chemicals on the Bay-Delta striped bass fishery. Additional expertise beyond that available among the staff of the cooperating agencies was obtained from the University of California, Santa Cruz and Davis campuses, and from San Francisco State University. The COSBS team consisted of approximately 40 researchers.
1982
The current world record striped bass on hook and line (78-pound 8-ounces) was caught by Al McReynolds during a storm off a jetty at Vermont Ave. in Atlantic City, NJ using a 5 ½ inch black-back silver Rebel plug on
2007
Former President of the United States George W. Bush, in Executive Order 13449 of October 20, 2007, designated the Striped Bass as a protected game fish. Further, he directed executive agencies to use existing legal authorities, to the extent possible, to prohibit the sale of Striped Bass caught in Federal waters in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
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