Protecting Maryland's Striped Bass: New Emergency Regulations Announced

[Fisherman-never-dies]

You certainly would know better than me. I'm going by regulations that I assume to be enforced. The menhaden are moving all around the bay and the staggering number they're removing is forcing the fish to look elsewhere.

Thanks for joining and brining your perspective. It's appreciated.

Yeah, it's tragic. There used to be so many big stripers, 50-60 pounders, this time of year in CBBT, in front of VA Beach and even down to Oregon inlet NC. You could literally catch a giant bluefin and stripers in the same water. It was an epic scene with miles of fish, birds and boats at the mouth of Chesapeake bay. It's all gone now.

There could be many contributing reasons for this. But the biggest by far is depleting the menhaden population. And It will be the easiest solution too if we can stop this. But waiting for VA to do this its own won't happen, because there is a Omega Protein factory in VA. Its lobbying and owning of Richmond is well established with the claim the company creates jobs for VA (stinking a few hundreds or even less). It is time for federal and regional authorities to step in.

Anyway, thanks for welcoming me in. I was a Queens boy originally in the 80's, living in VA last 30 years, but loves to fish annually for all different species in the waters in between RI to Carolinas offer seasonally.

 

[george]

Correct me if I'm wrong but the Chesapeake stock has a range up to Maine. I would venture a guess that a not insignificant proportion spends time in NY waters, especially in the Spring and Fall, as they migrate up and down the coast.

The imposition of stricter regulations coastwide would make sense, and despite your claim that the Hudson fish are in better shape and have a more robust population, we would still benefit down the line from an even more healthy stock.
1 @ 28-31" seems to be a fair resolution

The Hudson River striped bass enter the lower Hudson in late March or early April. They do not roam up the coast - Hudson fish always travel north, or so we think. They spawn in mid-late May and then move out. Chesapeake fish spawn earlier due to the warmer waters. They are two separate stocks of fish. It is believed that the majority of bass in Maine are coming from the Chesapeake. The Hudson stock does not, and can not ever help the Chesapeake stock. These are facts plain and simple.

Also, how long do you think we can continue to target such a small slot without eliminating that year's class.?

 

[AllyKat]

2013 was the last “good” year for winter striped bass and BFT in VB along the ocean front. It used to be like the Discovery Channel with whales and birds everywhere all feasting on menhaden. Without a doubt in my mind, the Omega boats have severely impacted the natural resource that once was the Striped Bass Capital and they no longer hold the Rockfish tourney.

 

[Flukemaster19]

The Hudson River striped bass enter the lower Hudson in late March or early April. They do not roam up the coast - Hudson fish always travel north, or so we think. They spawn in mid-late May and then move out. Chesapeake fish spawn earlier due to the warmer waters. They are two separate stocks of fish. It is believed that the majority of bass in Maine are coming from the Chesapeake. The Hudson stock does not, and can not ever help the Chesapeake stock. These are facts plain and simple.

Also, how long do you think we can continue to target such a small slot without eliminating that year's class.?

I'm not disputing the separation of the stocks, or that they have distinct spawning patterns.
The Chesapeake fish migrate up the eastern seaboard and occupy NY waters for whatever period of time during their migration.
I'm not suggesting Hudson stock impacts the Chesapeake stock, but the two stocks of fish both inhabit the same waters.

With the 28-31" slot, the idea was to protect the 2015 year class, which by now should be over 31" and protected under these regs

 

[Roccus7]

Speaking from personal data I've caught 5 tagged stripers here in Maine over the past 10 season

3 - were Hudson River Foundation tagged fish, so they were certainly from the Hudson

1 - was tagged with an American Littoral Society tag in New Hampshire so who knows where it came from?

1 - had a Berkeley Striper Club tag. Since they're 1/2 way up the Jersey Shore I'm going to say it was most
probably a Chessie fish.

 

[hawk375]

the only problem for striped bass is theres to many where are the flounder weakfish bluefish crabs lobsters that is the question maybe all these large bass eat more than bunker maybe bunker are not staying in harbors and bays inshore because they have no food anyone that think striped bass are in trouble needs to go fishing something is wrong regulations are not the answer fish biologist should do more field work and less math problems if you fish for anything but the easiest fish to catch striped bass you know regulations dont work

 

[george]

I'm not disputing the separation of the stocks, or that they have distinct spawning patterns.
The Chesapeake fish migrate up the eastern seaboard and occupy NY waters for whatever period of time during their migration.
I'm not suggesting Hudson stock impacts the Chesapeake stock, but the two stocks of fish both inhabit the same waters.

With the 28-31" slot, the idea was to protect the 2015 year class, which by now should be over 31" and protected under these regs

It is believed that the 2015 year class of fish was exceptionally strong. Consequently, a slot size was implemented specifically to target these fish. However, there is confusion regarding the current situation. As we approach a new season, it seems logical to assume that we are now heavily targeting the following year class, which happens to be the 2016 year class, known to be one of the weakest on record. Considering that a year has passed, shouldn't the slot size be modified to account for this additional year?

You are correct in that stripers roam up and down the coast, but before, during, and a few weeks after the spawn, Chesapeake fish are near the Chesapeake and Hudson fish are near the Hudson.

 

[Matts]

George wrote: "a slot size was implemented specifically to target [2015] fish. ... it seems logical to assume that we are now heavily targeting the following year class, which happens to be the 2016 year class, known to be one of the weakest on record. Considering that a year has passed, shouldn't the slot size be modified to account for this additional year?"

For sure that makes perfect sense, if they actually analyzed anything but guesstimate pounds!

 

[Flukemaster19]

I

View attachment 72909
It is believed that the 2015 year class of fish was exceptionally strong. Consequently, a slot size was implemented specifically to target these fish. However, there is confusion regarding the current situation. As we approach a new season, it seems logical to assume that we are now heavily targeting the following year class, which happens to be the 2016 year class, known to be one of the weakest on record. Considering that a year has passed, shouldn't the slot size be modified to account for this additional year?

You are correct in that stripers roam up and down the coast, but before, during, and a few weeks after the spawn, Chesapeake fish are near the Chesapeake and Hudson fish are near the Hudson.

I'm not a fisheries manager but it's my understanding that the idea is to protect those fish precisely because they are so plentiful. Reducing mortality so that the stock can be rebuilt by 2029 is the goal

 

[george]

I

I'm not a fisheries manager but it's my understanding that the idea is to protect those fish precisely because they are so plentiful. Reducing mortality so that the stock can be rebuilt by 2029 is the goal

That might make sense but the plan is to target the 2015 year class

 

[Flukemaster19]

That might make sense but the plan is to target the 2015 year class

I think the idea is that roughly 50% of fish will be over 31", which means that there still should be plenty that fall within the slot

 

[Roccus7]

I

I'm not a fisheries manager but it's my understanding that the idea is to protect those fish precisely because they are so plentiful. Reducing mortality so that the stock can be rebuilt by 2029 is the goal

That might make sense but the plan is to target the 2015 year class

The 28-31" slot protects the 2015 YOY. IF their data are accurate, the 28-31" slot WILL essentially protect the bulk of the 2015 class this coming year.

Why? - Last year ASMFC estimated that the mean size of the Class of 2015 would be 31.5", ergo the reason for reducing the top end of the slot from 35 to 31" to protect around 1/2 of the 2015s. If they had kept it at 35", virtually all slot fish caught last year would have been 2015 fish. If they maintain the 31" top end, "Option B", in 2024 for recs and For Hires, virtually all the "Close but no Cigar Overs" in 2024 will be saved 2015 fish.

 

[hawk375]

so kill them catch and release the more fish the more effort the bigger the kill more fish people make more trips maybe shorter season

 

[george]

@Flukemaster19, I owe you an apology – you were right. After re-listening to my podcast episode with Emilie Franka from the ASMFC, I realized I had some facts tangled up.

The more I delve into this, the more complex it seems, with a myriad of variables at play. There's a wide range of scientific opinions regarding the size of each year's class of fish. We're targeting fish within a narrow 3-inch size limit, yet the smallest growth estimate I've come across is about 2 inches per year. This suggests a potential 4-inch growth span over two years, indicating we might be catching fish from different year classes.

Considering the factors like warming waters, shifting bait patterns, yoy estimates, recruitment, and spawning size estimates, it's incredibly challenging to get our approach spot-on. The only time it seemed to really work effectively was during the 80s, when it was primarily a hook-and-line fishery. How can we be confident in our strategies with so many changing elements?

 

[hawk375]

the only variable is how manny kills by recs commercials never over tags maybe tags
for recs

 

[Flukemaster19]

@Flukemaster19, I owe you an apology – you were right. After re-listening to my podcast episode with Emilie Franka from the ASMFC, I realized I had some facts tangled up.

The more I delve into this, the more complex it seems, with a myriad of variables at play. There's a wide range of scientific opinions regarding the size of each year's class of fish. We're targeting fish within a narrow 3-inch size limit, yet the smallest growth estimate I've come across is about 2 inches per year. This suggests a potential 4-inch growth span over two years, indicating we might be catching fish from different year classes.

Considering the factors like warming waters, shifting bait patterns, yoy estimates, recruitment, and spawning size estimates, it's incredibly challenging to get our approach spot-on. The only time it seemed to really work effectively was during the 80s, when it was primarily a hook-and-line fishery. How can we be confident in our strategies with so many changing elements?

Fisheries managers have one lever to pull, and it's reducing mortality so the fish can do their thing. They cannot control bait flows, spawning success, habitat destruction and warming waters.
Pulling fish out of the water has destroyed plenty of fish stocks. Where are the winter flounder? Cod? Where have all the bluefish gone

 

[Hunter704]

Commercial fishing plays a huge part in the reduction of fish population. Along with spawning grounds the bay back in the day was eel grass bottoms plenty of habitat for fish to spawn. I Believe todays use of pesticides and all the chemicals become run off in storms and have killed the eel grass. Amongst other things more seals, cormorants, and poachers all play into the lack of fish species the are declining.

 

[hawk375]

commercial fish does in most fisheries but not striped bass 90 percent rec landings to think how much better rec fishermen are today than years ago is crazy the technology has given them great fishing power