Striped Bass Stock in Decline!

The striped bass season is well underway. I have received reports of fish over the 30 " mark. As predicted the big fish should arrive early this season. The last week in May and first week in June should be the time to target fish in the 50 " range. It is hard to say but the season should also end early. July should be very quiet with stripers in the 10 lb + range hard to find on the fly. So get on it when you can and please practice catch and release! The stocks are down an alarming rate. Here is a study conducted up in Mass.  Why does history have to repeat itself?!

Decrease from 2006 to 2011 is 6,802,000 fish, a decrease of 83.7%

Decrease from 2010 to 2011 was 690,000 fish, a decrease of 34%

Official NOAA Recreational Catch Statistics for MA

Attachments:

The attached document taken directly from the NOAA - parent of National Marine Fishery Service - website chronicles the decline in the recreational catch of striped bass in Massachusetts from its high in 2006 until the end of 2011.  The decline of 84% is absolutely alarming, and there are no good year classes coming along to reinforce the population of breeding sized fish  for at least another 7 or 8 years.  Clearly we need to act now to conserve the large fish left in the population.   Stripers Forever's MA game fish bill will be heard in committee on Feb. 28.  For more information go back to the home page of this website and find the article under recent news on the right side.  We urge all SF members to e-mail the members of the Joint Environment Committee that will hear this bill.  Here is a LINK to their website.  Tell them that striped bass are important to you, that the fish are in trouble, and that we must stop commercially fishing for them and manage them with a greater conservation ethic.  Please, do it now, and get all of your fishing friends to do the same thing.

Estimate Status	Year	Common Name	Total Catch (A+B1+B2)	PSE
FINAL	2006	STRIPED BASS	8,124,766	10.2
FINAL	2007	STRIPED BASS	5,646,880	12.6
FINAL	2008	STRIPED BASS	4,027,374	11.7
FINAL	2009	STRIPED BASS	2,627,003	10.6
FINAL	2010	STRIPED BASS	2,012,483	11.1
PRELIMINARY	2011	STRIPED BASS	1,323,156	14.6

Decrease from 2006 to 2011 is 6,802,000 fish, a decrease of 83.7%

Decrease from 2010 to 2011 was 690,000 fish, a decrease of 34%