MARYLAND - The Maryland Department of Natural Resources says they have proposed emergency regulations to support the state's spawning striped bass population.
The department says that the proposed regulations will complement additional actions that will be implemented coastwide in 2024 by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
According to the department, the new regulations would propose to extend two periods already closed to targeting striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay and on the Susquehanna Flats next year.
These extensions would result in the elimination of the Maryland Striped Bass Trophy season (May 1 to May 15) and the catch-and-keep fishery on the Flats (May 16 to May 31) in 2024.
In Maryland, the department says that April is already closed to targeting striped bass, and under the proposed regulations, this period would extend until May 15. Typically during the first two weeks of May, large female striped bass make their way up the Chesapeake Bay to spawn in the rivers where they hatched. The department says the emergency regulation is aimed at protecting the bass before and after they spawn.
“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 department says that the proposed regulations come after five years of below-average spawning success for striped bass, also known as rockfish.
“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.”
The Chesapeake Bay is the primary spawning and nursery area for 70% to 90% of the striped bass of the Atlantic coast, according to the department. Further, striped bass is Maryland’s state fish and the most important commercial and recreational fish species.
Department officials encourage anglers to pursue other fish, such as blue catfish and northern snakehead instead of striped bass.
The regulations are being presented to the Maryland General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review for its consideration. The department says a public hearing on the draft regulations would take place if called for by a committee member.
If approved, the department says draft regulations would take into effect with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which is considering limits to the number and size of striped bass.