Brent J. Hess and Cecil A. Jennings, Georgia Cooperative
Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Warnell School of Forest Resources, University of
Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602; Voice 706-542-4833;
FAX 706-542-8356; E-Mail bjh2920@owl.forestry.uga.edu,
caj@owl.forestry.uga.edu
Keywords: striped bass, Chattahoochee River, food habits, trout,
stomach contents
In the early 1990's, about 200,000 fingerling striped bass were stocked
in West Point Lake, Georgia to establish a put-and-take fishery. These fish were stocked
at lower-than-normal densities because of the predation threat they pose to the trout
fishery in the upper Chattahoochee River. This study was conducted to assess that threat
and to make recommendations to Georgia Department of Natural Resources regarding the
striped bass and trout stocking programs. Our objectives were to estimate the number of
striped bass in the trout waters (via a mark and recapture study) and to determine their
food habits. Sixty-two striped bass (range = 534-1066 mm total length) were sampled with a
boat-mounted electrofisher and marked with Floy tags. Five fish were recaptured later.
Over half the 67 stomachs examined were empty, and the remaining stomachs contained a
variety of prey including crayfish, shad, and trout. Crayfish and shad were the most
abundant prey; trout were among the least abundant and were in 8% of the stomachs that
contained prey. Striped bass predation on trout in the upper Chattahoochee River has been
confirmed, but the potential effect(s) to the trout fishery are unknown. These results are
preliminary, and data analysis are on going.
