NORTHWEST, Fla. — Recent sampling by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation researchers indicated that the shoal bass fish population continues to grow in Chipola River.

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The shoal bass is a native species with vertical stripes above the midline of the body that resemble tiger stripes, according to FWC.

The FWC had successfully released 3,300 shoal bass into the Chipola River back in May due to decreased population.

In 2018, the Chipola River population of shoal bass was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Michael.

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Impacts from the storm resulted in a nearly 90% decline in the shoal bass population, which was already at risk.

“The shoal bass population in the Chipola River has become a top priority of fisheries biologists within the northwest region of Florida since Hurricane Michael,” said Andy Strickland, FWRI fisheries biologist. “Management actions to suspend harvest and successfully stock shoal bass have yielded positive results for this unique black bass species.”

The FWC said that DNA analysis from shoal bass collected confirmed that 65% of the young fish collected were from fish produced and released by Blackwater Hatchery.

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FWC photo Shoal Bass Release - May 2022 (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission/Florida Fish and Wildlife)

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This data suggests that these successfully stocked fish may comprise nearly 20% of the entire current shoal bass population in the river, the commission said.

FWC biologists anticipate additional shoal bass in the Chipola River to increase the number of genetically pure fish in the population and eventually restore population numbers to pre-Hurricane Michael levels by the spring of 2023.

The population will continue to be monitored to determine if additional stocking will be needed in future years.

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The FWC said that any shoal bass caught must be released alive immediately and possession is prohibited.

For more information, visit myfwc.com/fishing/freshwater/.

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