The Maryland Young of the Year Striped Bass Survey has come out, and once again, the numbers are well below the average. This survey has been conducted since the 1950s and is considered the standard for judging the spawning success of striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay.
Traditionally, the Chesapeake Bay has supplied up to 90% of the coast-wide stock of striped bass. A bad spawn in the Chesapeake means fewer fish will be available along the Atlantic Coast in four to six years. That is how long it takes for a striped bass to grow large enough to join the coastal migration. The vast majority of these fish are females and will return to the spawning rivers each spring to repeat the cycle.
Back in 1971, the Young of the Year Index began an 18-year down cycle that resulted in a moratorium on all striped bass fishing from Maine to North Carolina. Prior to that, there had been seven above-average year classes since 1954, when the survey began. That’s 16 years with seven above average YOY Indexes followed by 18 years of below-average indexes.
Many very smart and well-educated people tried to figure out what was needed on the spawning grounds for a successful YOY.
One idea was to stop raw sewage from flowing into the bay in Elkton, Md. More chlorine was added at the plant. That killed the bacteria – and all the tiny animals the small rockfish need to survive. Operation was successful. Patient died.
A group of watermen tried to raise rockfish in ponds close to Elkton. They captured females and bred them with males on their boats. The fertilized eggs were placed in large tubs until they hatched, then the fry were put in ponds. One pond held a few catfish that they didn’t know about. The catfish got very fat. The second pond grew some very nice rockfish. What this operation realized was it would take much more land than we had to grow enough rockfish to repopulate the stock.
While the Texas Coastal Conservation Association had success raising and stocking red drum, they first made red drum a gamefish and ended commercial harvest. That was not an option with striped bass. The CCA also had a lot more water to work with for growing the fish and a much smaller area to repopulate. Striped bass were the only hope for saving striped bass.
Finally, in 1989, thanks to Gov. Schaffer’s Hambrooks Bar, we got a high enough YOY to reopen striped bass fishing. There have been 15 above-average YOY classes since then.
Currently along the Atlantic coast, anglers are only allowed one fish per day between 28 and 35 inches. Maryland and Virginia have different regulations in the Chesapeake Bay, as does Delaware in Delaware Bay. All three states only allow one fish per day for recreational anglers.
I am certain we will hear a lot of Chicken Littles calling for more-restrictive regulations on striped bass. I am not sure that is necessary. I mean, how much more restrictive can you get than one fish per day?
I would like to see Maryland do away with its trophy season. It really doesn’t make much sense that every other state and commonwealth on the East Coast protects spawning-size females, while Maryland has an open season on them.
We, as recreational fishermen, must be very careful when catching and releasing rockfish. Always use circle hooks when using any type of bait. Crush the barbs on all your lures. Don’t play catch and release in the summer when the water temperature is high. Use a dehooker to avoid touching the fish. Do not lift large fish out of the water just to take a photo.
This fall there is a chance, however small, that we in Delaware could see some of those beautiful 30- to 50-pound striped bass that I see in photos from my friends in New Jersey. If so, we will have to use all of the above techniques to release these fish from the beach, boat and, especially, from the rocks at Indian River Inlet.
All we need is a photo of a dead 50-pound striper taken by a member of PETA or some other anti-fishing or -hunting group to create a big stink in political circles that would lead to those of us who actually hunt and fish fighting for our rights once again. Always remember, hunters and fishermen provide more money for conservation than any other group. We place restrictions on ourselves, and create wildlife areas like Bombay Hook and Prime Hook where no development will ever be built.
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Eric Burnley is a Delaware native who has fished and hunted the state from an early age. Since 1978 he has written countless articles about hunting and fishing in Delaware and elsewhere along the Atlantic Coast. He has been the regional editor for several publications and was the founding editor of the Mid-Atlantic Fisherman magazine. Eric is the author of three books: Surf Fishing the Atlantic Coast, The Ultimate Guide to Striped Bass Fishing and Fishing Saltwater Baits. He and his wife Barbara live near Milton, Delaware. Eric can be reached at Eburnle@aol.com.
