Stripers?

MuskiemanNC

Are there any lakes in Fl with purebred stripers?

Thanks 

Jonsredfishin

lake George and Rodman dam

RealSeabee

Two Stripers caught in FLA.  Sunshine Bass (Hybrids) and Landlocked Stripers (Freshwater).  Purebred Stripers (Saltwater) live in the north eastern US (Delaware and Jersey).  During the Sunshine "run" we get a few Real Stripers (Straight lines) but not large like other Landlocks that live in Northern FLA (St Marys River) and GA (Lake Lanier).  My fishing area is on the St Johns River, South of Lake Monroe to the Econ River, a good ways south of Lake George and Rodman Dam.

MRichardson

There are also healthy pure stripers in the panhandle region.



All the major rivers - Escambia, Blackwater, Choctawhatchee, etc.

They get into the bay systems as well.  Caught them in Pensacola Bay and they are often caught in Blackwater and Choctawhatchee as well.  I recall an FWC biologist telling me they shocked up 40+ pounders in a creek off the Blackwater River. 

They make it into Lake George for sure, probably further south than that but become a rarity.

Belfast Bill

Hi, do you get any close to Orlando?

MRichardson

We get hybrids (striped bass + white bass) near orlando in many of the lakes and St. Johns River. Referred to as "Sunshine Bass."

Nearest place that pure stripers are *regularly* caught to Orlando that I know of is Lake George, about an hour north of Orlando.  Or 2 hours, or 3 hours, depending on if you're in S. Orlando or not and traffic.

The thing is, the sunshines are prolific as well, so it's kind of hard to catch only pure stripers on purpose.

Belfast Bill

Thanks, what size do the Sunshines go? or the Pure Stripers? I fancy having a shot at them.

bmoody

Hybrids prolific?  No, they are effectively sterile.  However, we're fortunate to have the fine men (and women) at Blackwater and Richloam hatcheries producing many thousands of them each year.

MRichardson

Belfast Bill said:

Thanks, what size do the Sunshines go? or the Pure Stripers? I fancy having a shot at them.

Sunshines - Anywhere from barely panfish sized up to about 6-7 lbs, commonly. Bigger than that if you're lucky. State record is about 16 lbs.

Stripers - Larger than sunshines. Up to 42 lbs (state record). I think 5-15 lbs is most common.

Soda Popinski

bmoody said:

Hybrids prolific?  No, they are effectively sterile.  However, we're fortunate to have the fine men (and women) at Blackwater and Richloam hatcheries producing many thousands of them each year.

I remember pouring concrete for the one in Richloam back when I worked for Rinker.   That was a cool jobsite