According to the nonprofit news site Maryland Matters, the state of Maryland and its Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is looking to reopen fishing for striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay during their spring spawning season in April and May, while closing the striper fishery altogether during the month of August to offset the change.
According to the report, the DNR proposal for an August closure – a change from the current two-week July closure – aims to reduce the heat-related deaths of fish that can happen even if they’re promptly released after being caught. The DNR stated that it wants to approach its striped bass fishing season similarly to how it’s handled in the Potomac River of Virginia. It also wants to increase fishing tourism in the spring and support local fishing guides and tackle shops.
DNR has asked the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to include this change in Maryland’s fishing seasons beginning in 2026. The commission is expected to rule on the proposal later this year.
According to the Maryland Matters report, scientists say the stress of being caught and released is killing a significant number of striped bass, particularly in summer when they are suffering from high temperatures and lack of oxygen in the water. Reid Nelson, a fisheries ecologist with George Mason University, studied the issue in the Patuxent River and estimated that as many as 11% of striped bass released back into the water in summer died within about eight weeks, compared with a 6.8% death rate in spring, when temperatures are lower. Nelson told Maryland Matters that the risk of killing fish before they could spawn under those circumstances is relatively low.
The decision is pending review for an August DNR staff meeting. Then, in the fall, public comments will be invited before the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission decides on new coastal fishing regulations. The next meeting of the ASMFC will take place from August 5-7 at the Westin Crystal City in Arlington, VA. For details go to asmfc.org.
