Last Wednesday evening saw the DFG conduct a public meeting at Rio Vista regarding its controversial proposals that amount to a "war on stripers", with over 500 outraged anglers in attendance.

A new regulatory proposal would open up the bag limits on the non-native striped bass to allow anglers to keep six striped bass [current limit two], with a minimum size limit of 12 inches [currently 18 inches]. Additionally, the proposal would create a "hotspot" near the Clifton Court Forebay that would allow anglers 20 striped bass per day.

The proposal was prompted by a lawsuit brought by a consortium of water users claiming that the deteriorating state of the salmon fishery is primarily caused by predation by striped bass. As many of the speakers pointed out at the meeting, the striped bass and salmon have been co-existing for over 130 years. The proposal will be formally given to the California Fish and Game Commission at its Dec. 14-15 meeting in San Diego. The Commission will not necessarily vote on the proposal at that time, nor will they necessarily approve the proposal at all.