Interesting striper discovery

Since we are on the topic of striped bass, I just came from a scientific meeting and talked to a friend studying striped bass in SF Bay.  They have been finding over the last 10 years that the sex ratio (males to females) in the population has gone from 50:50 (normal for healthy fishery) to 90:10....lots of males and very few females.  Where did all the females go?  Have you been keeping only the big females?  We have no idea why this is and it could be due to pollution or to big females leaving the Bay and roaming the ocean for a better home.  Stay tuned, I'm sure a bunch of money will get thrown at this issue.

JIm

Jim,
That does sound interesting.  I know there have been a few (and I mean only a few) big stripers found in the Russian every once in a while.  And although it sounds interesting I hope they don't throw a lot of money trying to find out why.

By the way, my boss (Paul Olin) says hi.

Jim,

Do stripers change sex as they progress through their life history, sorta like sheephead?

Jim,

Maybe it's not that difficult to figure out. Here is what I think. There are millions and millions of fish in the sea, but lately, many of the ones that are targeted by fishermen seem to be diminishing.  Many biologists believe that the actual numbers of fish are declining, but I disagree.

I believe fish are like people, some are stupid and some are smart. I think that we have come close to catching all of the stupid fish, making only the smart fish to be left for us to target.

Specifically with striper, more males are being caught because most of the female striper are smarter compared to the male striper.

I think I'll do a study.......do you think I can find a grant to conduct a study? 

Must be a regional thing. Have you seen the ratio of girls to guys in San Jose bars. 

Specifically with striper, more males are being caught because most of the female striper are smarter compared to the male striper.

I think I'll do a study.......do you think I can find a grant to conduct a study? 

I disagree.  The females were the dumb ones and so have been caught and reduced in number.  I will need an equally large grant to study this side.  We can then both apply for another grant to merge the male vs female study.   

Must be a regional thing. Have you seen the ratio of girls to guys in San Jose bars. 

Yes....

and the most unfortunate, the ratio of desirable ones to way un-desirable ones is way outta wack. Its gotten to the point where the only place you'll find a desirable one is in a striper club....

Must be a regional thing. Have you seen the ratio of girls to guys in San Jose bars. 

Yes....

and the most unfortunate, the ratio of desirable ones to way un-desirable ones is way outta wack. Its gotten to the point where the only place you'll find a desirable one is in a striper club....

Striper club? That's where are the female stripers are! - No grant needed just a little recon and photo ops.

lol, ever been in a striper club jhfish.......the second you say no grant funding they disapear 

In the Pacific NW they have this issue with salmon and in Florida with sharks and they have traced some of it to sex reversal due to the presence of female hormones in the water relaease from wastewater treatment plants, apparently these compounds don't break down in the treatment facilities and make their way into local waterways. Some fish are pretty good at this sex reversing trick on their own like reef fishes when the sex ratio becomes skewed. Having the hormones in the water may involuntarily trigger this trait. Crazy.

Apparently some hatcheries also use these female hormones (estradiols) and expose fish to get the desired sex ratios in captivity for farmed fish.

Must be a regional thing. Have you seen the ratio of girls to guys in San Jose bars. 

San Jose?!  More like Man Jose - total swordfight in the South Bay, it sucks for you single dudes.

Man Jose....swordfight....

 

BTW, Jim, any updates yet on this striper thing, or is still too soon?