Striped Bass: Pisces in Peril by Mark White
THE ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS, BELOVED BY RECREATIONAL ANGLERS AND VALUABLE TO COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN, PATROLS THE EAST COAST FROM THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER IN CANADA TO THE ST. JOHNS RIVER IN FLORIDA. INCREASED FISHING PRESSURE AND DEGRADATION AND LOSS OF HABITAT IN THE 1970S RESULTED IN A COLLAPSE OF STRIPED BASS STOCK IN THE 1980S, BUT A MORATORIUM ON STRIPER FISHING, NEW LEGISLATION, AND A NEW MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ALL CONTRIBUTED TO AN APPARENT STRIPER REBOUND BY THE LATE 1990S.
Striped bass thrived for nearly a decade—but once again, the population is in serious decline. Eager
AMERICA’S SALTWATER SWEETHEART
that 3.4 million did not survive.” Yes, you read that correctly: The ASMFC
For better or worse, the humble
estimates that in 2017, the number of
to offset the decline, East Coast
striper remains a favorite of the
fish that died after being handled by
states have stepped in with various
hook-and-line recreational angler.
recreational anglers and then returned
proposals aimed at reducing striper
According to an article in the
to the water exceeded the number
mortality—particularly the mortality
February 2019 issue of On the Water
that anglers took home with them.
of the “spawning stock biomass”: the
magazine, reporting on a meeting of
weight of females ages four years and
the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
Could training enable recreational
older in the striper population. Despite
Commission’s (ASMFC) Striped Bass
anglers to reduce catch-and-
these efforts, the Atlantic striped bass
Management Board, recreational
release mortality? Yes, says Captain
population appears to be in continued
anglers were responsible for 90
Dave Cornell, who guides along
decline.
percent of the coastal removal of
Massachusetts’ South Coast: “Landing
striped bass in 2017: In real numbers,
a fish quickly, with a minimum
How did we get here? What can we do
“recreational fishermen are estimated
of handling at the boat, is very
to save the beloved striper?
to have caught 41.2 million striped
important.” Pinch down those barbs,
bass in 2017. They kept 2.9 million
says Cornell, and have pliers at the
and released 38.2 million. Of those
ready. “Fish that have hooks in their
38.2 million released, it is estimated
gills and may be bleeding are best
82 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
