For the East Coast, no species comes close to striped bass. You catch them from Maine to Virginia with every angling technique and skill level imaginable. This stock, however, is in dire straights, as at least 5 consecutive years of terrible recruitment (spawning production) threaten the long-term health of this fishery and will greatly challenge the mandated 2029 rebuilding deadline (striped bass remain overfished since 2019). A recent stock assessment makes it abundantly clear–we will not rebuild without management changes.
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The American Saltwater Guides Association is the community voice for all things striped bass and the leader when it comes to conserving important recreational fisheries in the salt. ASGA has initiated an Action Alert to tell Striped Bass Managers (through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission) to take action at the Annual Meeting later this October.
In summary, ASGA wants the ASMFC to reduce harvest to leave more spawning-sized fish in the “system” to both rebuild and hopefully produce a large year-class. Getting into the weeds a little bit, ASGA also is calling for reductions to be equal across commercial and recreational sectors and remains opposed to coastwide no-targeting closures (i.e. prohibiting anglers from catching and releasing a striper).
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Be sure to read ASGA’s full letter and sign on to show support for this INCREDIBLE fishery!
Cover picture courtesy of Gorilla Tactics Sportfishing
5 Consecutive Years of Poor Striped Bass Spawning in the Chesapeake Bay–Can the Stock Rebuild?
