Well, I know most of us Mainers are having a "challenging" season. Was bored silly today with the rain, and decided to evaluate how bad it has been. Well, it's F-ing HORRIBLE. This is an historical summary of the last 6 seasons for when the bass start biting in May through June 28.
Considering I've been fishing the same waters with the same lures, and 99% of all my fish are taken with a single lure, the data set is well-controlled and very compelling. They clearly demonstrate that the fishery has gone over the edge. In 2021 trip numbers were down due to a brief trip, while the drop in this season is because of the lack of motivation to keep going out and getting skunked. The drop in fish caught, coupled with the rise in the average and median size validates the poor spawning success of the Chesapeake.
Considering I've been fishing the same waters with the same lures, and 99% of all my fish are taken with a single lure, the data set is well-controlled and very compelling. They clearly demonstrate that the fishery has gone over the edge. In 2021 trip numbers were down due to a brief trip, while the drop in this season is because of the lack of motivation to keep going out and getting skunked. The drop in fish caught, coupled with the rise in the average and median size validates the poor spawning success of the Chesapeake.
| May - June Historical Striped Bass Catch | |||||
| Year | Trips | Fish | Fish per Trip | Average Size | Median Size |
| 2020 | 33 | 246 | 7.45 | 19.74" | 20" |
| 2021 | 25 | 184 | 5.58 | 20.17" | 20" |
| 2022 | 33 | 194 | 5.88 | 23.04" | 23" |
| 2023 | 38 | 161 | 4.88 | 24.69" | 24" |
| 2024 | 32 | 71 | 2.15 | 26.33' | 26" |
| 2025 | 24 | 22 | 0.67 | 27.00" | 27" |
