Program Overview
This study was discontinued in 2023. For more information on striped bass, contact stripedbass@wildlife.ca.gov
Staff of the Adult Striped Bass Study historically calculated estimates of adult striped bass abundance, relative abundance, harvest rate, and survival rate by using data from Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessels (Party Boats; CPFV), various creel surveys, and a mark-recapture program. Catch data from party boats have been collected since 1935 and the mark-recapture study operated from 1969-2022, providing long-term data on the San Francisco Estuary striped bass population.
Striped bass were captured for tagging during April and May by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Region 3 (Bay-Delta) using a series of fish traps (called “fyke” traps) in the lower Sacramento River and drifted gillnets in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Confluence. Captured fish were measured, checked for sex, and tagged with an individually numbered plastic disk tag. The study relied on angler returns of disk tags through the mail and via creel survey to calculate absolute abundance estimates, harvest rate, and survival rate. Tags can now be returned via email by sending a picture and catch information to r3sportfish@wildlife.ca.gov.
History
- 1969: CA Department of Fish and Wildlife begins mark-recapture (tagging) program
- 1982: Current fishing regulations implemented (≥ 18-inches total length; 2 per day)
- 1998: Tag rewards set at $20, $50, & $100 to incentivize tag returns
(see photo below; denominations continue through today)
- 2010: CA Department of Fish and Wildlife begins tagging sub-legal sized Striped Bass
- 2019: No sampling conducted.
- 2020: Fyke trap sampling and tagging taken over by CDFW Fisheries Branch
Methods and Relevant Reports
For the mark-recapture program, see introduction and methods gear sections in the annual field season summary reports (aka "cruise reports") provided at Striped Bass Study Bibliography.
Related Information
Example of a reward disk tag. CDFW image.