MARYLAND - Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says they are proposing emergency regulations this week to support Maryland’s striped bass spawning population.
According to DNR, the regulations will be in addition to action already planned by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission for next year to bolster striped bass (also known as rockfish) populations.
These new regulations would extend two periods already closed to targeted striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay and the Susquehanna Flats in 2024. The extended periods would eliminate next year’s Maryland Striped Bass Trophy season (May 1 to May 15) and the Flats’ catch-and-keep fishery (May 16 to May 31), according to DNR.
April is traditionally closed to targeting striped bass, and the regulations would extend that closure to May 15th. Trophy season has normally fallen in the first two weeks of May, when DNR says large female bass make their way up the Chesapeake to spawn in the rivers where they hatched. The proposals aim to protect those fish before and after they spawn.
DNR cites five years of below average spawning success for striped bass as the reason for the proposed changes.
“Maryland waters serve as the spawning grounds for many of the striped bass that migrate up and down the East Coast, and we take our leadership role in managing the overall population seriously,” said Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz. “That’s why we’re putting forth new regulations to protect spawning striped bass. These management actions will complement additional fishing cuts expected to be taken by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission next year in response to the coastwide population decline in recent years.”
The regulations are set to be presented to the Maryland General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review for consideration, DNR says. A public hearing would be held if requested by a member of the committee.
DNR says the Chesapeake Bay is the primary spawning and nursery area for 70-90% of the Atlantic coast’s striped bass, Maryland’s state fish and most important recreational fish species.
“We will continue to deliberate internally and with our Bay and coastal partners to address overall mortality of striped bass for the future, however, the emergency regulations are intended to protect the fish when they are the most vulnerable during the critical spawning period,” DNR Associate Director for Tidal and Coastal Management and Science Michael Luisi said. “All sectors of the striped bass fishery will need to work together to preserve the spawning stock for the future of this important recreational and commercial fishery along the Atlantic coast and in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay.”
If adopted, DNR’s regulations would take effect with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s additional proposals, which are considering weight and number limits on striped bass catches.
