Striper Tail Clipping ???

[Ms Grit]

OK, so tonight I went out on a local party boat and several stripers came aboard, mine one of them, which had both sides of their tails which appeared to have been CLIPPED or CUT by scissors.  These "Shorts" would have been keepers had the missing pieces of their tails actually been there.  The mate mentioned that tonight was not the first time that he has seen stripers which appear to have had both sides of their tail clipped off by about 1/2 an inch or so.

Well, it got me to wondering if there might be any hard core striper advocates out there who would go to such measures as to clip the end of the tails of any stripers they caught before they released them that were just keeper size, or slightly below.  This would cause legal size fish to become shorts and buy them another year should they be caught again by anglers who would keep legal size fish.

I was just wondering this as I have heard "stories" of some guys having already caught and released up to 60 fish in any one outting . . .

Anyone catch any fish with tails that have appeared to have been clipped?  Anyone have any thoughts on this?

[Hotrod]

Very interest...

[PeggyLee]

Interesting   
As you say,could be some people's way to save the species(at whatever cost).Would these CLIPPED fish then be at risk for other problems .

[Bucktail]

Mutilating its fins sounds like it would be a strange way to try to save a fish.

[Luna Sea 5]

that is very interesting

[Ms Grit]

Would these CLIPPED fish then be at risk for other problems .

I don't know PeggyLee.  Would there be any other cause for this appearance on them?  I just thought it was a very interesting possibility of what might be occuring on some level.  And I watched as EVERY fish that came over the rail got measured "just to be sure".  You can't always eyeball, even if that fish is 29 inches, the size of the fish, but if somebody brings in a fish that is 28 1/2, then cuts of a little over 1/2 inch before releasing that fish, the next angler to come along and catch that fish, say maybe a first time striper angler, or a senior citizen who hasn't caught one in many years, that fish is no longer keeper size.  I just wanted to see what everyone else thought about this as a real possibility, or if something else might be occuring to give this appearance, and what real impact it may or may not be having.  I will definately pay more attention on my future trips out to see if I notice this again, and I will definately try to get some pictures also.

[Pfishingruven]

Very interesting...

If this is someone's attempt at conservation...they certainly need to be re-educated !

 

[ped579]

I have heard of hatcheries that clip certain species of fish with a specific tail or fin clips to designate the year they were released and the hatchery that released it.  So maybe there was a scientific reason behind the tail clipping.  Maybe Pop Souls son, Drew can shed some light on it for us. 

I know striped bass is among the species that have been studied in great detail lately.  If I find out more I will pass it along.

Paul

[Pfishingruven]

I was thinking along those lines too PED579...only thing that is odd is that they clipped the main swimming fin and not a dorsal or caudal fin that wouldn't affect the fish too much .

 

[catfish hunter]

it is from them spawning

[Ms Grit]

Thanks Charlie 
If that's what your opinion is, then it's good enough for me