Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-03-19
STRIPED BASS|S
DESIRED MOST BY
ANXIOUS ANGLERS
Also Known as Rockfish, This
Species Is Of the Gamest
Variety
DOES NOT BECOME ACTIVE
UNTIL MIDDLE OF APRIL
Isy w. r.. NIEEIIAN

Catfish and suckers arc all very well
in their way. and both hold very high
place in the affection of anglers. but
game fish. as game fish arc ranked in
the popular mind. are what arc most
desired.
Such game fish arc not around during
the winter months and the first for
legal fishing is usually the trout. But
this year there is another that as rule
does not become active until tho middle
of April. This wear. owing doubtless
to the phcnomcnally mild winter, it
emerged from eo-callcd Somnulcnt
state and is taking food with avidty.
This is the big. tremendously hard.
fighting and much sought after striped
bass. often called roCkfsh.
a fine specimen was caught last week
by Harry NJ. Soudcr. Of Millvillc. y. j.
Mr.. Soudcr Is an enthusiastic str'"u
bass fisherman aud every year begins
his uucY for that fish tho moment he
thinks the fish starts it's annual activi
~. His catch this year is many wccks
earlier than his first last year. which
was April ~.
Striped BaSS tiShinC
There is always moro or loss unCer :
tainty about striped bass fishing. rs
there is about nearly all the great game
fish that may bc anglcd for in fresh
water. if water conditions and Snm"-
times others. arc not ovaCtly suited to
their capricouS whims. few OF none
will take any notice Of the most tempt
ing bait.
But. il the fish arc in hungry mood
and the bait offered is TO their liking
| and in the area Of their movement. the
| catch will more than make up for the
barren intervals. Bearing these things
in mind, it may be announced that from
now on until the weather becomes very
warm. the season for striped bass may
be declared on.
Although unQuestionably and prop
erly. the striped bass is game tsh
listed in the highest class by sportsmen
| in this state. New Jersey and Della =
ware. it is specifically declared by legis::
lativc enactment to be food fish and
without any closed season with rod and
| line. The reason for this apparently III
cougruous listing is nevertheless sound
and necessary.
Important as game fish. the striped
bass is even more important as com =
mercial food fish. To avoid confusion
in the understanding of the laws re-
| lating to fishing, it was considered de
Sirablc By the three states I" CLASSIFY
| the fresh water fishes with three groups,
game food and bait fish. As the striped
bass is not altogether n fresh water
fish and because of the other roos"u
Just given. tho game striped bass Is
rated rs II food fish.
Legal Regulations
There is another legal regulation rou
rorning the striped bass. unique in hsE
legislation. and that is that it Is un
| lawful to catch and keep any of thls
species of fish, either with rod and lin'
or with nets. from the Delaware river
or any Of its tributaries. that weighs
over twenty pounds.
1t might also be mentioned that there
is minimum lcrgth ot twelve inches
All other fishes either have only mini
mum catchablc size or 30 length rcgu :
| latiOn whatever.
There is II reason for limiting the
maximum catchablc weight OF StripeC
bass, equally cOgcnt with its classified
ton There is probably few, If any.
species that makes as rapid groWtl
before reaching maturity as the striped
bass.
According to careful observation, il
has been shown thar in the majority o.
cases. striped bass attainS Il weight o
nearly. If not quite, twenty pounds be
fore reaching spawning age. SpaWnIhs
fish are known as 'mammy rock. anc
the number of eggs female deposits
is prodigious. 1t is to protect these @ anc
let them propagate that the maximum
catchable weight is a legal regulation
FOR many months in the year yas'
numbers of striped bass are found IL
fresh water, in the Delaware river ~
far as Hancock, \. Y, and even be-
yond. Nevertheless. its native HON" Is
in the ocean. and is member of the
sea bass family. ~
II is, however not as pronouncrdlN
saline in its habits aS many other SCI
fishes of anadromoQs nAtur" or ever
as much AS the head OF the family.
Like its cousin. tn" it'll" whI!'
perch. the striped bass. when not II
altogether fresh water, seems to prefer
heavily brackish. like the lower roNch"'
Of the Maurice river. for instance.