For the sixth straight year, the Maryland DNR is reporting abysmally low striped bass recruitment in the Chesapeake Bay. Since 1957, the DNR has used seine nets to survey fish populations at various sites throughout the bay, establishing a Young-of-Year (YOY) Index that has proven to be a reliable indicator of future striped bass abundance. In 2024 the Index was a paltry 2.0.
(Featured Photo: A juvenile striped bass caught and released by a survey crew in the Nanticoke River. Photo by Joe Zimmermann, Maryland DNR.)
Over the previous five years, the YOY Indices are as follows:
2019: 3.4
2020: 2.5
2021: 3.2
2022: 3.6
2023: 1.0 (The second lowest on record behind 2012)
These have all been well below the long time average YOY Index of 11.0. This means that few young striped bass have entered the population over the last six years, and is rightfully causing alarm among striped bass fishermen and fisheries managers.
Successful striped bass recruitment is largely dependent on environmental conditions during the spring spawning season. While fishery managers have little control over that, what is in their control, and in the control of each striped bass fishermen, is how we conserve and protect the existing population of adult striped bass during this time of poor natural reproduction. The first thing every angler can do is focus on proper catch-and-release practices to enhance a striper’s odd of survival after being caught.
In Virginia, preliminary results from the YOY survey conducted by researchers at William & Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences also suggest a poor year class of striped bass was produced in the Chesapeake Bay’s Virginia tributaries this year.
Read more below from the Maryland DNR report:
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced results of this year’s juvenile striped bass survey, which tracks the reproductive success of Maryland’s state fish in the Chesapeake Bay. The 2024 young-of-year index is 2.0, well below the long-term average of 11.0, and marks the sixth consecutive year of poor reproduction.
“These results underscore the complexity of managing a coastal migratory species whose life-cycle is influenced by environmental conditions during a brief spawning period,” said Maryland DNR Fishing and Boating Services Director Lynn Fegley. “We will continue to explore ways to conserve and enhance the spawning population during this time when we are adding fewer young fish to the population.”
During this annual survey, fishery managers examine 22 sites located in four major striped bass spawning areas: the Choptank, Nanticoke, and Potomac rivers, and the upper Chesapeake Bay. Biologists visit each site three times per summer, collecting fish with two sweeps of a 100-foot beach seine net. The index represents the average number of young-of-year striped bass found in each sample. The juvenile striped bass average less than 3 inches long and are not usually encountered by anglers. Similar fish surveys conducted this summer in the Patapsco, Magothy, Rhode, West, Miles, and Tred Avon rivers found fewer striped bass, also known as rockfish.
Efforts to rebuild the Atlantic Coast population of striped bass have been ongoing for several years. Although recent population estimates indicate improvement, low levels of reproduction will influence future conservation measures under consideration by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
In recent years, Maryland has implemented management actions aimed at rebuilding the spawning stock, including reductions to catch limits, increased protections for spawning fish, tighter slot limits, and season closures. However, warm conditions in winter continue to negatively impact the reproductive success of striped bass, whose larvae are very sensitive to water conditions and food availability in the first several weeks after hatching. Other species with similar spawning behavior such as white perch, yellow perch, and American shad also experienced below-average reproduction this year.
The below-average year classes will likely become more apparent among the adult population of striped bass in the coming years, as the juveniles reach maturity. While environmental conditions hamper reproductive success, fisheries managers focus conservation efforts on adult striped bass so that the spawning population can produce a strong year class when environmental conditions are favorable.
The On The Water staff is made up of experienced anglers from across the Northeast who fish local waters year-round. The team brings firsthand, on-the-water experience and regional knowledge to coverage of Northeast fisheries, techniques, seasonal patterns, regulations, and conservation.
There are a lot of strippers court in rockland county ny and they keep al sizes.
I have called and my friends called DEC and we never see any one come , not even the next day. When we call we get the same answer. The places like Piermont pier, Have-strew.
It’s the people who are not from America or Rockland who are doing this. They are just here to consume.
Why is commercial fishing for stripers still being allowed. They are taking all the breeding age fish!
The study doesn’t mention the introduction of blue catfish and impact of this to other fish
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has proved that they cannot manage anything!! It’s time we get new members, members that want to help. If anyone has listened to these hearings know that the Chesapeake area are the biggest resistance to any change that is required. Their always adding ammendments that allow them to not be included like the rest of the states. How many times have we heard, “Well, we have already handed out our quotas and we can’t take them back and maybe we will wait and see if we have to take a penalty but will think about it. Everyone was supposed to take a big hit but Mr Davis from Connecticut and oter Croother cronies voted to make the recreational sector take the full cut but allowed the commercial sector to take a lower cut. They don’t care about the fishery, only their commercial fishing friends. Like I said, it’s time for change in the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission for the sake of the fisheries!!
Ma has takin big hit in commercial 2 million to one million now just over 650000 they give out permits like candy including out of state they need to make it a closed fisheries it’s killin the guy that do it for more than gas money if you don’t catch 1000 lbs a year you can’t renew license would be a good start and if they’re having problems with reproduction, why aren’t they using hatchery? Seems like a simple solution.
So, how much of the annual hatch is lost to the invasive species that are roaming the bay and it’s tributaries?
The ASFMC is one of the most corrupt and incompetent groups, their just as bad as fema was during the hurricane. They dont care about the fishery at all, They created the monster and unfortunatly if this is all true they ll be the one to blame for ruining a great fishery. Make it C&R across the board for a few years thats the only way youre gonna stop it. But they wont do that theyre too busy lining their pockets. $$$ talks
Maybe we should eliminate your northeast wide tournament that encourages people to catch striped bass for prizes all year. The most two face thing is when these guys talk conservation and have a Striper Cup. Unreal
How about East Coast states work together and start stocking stripped bass like we do for salmon up here in lake Ontario
Dude you’re a loser, you don’t get it at all. Stop fishing and do us all a favor.. and the bass
Mike Packer don’t dude me. Thanks for the intelligent comment
They literally were the first tournament to go away from weighing fish to catch and release, all they do is talk catch and release and send thousands of people circle hooks and what not every year. Theyre not the problem, people like you are – get out trolled nerd
Hey Alex Glenn. Recreational Sector Mortality is the reason there is a slot. Why are these guys promoting a striped bass tournament and then crying about the bass. Do some research. I know you probably want to win a “wicked cool boat” but this tournament is stupid when homeboy that runs this for profit magazine stands up and at and AMFSC meeting and says cell phones are the problem. Get a clue
I believe it’s time for another moratorium on striped bass. We should stop commercial fishing altogether, and no striped bass should be kept by recreational anglers, regardless of size. The last moratorium led to a noticeable improvement in the fishery. fishing will improve significantly in the long run if we give a moratorium. Given the poor spawning years we should protect this species.
So how many of these young bass die in those nets due to these surveys? How about turning attention to these commercial fishermen who catch and harvest undersized fish yearly. You think they are paying attention to size limits and sort these fish after netting them? Yes, there are recreational fisherman that don’t care but time to focus more on the commercial aspect of the fishery and stop blaming the recreational fisherman so much with these ridicules slot limits that only create that “I’ll keep what I want attitude “Hear that all the time at my Rhode Island bait shop
There should be a collective organization representing 7 states with fishery’s inc the Canadian Maritimes issuing guidance. Fisherman would fund it. The reality is for the fish to thrive moving forward spawning needs be encourage outside the Chesapeake, it this doesn’t happen due to winter water temp trends and runoff (which it out of control & getting worse as baby boomers retire in mass to the eastern shore). The cold hard reality is the species is going to collapse if NY, CT & Maine spawning estuaries don’t pick up the slack.
Complete moratorium may be the way to go. 2 years ago I watch countless amount of party boats outside fire island NY post 2 trip pictures at the end of every day with 40 to 50people holding up 20-50lbs fish. An incredible body of fish that stuck around for almost 6-7 weeks . Over 10 party boats twice a day x 50 people. You do the math. Even with restrictions, party boats are catching these large breading females, hauling them up on deck, then allowing the customers to hold out of water for pictures. Then drop it 15 feet from the deck back in. Im shock why anyone would question why striper numbers are down.
Time to make them a gamefish,end of story
RE: Striped bass numbers. My entire family and I have stopped fishing for striped bass for the past 4-5years based upon the numbers declining for future growth of striper populations. Personally I miss the stripers the most but my kids do too. I know fishermen, recreational and commercial both want to find another way. Slot limits are not working. Amazingly I found baby stripers in the ocean water out front at Sandy Beach and closely examined one of them and it is definitely baby striped bass in late fall, warm water conditions. I hope they survive the winter holding up in the rivers and estuaries. I used to love seeing the schools of large stripers following us while scuba diving for lobsters and wanting handouts when we scuba dived for lobsters. I planned on spending my days of retirement fishing and gardening in the back yard and living by the ocean in Cohasset, Ma. But that has all changed. Back in the late 60’s70’s the stripers numbers were way down and through conservation efforts the fish came back mor than ever after a few years. It’stime to close down all gishingm for stripers, commercially,
RE: Striped bass numbers. My entire family and I have stopped fishing for striped bass for the past 4-5years based upon the numbers declining for future growth of striper populations. Personally I miss the stripers the most but my kids do too. I know fishermen, recreational and commercial both want to find another way. Slot limits are not working. Amazingly I found baby stripers in the ocean water out front at Sandy Beach and closely examined one of them and it is definitely baby striped bass in late fall, warm water conditions. I hope they survive the winter holding up in the rivers and estuaries. I used to love seeing the schools of large stripers following us while scuba diving for lobsters and wanting handouts when we scuba dived for lobsters. I planned on spending my days of retirement fishing and gardening in the back yard and living by the ocean in Cohasset, Ma. But that has all changed. Back in the late 60’s70’s the stripers numbers were way down and through conservation efforts the fish came back mor than ever after a few years. It’s time to close down all fishing for stripers, commercially, too and unfortunately guide sport fishing for a couple of years as well. However tere has to be consensus along the entire migration route by all states in compliance from South Carolinaall the way to Maine. In addition the commercial boats should not be able to comeintobays and scoop out all the POGIES, herring, and baitfish
RE: Striped bass numbers. My entire family and I have stopped fishing for striped bass for the past 4-5years based upon the numbers declining for future growth of striper populations. Personally I miss the stripers the most but my kids do too. I know fishermen, recreational and commercial both want to find another way. Slot limits are not working. Amazingly I found baby stripers in the ocean water out front at Sandy Beach and closely examined one of them and it is definitely baby striped bass in late fall, warm water conditions. I hope they survive the winter holding up in the rivers and estuaries. I used to love seeing the schools of large stripers following us while scuba diving for lobsters and wanting handouts when we scuba dived for lobsters. I planned on spending my days of retirement fishing and gardening in the back yard and living by the ocean in Cohasset, Ma. But that has all changed. Back in the late 60’s70’s the stripers numbers were way down and through conservation efforts the fish came back mor than ever after a few years. It’s time to close down all fishing for stripers, commercially, too and unfortunately guide sport fishing for a couple of years as well. However tere has to be consensus along the entire migration route by all states in compliance from South Carolina all the way to Maine. In addition the commercial boats should not be able to come into bays and scoop out all the POGIES, herring, and bait fish . Renting or purchasing salt water facing properties where salt water fisheries can be built and run can work to produce higher numbers of fish and provide jobs to fishermen, and others who care about the continued growth and expansion of fish farms, balance in the eco system and assist in bringing back the decimated species of fish. This is a much bigger problem than has been identified especially with an eye to the future of mankind and its application in building controlled survival and other methods of preventing the extinction of species. Its just a starting point for serious debate and discussion that we can apply like protection of othe r ocean species ie codfish, etc,Let’s talk and come up with ideas.
hey! I’m also from Cohasset. I have never seen the stripers right of sandy beach before but there is a rock over there with a lot of stripers. Anyways, this was one of the best seasons for me as a fisherman off of the Scituate Ledges, but I to may stop fishing for stripers all together.
I caught a bunch of these in the Providence River in my Killy trap. I didn’t know they were striped bass. Maybe they’re spawning elsewhere? Where’s the research for that?
I feel that the poor spawning results are due to the fact that the commercial fisherman are keeping all of the breeding size fish. There are not enough breeders left to produce eggs to guarantee success of the next generation.