Press Release

Creel and Possession Limit Change for Saltwater Striped Bass

November 17, 2004

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announces a change in the daily creel and possession limits for saltwater striped bass effective October 1, 2004.  The new regulation reads as follows:

White Bass, Yellow Bass, Saltwater Striped Bass,
and Hybrids or Combinations………………………………….30

(No more than 6 of the 30 can exceed 16 inches in total length. See exceptions for Weiss Reservoir and further restrictions for Lewis Smith Reservoir and Lake Martin).

Exceptions and further restrictions under Size Limits;

Lewis Smith Reservoir and Lake Martin- It is illegal to possess more than two white bass, yellow bass, saltwater striped bass and hybrids, or combinations that are over 16 inches in total length in the daily creel limit.

Weiss Reservoir - It is legal to possess 30 white bass, yellow bass, saltwater striped bass and hybrids, or combinations of any size.

This new creel limit change allows anglers to keep an additional four saltwater striped bass in most waters of Alabama where saltwater striped bass occur.  Resource managers have ascertained that an increase in the creel limit would not adversely affect the numbers or quality of the saltwater stripes in most waters throughout the State.

Due to the physical nature and the exceptionally fine water quality found in Smith Reservoir and Lake Martin, saltwater stripes are able to live longer and exceed 20 pounds in size. The daily creel of two saltwater striped bass will protect the larger fish from overharvest.

###