Earlier this month the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced changes to striped bass fishing regulations within the Delaware Estuary, Delaware River, and West Branch Delaware River.
According to the release, harvest and delayed mortality of caught and released striped bass have reduced the coastal population below levels needed to sustain high-quality recreational angling experiences. Due to the negative impact on the fishery, harvest and terminal tackle restrictions are needed to help rebuild the coastal stock.
In accordance with a fisheries management plan adopted by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Striped Bass Management Board intended to reduce fishing mortality by 18%, the PFBC has updated the state’s minimum size requirements and slot limits for harvesting stripers in the Delaware Estuary, Delaware River, and West Branch Delaware River, while enacting a mandatory circle hook requirement for anglers using bait while fishing for all species within the Delaware Estuary. These changes are effective beginning April 1
These regulation changes, tackle and registration requirements do not apply to inland populations of striped bass or hybrid striped bass.
Under the new minimum size limits, anglers are permitted to harvest one striped bass per day that measures at least 28 inches but less than 35 inches in the Delaware Estuary (from the Pennsylvania line upstream to Calhoun Street Bridge) during the periods January 1 through March 31 and June 1 through December 31. During the period from April 1 through May 31, anglers may harvest two striped bass daily that measure at least 21 inches but less than 24 inches. In the Delaware River (from the Calhoun Street Bridge upstream) anglers will be permitted to harvest one striped bass per day that measures at least 28 inches but less than 35 inches year-round.
To further meet the requirements of the ASMFC, the PFBC requires anglers who use bait to fish in the tidal Delaware Estuary, including tributaries from the mouths of the tributaries upstream to the limit of tidal influence, to use non-offset (in-line) circle hooks. The use of non-offset (in-line) circle hooks is required over offset circle hooks because of their proven ability to hook fish in the mouth, simplify hook removal, and reduce injury to the released fish. Therefore, to address targeted and non-targeted striped bass release mortality, the circle hook requirement applies to anglers targeting any fish species with bait in the tidal Delaware Estuary. This measure offers added protection to adult striped bass on the spawning grounds during spring and year-round protections to resident juvenile striped bass caught by anglers targeting other species in the tidal reach. For the non-tidal Delaware River, PFBC strongly recommends use of non-offset (in-line) circle hooks when anglers target any species with bait.
In addition to taking note of new regulations, anglers fishing in the Delaware Estuary must register with the Pennsylvania Saltwater Angler Registry Program. PA-SARP allows both NOAA and the PFBC to monitor angler use in the Estuary. Pennsylvania resident anglers may register online at www.pa-sarp.pa.gov.
