Speak up for Striped Bass – Tell ASMFC to reject seasonal closures
by American Sportfishing Association 9 Sep 11:44 UTC
ASA guidance on Proposed Changes to Striped Bass Management © American Sportfishing Association
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is considering new restrictions on striped bass for 2026, proposing a 12% reduction for the recreational sector, which would require additional seasonal closures to achieve the reduction. The closures even consider "no targeting", which prohibits anglers from fishing for striped bass, whether harvesting fish or practicing catch-and-release.
Additional seasonal closures are being proposed even though the current striped bass fishing mortality is at a 30-year low, well below both the fishing mortality target and threshold. ASMFC is reacting to short-term swings in recreational catch estimates from the Marine Recreational Information Program, a survey that NOAA Fisheries admitted overestimates fishing effort due to design flaws.
Click here to tell the ASMFC to reject new seasonal closures and support status quo management.