Last week's unanimous 4-0 vote by the California Fish and Game Commission in Sacramento struck down a proposal by the DFG to re-classify striped bass as an invasive nuisance species, targeted for extermination. Hundreds of outraged anglers were in attendance and cheered the outcome. If the proposal had passed, it would have liberalized or removed most of the protections the species now receives, including most size and bag limits.

Striped bass were introduced here from the east coast in the 1880's. One of the commissioners proposed to declare stripers a native species after more than 130 years here. In other areas of the country such as the Great Lakes, introduced species such as coho and Chinook salmon enjoy "naturalized citizen" status.