DNR News
** Archived Article - please check for current information. **
December 21, 2015Striped Bass Challenge delivers more than great fishing to Lake Murray
The Striped Bass Challenge (SBC) on Lake Murray brought a gathering of pro and amateur freshwater striped bass anglers to Dreher Island State Park on Dec. 4-5.
Tournament organizer Mike Dillon said, �We want everyone to have a blast before they even get on the lake," but it was an even bigger benefit to the Lake Murray area.
The tournament is estimated to have infused at least $250,000 into the local economy with lodging, meals and other purchases for 170 boats (around four anglers per boat) along with attending family members, sponsors and more. The anglers also donated 21,000 pounds of food and $8,000 for Harvest Hope Food Bank.
The Striped Bass Challenge has 2-divisions; the Open/Family Division, designed with a guaranteed payout of $4,000 to the winner. The Pro Division is geared toward those interested in a higher level of competition with a $15,000 guaranteed first place prize.
The primary purpose of the SBC is conservation of striped bass, to encourage fellowship and a healthy sense of competition among anglers of all skill levels and ages. The tournament was strictly catch and release with S.C. Department of Natural Resources personnel on hand with a specialized stocking truck to safely return weighed in fish back to Lake Murray. During the tournament, 210 fish were weighed in with 28 mortalities for a rate of just over 13 percent.
"Although the SBC is proud that our first effort was successful," said Dillon. "We want to improve our conservation efforts and reduce that rate significantly." South Carolina was a pioneer in developing striped bass hatchery techniques. As a direct result, striped bass fisheries now exist in many reservoirs across the country as well as in numerous South Carolina impoundments.
Captain Rob Hedrick and Team Baited Hooked from Lincolnton, Georgia was the winning pro team with two healthy fish weighing in at 26.50 pounds and 11.56 pounds. Like many in the tournament, their preferred bait was gizzard shad and blue back herring. The first place open was team Giz-R-Done with Captain Keith Morse and his crew from Prosperity S.C. They weighed in at 22.72 pounds and 6.45 pounds. The Big Fish Award went to Bait Hooked for their 26.50 pounder. They won a Bad Boy Buggie valued at nearly $10,000. The Lady Angler Award also went to Bait Hooked with an 18-carat gold custom-made striped bass pendant and chain. Rounding out the awards was again Giz-R-Done with the Youth Angler Award at 22.72 pounds.
The effects of fishing in South Carolina due to trip-related and other expenditures resulted in an influx $686,000,000 into the Palmetto State economy. That is according to the most recent �National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife Associated Recreation� published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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