Maryland DNR did a study on post mortality release of stripers that is online somewhere. I have also talked with fisheries people from KY and TN. Warm water (mid 70's) and/or deep water catches stand a real good chance of dying after being released. Has to do with the build up of latic acid, though I do not know the details. Both the TN and KY fisheries people say to catch your limit and quit fishing for stripers in warm water. Same thing for deep water (over 40 feet). The high post release mortality makes it unlikely that they will survive. The larger the striper, the more likely it is that it will die.

Many lakes with stripers have to be stocked as there is little to no natural reproduction. Stripers spawn and the eggs need to free float in current for 48 hours before they hatch. If there is not enough current, the eggs fall to the bottom of the lake, get covered with silt, and the embroys die. There is some debate as to whether we have any natural reproduction of stripers in Cumberland. There is evidence that, during some years, there is some reproduction. Does not happen every year and there is certainly not enough to sustain the striper population at Cumberland.

Andrew