Major reservoirs in the Altamaha River basin include lakes Jackson, Oconee and Sinclair, and smaller lakes such as High Falls and Tobesofkee. Below these reservoirs, the Ocmulgee and Oconee rivers combine and form the Altamaha River. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) currently stocks hybrid striped bass into all of these lakes and is proposing the stocking of striped bass in these reservoirs. Anglers and other users of these lakes will have a chance to comment on this proposed action at an open house style meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2005 in Milledgeville.

“This stocking project, considered a priority by our agency, is meant to hasten recovery efforts of native fish species, including striped bass, in the Altamaha River basin,” says WRD Sr. Fisheries Biologist Scott Robinson. “In addition to providing larger fish for anglers, this effort will restore striped bass populations within the river itself.”

To provide some background, WRD artificially produces hybrid striped bass by crossing striped bass with their smaller cousin white bass. White bass rarely reach two pounds in size while striped bass over 20 pounds are fairly common. The state record striped bass is 63 pounds and was caught in the Oconee River. Hybrids reach intermediate sizes between the two parents, with fish three to five pounds commonly caught. Hybrid striped bass must be produced in state hatcheries and stocked if they are to be available for anglers. Striped bass naturally reproduce in large rivers such as the Altamaha, but are unable to reproduce in lakes. Therefore, they must be stocked in order for anglers to enjoy.

During sampling efforts, WRD collected large numbers of hybrids from the Altamaha River that are believed to be coming from lake stockings when a portion of the stocked fish migrate through dams and travel downstream. Biologists believe that these “escapee” hybrid bass may hinder efforts to restore a self-sustaining striped bass population in the Altamaha River because of competition between the two species for food and other limited resources. WRD proposes to solve this problem by phasing in the stocking of striped bass instead of hybrids in lakes Oconee, Jackson, Sinclair, High Falls and Tobesofkee. This action will have the added benefit of providing anglers with larger fish (over ten pounds), with the occasional chance at a 20-30 pounder. This also will lead to a larger, naturally reproducing, fishable population of striped bass with true trophy potential in the Altamaha River.

“Over the next several years, the striper stockings will be phased in while the hybrid stockings are phased out, so there will not be any major changes to the fishery,” says Robinson. “Impacts during the changeover will be negligible as hybrids and stripers essentially eat the same things, primarily shad.”

WRD would like to gather angler comments on this proposed stocking change. An open house style meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2005 in Milledgeville at the Georgia Power Company Plant Harlee Branch facility from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Biologists will be available to explain the proposal in more detail, answer questions, and gather comments and suggestions from anglers. Comments also may be sent to WRD by mail (2123 U.S. Highway 278 S.E., Social Circle, Georgia 30025), by email at www.gofishgeorgia.com (select “Contact Us” at the bottom of the site page), or by telephone at (770) 918-6418.

For more information on the striped bass stocking project or for fishing information, contact the WRD Fisheries Management Office at (770) 918-6418.

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