The Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board approved conservative management options for striped bass at their winter meeting in Arlington, Virginia. The options were part of Draft Addendum II, and the decision considered public input collected at public hearings in recent weeks.
For the ocean (non-Chesapeake Bay) fishery, the striped bass slot limit of 1 fish at 28 to 31 inches remains in place for all recreational anglers, whether fishing from shore, a private boat, or a charter (for-hire) vessel. After a vote to consider a mode split that would allow a larger slot for for-hire vessels failed 7-9, the measure (Option B) was approved 14 to 2, with only New York and New Jersey voting against. Both states’ representatives spoke in favor of an option that would allow a larger slot for for-hire vessels.
For the Chesapeake Bay fishery, managers approved the striped bass slot limit of 1 fish at 19 to 24 inches for all anglers. The measure (Option B2) was approved 14 to 2, with Maryland and New Jersey voting against. The Maryland representative spoke in favor of options that would allow a 2-fish bag for anglers fishing on for-hire vessels.
The Board also voted to reduce the commercial striped bass quota by 7%. This was a compromise reached after a 14% reduction was proposed as a number equal to the estimated reduction to the recreational fishery.
The Board initiated Draft Addendum II in May 2023 in response to the low probability of meeting the 2029 stock rebuilding deadline if the unexpectedly high 2022 fishing mortality rate continues. The Draft Addendum built upon the 2023 emergency action by considering management measures intended to reduce fishing mortality to the target level in 2024. For the recreational fishery, the Draft Addendum proposed recreational bag and size limit options for the ocean and Chesapeake Bay regions, including options with different limits for the for-hire modes.
Great conservation efforts! Keep it up
We need this. I am disappointed as a fisherman that it has reached this point but more than willing to see restrictions put in place to preserve the species.
why no making 5 years catch and release law so just we can have fun catching them and let them go back in life, nothing keep it
i forget, need more action with DEC because many people take many undersized fish and they do a lot around New York and no one do nothing need better protection not only sotting in car and wait for shift is over and go home… problem is many anglers i see too they keep everyfish what they catch without license or information, i can write long stories but problem law too soft and park police and park rangers no hive shit about, when i fishing all years i no see any only in February they show up like they do important and just drive around when nobody fishing… shame but is true
I would gladly take One slot 18″ to 24″ Striped Bass, and any striper over 32″ goes back to the species reproduce.
I feel the same for Summer Flounder, except slotted at 16″ to 18″. Many, if not most fishermen in NJ are severely limited to fishing spots on land and do not own boats. Even those slotted limits are hard to come by. Boaters usually get first shot at catching larger fish.
Personally I am getting much older and cannot fish the usual places that I once did.
If this is going to work we need more policing because we all know there will be violators taking fish outside the slot and more than the limit. We also need to promote and practice proper catch and release methods if these fish are going to survive and thrive.
OH PLEASE , IM GETING A HEADACHE OVER ALL THIS CRAP. ILL JUST SIT BACK . WE SHOULD PASS A FISHING LAW THAT EVERYBODY MUST CARRY A TAPE MEASURE IN THEIR POCKET OR BE FINDED $ 500.00 .
I don’t have pockets
Recs. Save the Breeders so Com. Can KILL them.
WTF!
Declare them a game fish and ban the commercial sale of them like they did with the red fish down south, did wonders to rebuild the stock. And keep the bunker boats at least three miles off shore. Whoever’s idea either MD or VA to stock blue cats in some of the tidal creeks of the Chesapeake thinking they would stay there was a bad idea. They now have become invasive and eat anything that swims including crabs.
This is the smartest comment on here , too bad the people in charge don’t have this common sense.
For sure ! Can’t even catch a perch any more
Marine fisheries allowed the striped bass to become threatened. They were in charge. They also made significant cuts to recreational limits. Like
When they set 34-36 inch limits then when the fish responded they gave us 28 and two fish. That was cut to one fish (50%} then they established the slot (50%+) cut and we lost our trophy fish ability. Now the narrowed the slot (50%}
Cut again. Ask yourselves if the commercial limits and sizes would have been cut by 50% times three what would have happened? Commercial fishermen would have gone out of business and all the breeders would still be with us.
The best management
Of these fisheries would be to fire the managers and start over. They’ve screwed up the scup, the pogies, fluke, bass, Mako shark – i could go on.
Just make it catch and release for two years
If they pay me I would go around at night giving fine to everyone that keep more than one fish per day around nj and nyc and we would collecting per night over 10k. I know a spot in NYC that people take every night 5 and 10 28-45 inch striper per night
waders dont have pockets last time i checked. also thats absloutely assining of a statement. what about a Catch and release fisherman? (which last time i checked is most striper fisherman)
ur insane for that statement.
Stop commercial striped bass fishing
Agreed I think commercial should be shut down for 1-2 years. Let the big females breed.
I’m with you David!! No more commercial fishing for Stripers.
Terrible Decision. Yes something must be done but a 7% reduction. For commies???? Yet we face a 50% reduction on limits…it’s obvious the government is all about tax money….stop voting for these stupid politicians!!
The reality is that the back bays and rivers in NJ are loaded with stripers to the point they are eating everything including the young stripers. We need a new perspective on management. They should give some thought to expanding the upper size limits and/or bag limits
I read the article and unless I missed something the only thing the changed was the commercial fishing was reduced. I like to take a fish now and then but we need to everything back for a few years. It really hit me When pogys were I Manomet a couple summers ago. I saw 15 commercial boats return to Green Har each w their limit of 15 fish 3 days a week for two months. The same for Scituate Harbor and Sandwich. On top of that what 100 rec guys got everyday of the week
Its all the commercial griftors?
These conservative efforts for recreational fishing help but what about the hundreds of striped bass killed in gil nets by commercial fisherman?
More restrictions won’t so much good. The problem isn’t the people who follow the restrictions, its the people that dont.. too many people take more dish daily than allowed and sizes not allowed. They can squeeze the guys that follow the rules all they want, it won’t make much difference.
Stop commercial fishing for 3 years.1 slot fish for anglers