Interesting Striper Biology Exchange with Maine DMR...

[Roccus7]

I caught a 10" striper the other day, so small it must be a 1 year old fish, making it the YOY class of 2019, which was a poor spawn year down in the Chesapeake. Does anyone know what the results were on the Hudson? I couldn't find anything in a quick search today.

Here's his response:

It is definitely very possible that they are Maine fish. The other theory I have often heard which also makes some sense to me is that when the Chesapeake fishery (or other spawning area) has a really big year class or there is poor water quality these young fish may leave early to avoid crowding or unhealthy conditions.

So here's a question for you Chessie Bay (@Capt13 et al.) and Hudson River Rats, are the bays/rivers so bad this year that you're driving your juvenile fish to visit me?

 

[Capt13]

I'm thinking you have a local spawning population.

 

[Roccus7]

I'm thinking you have a local spawning population.

Agreed. The Kennebec River is 3 rivers west of me, it IS a spawning river, although the Sheepscot, 2 rivers west could have spawning in it as there's no barriers between salt and fresh. My river and the nearest river have falls at the head of tide so there's an abrupt switch from salt to fresh.