In a coast-wide effort to promote the live release of large striped bass so they can continue to contribute to the future gene pool of the species, the Release A Breeder Club (RBC) has been formed by Stripers Forever, a conservation organization that advocates for wild striped bass.
“For reasons not clearly defined, the recreational catch of all wild striped bass along the Atlantic Coast has declined dramatically during the last eight years,” says Brads Burns, president of Stripers Forever, “In the face of this decline, too many large, prime breeding stripers are being harvested by anglers and commercial interests, causing a serious reduction in the striped bass spawning stock biomass.”
The Release A Breeder Club was set up to show that the recreational striper fishery thrives on quality angling, and that releasing breeders 36 inches and larger is a popular and much needed conservation move.
The club offers free recognition on the Stripers Forever website and an elegant certificate for qualifying anglers who submit a photograph of their released fish and/or a statement from a witness, and for guides and charter captains who agree to regularly promote the release of large stripers to their clients. Full details on the Release A Breeder club are available at Release A Breeder.
About The Club
The Stripers Forever Release A Breeder Club “RBC” is designed by Stripers Forever to promote the release of large “breeding size” stripers which are mostly female fish. Current striped bass management practices have targeted large striped bass. The result has been a considerable decrease in the number of these large, old fish found in the population. Nature never intended it that way. Striped bass are the top predator in their inshore range, and historically it was not uncommon for individuals to live more than 20 years and spawn each year. This long spawning life is needed because conditions are often not suitable for the production of good year classes. The older fish produce many eggs, and when conditions are favorable to produce young stripers a robust spawning stock biomass insures that the waters will be well seeded with eggs. If conditions aren’t good the long lives of these fish and low natural mortality insure that there will be good spawning potential the next season. Unfortunately for the striped bass we have knocked this system seriously out of balance.
There are two categories, each with their own dedicated page for posting images and information on the breeder released. The first category is for Guides and/or charter boat captains who pledge to promote the release of breeders to their clients, the second for anglers who release a breeder while fishing with or without a guide/captain. Joining the club is free, and the rewards are recognition on the RBC membership pages of our website as well as the knowledge that you are doing your part to turn around the decline in striped bass.
There is no cost for anyone to participate in the program, however individuals will receive only one decal and one certificate per year at no charge. Guides can make unlimited applications for their clients using the angler application below, but every angler will receive only one free decal and certificate a year. For any angler to receive additional decals and certificates a $10 contribution using pay pal on our donate page is required for each fish submitted.
Membership Requirements
The minimum size for membership in the RBC is 36 inches total length. This is largely an honor system, though either a photograph of the fish or the name of a witness is required with the application. If a picture is supplied with the application we will publish it next to the name of the club member. The fish must be released alive and either left in the water or held out only very briefly for the picture. These are the only rules.
All angler names will be listed on the individual angler page even if fishing with a guide. The name of the guide will be listed next to the angler, though if the application is submitted by a guide or if the angler lists a guide in his/her application.
Applications
Below are links to our application forms where you will also be able to upload your image. Please send all questions to: rbc@stripersforever.org.
Individual Anglers (Angler application is used for all fish applications whether made by angler or guide)
Guides (This application is just for guides to register for the program. Guides should register in advance of submitting a fish application)
- Rewards
- Guides who register for the program and anglers who submit a fish will receive a decal.
- Anglers who release a breeder will also receive a certificate.
- All individual anglers will be automatically be entered (1) time into a year-end drawing (December 2014) for a prize of fly or conventional tackle or a guided trip.
All prizes are currently TBD. The number of drawings will be based on the number of prizes we have donated to us. Each member can only win one prize. The number of prizes and number of drawings is subject to change.
