STRIPED BASS of the Ocklawaha River, Florida. "Sudden appearance of Northern striped bass, known along the New England sea coast and southward as 'stripers', over near Silver Springs during the past week has sent scores of fishermen speeding to that area with heavy tackle and anticipation agog. "The 'stripers' have been located at the junction of the Silver River where it enters the Oklawaha River, and were first noticed by a fishing party that went out from Ed's Boat Basin, operated by Ed Mason on Road 40 at the Oklawaha. "Reports received here say that the party, fishing for black bass, hit into rather hefty strikes that tore up tackle. Later, and with heavier gear, they returned to the river and boated some of the fish, finding that they were real northern striped bass, a salt water fish. From then on anglers from all around hurried to the river, and at last report were hauling in scores of them weighing from 14 to 30 pounds." Langworthy, F. 1955. "Outdoors" column. "Daytona Beach Sunday News-Journal" newspaper (28 August 1955, page 14), Daytona Beach, FL. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kYUfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qswEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1651,3848661&dq=striped-bass+oklawaha-river&hl=en Some of my fellow river bass anglers have experienced this type of "adrenalin stimulus" at least once in their lives and have not forgotten it yet. You are float-fishing a flowing river for your favorite black bass species from your canoe or kayak when all of a sudden your spinner-bait has been intercepted by a submerged "F-4 Phantom jet" -- which is now attempting to drag you and your vessel into the depths by your own 15-pound monofilament line. Now, if this flowing river that you are fishing just happens to be no further south than northern Florida and is connected to a much larger river, big lake, or tidewater; then maybe you start thinking -- WOW, IT MIGHT BE A STRIPER! Largemouth bass exist and naturally reproduce in all of Florida's 67 counties. In almost all of this state (except where maybe it is too salty) you can dig a pond on your own property (if permitted and of suitable depth/size) that stocked largemouth bass will probably be able to successfully spawn and survive in. There is nothing unique about finding native, naturally reproducing largemouth bass in Florida. Trophy largemouth bass (weighing 10 pounds and over) are caught from time to time statewide. Florida's striped bass, however, have a completely different life history. The St. Johns River basin historically supported the most southern native and naturally reproducing population of striped bass in the United States. Striped bass, "Morone saxatilis", is also commonly known as striper. Striped bass in more northern states with summertime cool coastal saltwater are classed as anadromous marine fish, living much of the time in tidewater but spawning far upstream in freshwater rivers. Stripers in Florida, however, are classed as riverine freshwater fish. Adult striped bass are also cool-water fish needing 70 to 80 degree F thermal refuges such as artesian springs and canopied streams for survival during hot weather. The spring-fed and originally mostly forest-lined Ocklawaha River is the largest stream-flow tributary of the St. Johns River. Stripers spawn (or attempt to spawn) in late winter and/or early spring. Available fisheries research documents suggest that striped bass require about 50 miles of swift-flowing stream current (of at least 0.68 mph) for their fertilized eggs and larvae to be suspended-in for approximately 48 hours to avoid suffocating in bottom mud. Rodman Dam (a.k.a. Kirkpatrick Dam), constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers solely for the defunct Cross Florida Barge Canal project, was completed across the Ocklawaha River on 30 September 1968. The striper's strict reproductive requirement would identify the pre-Rodman impounded Ocklawaha River -- which was 56 free-flowing stream miles of swift current from Silver Springs to the St. Johns -- as being the only striped bass successful natural spawning habitat of the entire St. Johns River basin. Since 1970, striper replacement stocks in the St. Johns River basin have been hatchery raised and stocked by man. https://sites.google.com/site/ocklawahamanpaulnoscareports/striped-bass-of-the-ocklawaha-river-florida The photo of STOCKED Atlantic-race striped bass (plus 1 striped mullet) was taken during a hot summer day in Silver Glen Springs which flows into Lake George of the St. Johns River basin. Visit Silver Glen Springs and some of the other St. Johns River springs this summer to see the striped bass that are blocked by Rodman Dam from spawning 50 miles or so above the tidewater St. Johns River estuary. STRIPERS should congregate at this time of the year in SILVER SPRINGS outside Ocala! Thank you to all that have already signed this petition and desire a free-flowing "Source to the Sea" 56-mainstream-mile "Real-Florida-By-God" Ocklawaha River - Silver River - Silver Springs system! Encourage others & spouses &/or significant others to do the same! Thanks for your support! Sincerely, Paul.