Striper or Hybrid?

[Duayne]

Easily a striper. Dorsal fins are way too far apart for a hybrid. Fins together white bass, fins only slightly separated, hybrid. Fins decidedly apart, striper. Body doesn't have any signs of a hybrid. Some of the smaller female stripers can look slightly like a hybrid but still won't have the bowed back or taller first dorsal. I don't think water patrol would even recognize anything as a hybrid on Cumberland. They recognized the mean mouth as smallies when we were catching them a few years ago.

Hybrids that did happen on Cumberland would probably be the reverse of what is produced in fish hatcheries. Those in the fish hatcheries usually (probably always) use female stripers and male white bass due to the increased number of eggs and the more appealing growing patterns. It's very rare for a fertilized female striper egg to stay adrift long enough to hatch but I feel strongly it has happened on Cumberland. It is much more possible for the female while bass eggs to be fertilized by a male striper and make it to hatch. That combination does not grow as fast and doesn't get as large as the reverse version produced in hatcheries.

[stripernut1]

the fish bob is holding in the picture is 100% striper, no wiggle room, broken lines and all. However, not only are "Hybrid Stripers" present in Cumberland , they are present in greater numbers than you might imagine. Over the last couple years we have encountered entire schools of hybrids with multiple hookups, multiple fish landed with all fish being hybrids. Some of these fish have been verified by fisheries biologist as hybrids. The fact that these fish were showing up came as no surprise to the biologist I spoke with as he explained there "MAY" have been an accidental mix up at one time during one of the stockings. Also local law enforcement officers are very aware of this situation and as of last year I was advised that discussions had been held to determine how to proceed whe handling hybrid catches as there is no present regulation regarding hybrids. I was advised the "best" way to stay legal is to always observe the 22 inch minimum size limit, and it is ok to keep a hybrid striper as part of your 2 fish daily creel. but it definitely counts toward each anglers daily creel limit. I have to admit I have some great recipes for crow, they are best when simmered in humility and seasoned with embarrassment. I have become quite good at eating crow since my son ad brother got into the "hybrids" 4 years ago, and I told them on the phone they would end up in jail with their "hybrids", I WAS WRONG. Not only have I caught them personally, I have watched Jeremy Morgan (Morgans Guide Service) as well as Jerry Morgan, Mike Keel (Lake Cumberland Guide Service) catch numerous hybrids. My personal best was 13.10 lbs caught last may. Forum member "KR" has actually personally physically witnessed these fish being caught in Cumberland while we were fishing together. Once again if you don't keep anything under 22 inches it doesn't matter, the last word I had though was this"if you make a mistake and keep a short striper ....shame on you. Good luck to all, tight lines

[Duayne]

Interesting take with the "mixup at the hatchery". If they are that prevalent, then they probably could set creel and size limits on them. I assumed there would be some rouge hybrids showing up when they reintroduced the whites. I didn't think there would be enough to worry with. Even still, it might be best just to leave it alone. As it is, they already have people catching 15 inch females with broken lines and throwing them in the cooler.

[mhall]

Interesting take with the "mixup at the hatchery". If they are that prevalent, then they probably could set creel and size limits on them. I assumed there would be some rouge hybrids showing up when they reintroduced the whites. I didn't think there would be enough to worry with. Even still, it might be best just to leave it alone. As it is, they already have people catching 15 inch females with broken lines and throwing them in the cooler.

Isn't that the truth. People need to educate themselves better on fish. Stripers COMMONLY have broken lines....

[HURRICANEBOB]

Isn't that the truth. People need to educate themselves better on fish. Stripers COMMONLY have broken lines....

FOR THE RECORD:

1. I don't keep any fish I catch.
2. I catch and release.....period.
3. Why? I understand human physiology, and know what happens when a person with a full blader jumps into cold water.

When # 3 is no longer the case, I will reconsider #1 and #2.

I do eat fish at Red Lobster because the kitchen and bathrooms are marked in English. "WARNING"....be careful at "Outback".

If you laughed at this, mail me $2.00 and I'l quit my day job.

[mhall]

FOR THE RECORD:

1. I don't keep any fish I catch.
2. I catch and release.....period.
3. Why? I understand human physiology, and know what happens when a person with a full blader jumps into cold water.

When # 3 is no longer the case, I will reconsider #1 and #2.

I do eat fish at Red Lobster because the kitchen and bathrooms are marked in English. "WARNING"....be careful at "Outback".

If you laughed at this, mail me $2.00 and I'l quit my day job.

Bob, my comment was a broad brush stroke and was not intended at you man just wanted you to know that... I know you are a good experienced fisherman..

[HURRICANEBOB]

Bob, my comment was a broad brush stroke and was not intended at you man just wanted you to know that... I know you are a good experienced fisherman..

Dude no offense at all taken.. I thought it was funny and just wanted to add to the laughter.

Another reason.....I puke at fish guts.......YUCK!

[stripernut1]

Interesting take with the "mixup at the hatchery". If they are that prevalent, then they probably could set creel and size limits on them. I assumed there would be some rouge hybrids showing up when they reintroduced the whites. I didn't think there would be enough to worry with. Even still, it might be best just to leave it alone. As it is, they already have people catching 15 inch females with broken lines and throwing them in the cooler.

I used the word "may" very tongue in cheek, they in fact "know" exactly when the mixup was. And their take on it is "its not an issue of whether or not there is a population of hybrids, how big the population is etc etc, the bottom line is dont keep anything under 22 inches and the hybrid/striper issue is a "non-issue". Why someone would throw a 15 inch female in a cooler is beyond me, but your right it happens, just like the guy that couldnt believe all the 14-16 inch "spots" he was catching on a popr last year.....and then became very defensive when we congratulated him on his livewell full of short smallmouth.
You owe it to yourself to be able to identify every fish you fish for and the ones you catch by accident, if you dont know....THROW IT BACK.
From what i gather incidental, occasional catches of hybrids dont concern fisheries people, the dont reproduce so attrition of the population will take care of itself.

[HURRICANEBOB]

I used the word "may" very tongue in cheek, they in fact "know" exactly when the mixup was. And their take on it is "its not an issue of whether or not there is a population of hybrids, how big the population is etc etc, the bottom line is dont keep anything under 22 inches and the hybrid/striper issue is a "non-issue". Why someone would throw a 15 inch female in a cooler is beyond me, but your right it happens, just like the guy that couldnt believe all the 14-16 inch "spots" he was catching on a popr last year.....and then became very defensive when we congratulated him on his livewell full of short smallmouth.
You owe it to yourself to be able to identify every fish you fish for and the ones you catch by accident, if you dont know....THROW IT BACK.
From what i gather incidental, occasional catches of hybrids dont concern fisheries people, the dont reproduce so attrition of the population will take care of itself.

I'll probably get beat up for this, but I do wish KDFWR stock white bass, Hybrid, and Striper in Cland. Man would that be an all weather, all season fishery or what? You could have jumps all year long with all or some spieces involved.

And I bet the white bass would clean out the small shad, forcing the stripers to eat the big shad, and you'd have an eaiser time figuring out what sized lure to use to catch what sized species.

I'm getting lazy, I want jumps, no matter waht specises, in all months. Just like a warfigher, fish them all and sort them out in the landing nets.