Striped bass fishermen could face stricter regulations, including no-harvest or no-target seasons, in 2025. The potential changes will be considered by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC)’s Striped Bass Management Board at a special meeting on Dec. 16.
The latest assessment of the striped bass population showed that striped bass remain overfished. In October, the Striped Bass Management Board voted to reconvene at a special meeting to evaluate potential action for striped bass to increase the probability of rebuilding the stock by 2029.
In preparation for the meeting, scientists on ASMFC’s Technical Committee prepared rebuilding projections for a number of different scenarios with management options the Board could consider to reduce fishing mortality. They include potential changes to recreational size limits, seasonal no-harvest closures, and seasonal no-target closures.
ASMFC held an informational webinar on the striped bass options Dec. 5. A recording of the webinar can be found here.
Speak up: Public comments on proposed management options will be accepted via email to comments@asmfc.org through Dec. 10.
Read On The Water’s comment letter below:
December 9, 2024
Dear Ms. Franke and the ASMFC Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board:
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the 2025 management actions being discussed at the December 16, 2024 Striped Bass Management Board meeting.
I am the Publisher/Owner of On The Water Media, which includes On The Water Magazine, On The Water’s Angling Adventures TV show, the Striper Cup tournament, and the StriperFest event. On The Water was launched on Cape Cod in 1996 and has grown for the past 28 years to cover all waters where Atlantic striped bass swim. Like so many other fishing- and tourism-related businesses in our region, our existence depends upon the abundance of striped bass.
There is perhaps no better example of the economic importance of an abundant striper stock than our Striper Cup. The 5-month tournament began with a traditional weigh-in format in 2006, but participation grew sharply after we converted to a catch-and-release format in 2016. It has attracted support from national sponsors and grown to over 5,000 participants.
I applaud the Board for its commitment to rebuilding the Atlantic striped bass stock by 2029. However, I remain deeply concerned about the long-term implications for the Spawning Stock Biomass (SSB), as six consecutive years of poor spawns will severely impact the stock in the coming years.
Recreational anglers have led the way on conservation, overwhelmingly supporting regulatory measures like the current restrictive slot limit and voluntary efforts to reduce release mortality. Further reducing harvest opportunities for recreational anglers is a decision not to be taken lightly, as it will undoubtedly cause pain for some for-hire operations and impact the recreational fishing economy. However, when it comes to striped bass, a largely catch-and-release fishery with outsized importance to Atlantic coast recreational fishermen and the recreational fishing economy, meeting conservation goals to maintain a robust fishery must be the priority.
Input on Management Options
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I Strongly Oppose No-Targeting Closures
Large-scale no-targeting closures are not a viable option as they are virtually unenforceable. They would cause significant economic impact to for-hire captains, the boating industry, gear manufacturers, tackle shops, and tourism.
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I Urge Equal Commercial and Recreational Reductions
If the board decides on a percent reduction, it must be equal across sectors. Commercial reductions must come off harvest and not unused quota.
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I Support Equitable No-Harvest Closures
While reducing angler access to harvest striped bass is a sacrifice, no-harvest closures are strongly preferred over no-targeting closures. However, such closures must be equitable and not unfairly burden anglers in states with shorter fishing seasons, lower harvest rates, and less access to the fishery.
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I Support Maintaining or Narrowing the Slot Limit
I support either maintaining the slot limit or narrowing it if necessary to reduce removals. I am concerned by proposals to lower the slot limit to target immature fish as smaller striped bass are more accessible to anglers, likely resulting in increased removals.
Thank you for your consideration of my comments.
Chris Megan
On The Water Media
I’M ALL FOR OPTION 1
yes but no harvest seems more realistic.
I Strongly Oppose No-Targeting Closures
Large-scale no-targeting closures are not a viable option as they are virtually unenforceable. They would cause significant economic impact to for-hire captains, the boating industry, gear manufacturers, tackle shops, and tourism.
Thank you
Gary Boyd
One slot fish is hard enough I don’t think we need to cut this down anymore a no target season is going to be very bad for the anglers also for the tackle shops and for the boat captains party boats and charters I believe that a no target season will cut down on a major part of a lot of income that people depend on
I am also not in favor of a no targeting closure. My question is how is the data collected? Not sure the government is getting the information right. I am retired and have my own boat and fish at least 3 times a week out of Jones Beach. The bass fishing was excellent. They were all over the place. It doesn’t seem to me that the species is in decline. The present regulations of one fish within the slot size is fare, and not being over done.
I support No-Target hands down.
Why be so outspoken about respecting the bass as a C&R fisherman and preach endlessly about the unhealthy fishery, yet whine about doing your own part in sacrificing a season or two for the sake of the health of the fish? It is such a laughable quality of inconsistency I see in the most vocal people on social media; damning the commercial fishery, damning catch & keep or questionable fish handling, and now I see them complaining about a VERY doable time-out on Striped Bass, all the while getting ready to slay a couple dozen American Eels for that big ‘un. Close the fishery. Period.
The problem is that no-target is unrealistic. You like it as a bold, symbolic gesture: “if you love these fish, love them enough to not target them!” I get it. But as a practical law that actually makes a difference, no-target is virtually impossible to enforce to a meaningful extent. There isn’t a fraction of the necessary wardens to even begin to ensure widespread compliance. But even if there was, how do you convict somebody of “targeting” striped bass? What’s the criteria? Bob’s throwing a swim bait off the rock jetty catching stripers and bluefish: is he in violation of the no-target law? Doubtful. He can’t force stripers not to bite his lure and he can legitimately say he’s there for the blues. It would be pretty tough to convict ANY recreational angler of “targeting striped bass” so long as whatever lure or bait they’re using could realistically be said to also be effective for at least some other species. Heck, essentially the ONLY way you could really prove somebody was intending to target stripers would be if they came out and said so! Consequently, the law would be toothless in the recreational arena.
thank you man I 100% agree with what your saying. As a younger adult I want to catch striped bass for the rest of my life and the peoples mindset around keeping fish and conserving the fishery is disgusting. Taking a year or two off from fishing would be a great idea and I believe would benefit the fishery a lot. However I think the idea of no target will not work because nobody’s going to follow it and there’s too much money based around the fishery the ASMFC will never go through with it. A better solution could include single hooks on all lures or no harvest.
I grew up here in Rhode island I have been fishing my entire life here. IB see all sides of this closure but the sad truth is people ruin it for everyone! I fish off watch hill with my boat. This summer zero patrol from DEM. We witnessed on multiple times multiple different days. Everytime we would go out we easily witnessed boats from CT , NY, mass and RI striper fishing taking big fish longer after another. We counted with 2 guys from Ct took 18 fish from m various sizes ! Sickening we tried to say something and they just get violent. We observed this behavior on multiple days . They same during toug we saw boaters taking multiple undersized fish longer after another. So do in think a closure is helpful for the fish yes but we’ll it help no! For the reason the people just take everything and anything anyway regardless if it is legal. If no one is out on the water everyday it won’t matter a difference. 18 years not 1 not once have I ever seen them out during the week or weekends. Really sad. So will it help no fix the patrolling problem then you might not have this problem
I fly fish a lot out of South Freeport Harbor in Maine. I’m also an old-timer, and I can tell you today striped bass fishery in Maine is a small fraction of what it was in my adult lifetime. I opposed “no targeting”. If Marine Patrol says it’s unenforceable, it should not be considered as an option. I enthusiastically support “no harvest” as long as it is equitable among states and equitable among commercial and recreational fishermen. [Any reduction on the commercial side should be based on recent harvest and not quota.] In Maine, we’ve not seen fish below 18-20 inches for 3-4 years; I no longer rig an 8wt rod for early season schoolies. I’ll let the scientists do their thing, but at our rec angler level what are the things we can do to make a difference? My focus is on improving release mortality: 1) First and foremost, do not keep fish. Fish are more valuable to all parties when left in the water. 2) Pinch barbs and don’t use treble hooks. 3) Don’t use a Barbie & Ken rod to catch a big striper. 4) Keep em wet. If a fish comes out of the water, it’s for no more 10 seconds. No more long winded grip & grins. 5) Be aware of how warmer water impacts reviving a fish. I know these are small things, but we don’t have a lot of room for error this time.
The amount of times I go fishing and see people taking out of slot stripers or over their limit is ridiculous. If they really want to protect the striper population Enviornmental Police need to step up, I’ve been countless times to popular spots and never have seen Enviornmental. They’re already breaking the law so implementing new rules isn’t going to stop them only the legal anglers.
Very important as well as all the great ideas mentioned…..STOP using TREBLE HOOKS…. please switch to using single hooks with CRUSHED Barn…. Another way to save this awesome and beautiful fish….TEST your skills if you’re a REAL And CARING Angler….
What’s frustrating is the striped bass “ keeper” mentality.
It’s a keeper so I have to keep it. I could only imagine if even party boats encourage customers to release fish if they would like to or do not plan on eating. Had my neighbors son show up at my door with 5 slot fish in a cooler on ice a couple weeks ago. When asked where he got. Said his boss was out that day with 4 other guests. No one wanted the fish, but they were “ keepers”. On another note..It’s also incredible to see the amount of big bluefish caught and kept. A great game fish to catch but a terrible eating fish. Party boats with over 30 guests on board holding up three 8-12lbs bluefish each. All probably ending up in a green bag, then on the curb for garbage. I did catch many striped bass this fall but shocked to catch only a couple blues in the spring.. I’m thinking the thrill of catching bass is the beat part. I couldn’t imagine spending my spring and fall fishing long periods in hopes of catching a lucky striped bass. Hopefully their decision is a wake up call to all striped bass fishermen. Practicing as much catch and release helps. “Keepers” can be released also.