Recently on the lower Potomac River I enjoyed one of the best rockfish bites I’ve had in years. They hit hard and often. Brilliant purple and black hues shone like gems off the flanks of fat rockfish, bellies bulging with bunker.
Fishing with Capt. Chad Koenig of Dog Day Charters and Brent Hunsinger of Friends of the Rappahannock conservation group was a hoot. It also reminded me of how special these prized game fish are, one worth fighting for.
The nearly non-stop action was a throwback to the stripers' halcyon days of the 2000s. Most of us who reveled in that special time two decades ago know those days are now largely in the rearview mirror on Chesapeake.
Over the past several weeks, states up and down the coast have been holding public meetings to glean opinions from anglers, conservation groups and fishing business owners on Addendum II, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s complex and nuanced document that lays out options intended to curb, and then hopefully reverse, the striper decline in 2024 and beyond.
Maryland Department of Natural Resource’s closure of the fishery in summer months and capping a max fish size makes sense. But last week’s announcement of “closing” the trophy spring season? Another head scratcher. That decision is long overdue.
Plus, they didn’t even bother telling us what percentage of rockfish that’ll save, as the state’s main striper biologist did so forcefully when he tried to justify closing April’s catch-and-release fishing yet leaving intact the spring season. If I recall that number was in the low single digits, and this kind of cherry-picking data to fit your policy mindset drives me bonkers.
If I’ve learned anything since the moratorium was lifted, we’re not going to regulate our way out of this mess. Rebuilding critical habitats and improving water quality in the Chesapeake are a huge part of the solution. As is getting a handle on to what extent predators like blue catfish are eating small rock. True, managing stripers is no easy task with so many divergent opinions. I get that, I truly do. But that is precisely the job of professional managers – be the referee who makes hard decisions. And if everyone is a little ticked off by your decision, then you know you’re on the right track.
What’s crystal clear is the urgent need to protect the 2015 year-class of stripers. That is squarely something controllable via regulation. Cutting the harvest is vital, so much so the commercial fishery needs to also shoulder the burden. Virginia’s worrisome pre-spawn gill net fishery that targets staging stripers at the mouths of the rivers such as the Potomac comes to mind. Shared pain now gives us a better chance for a more balanced and predictable fishery down the road.
So we’ve reached another milestone in storied history of rockfish management. Some could argue we squandered one of the Bay’s most valuable natural assets yet again. And this time, unlike the years following the moratorium, Mother Nature is not bailing us out.
Agree or not, like it or not, we’re confronted a significant paradigm shift. And as a result we must manage our expectations about the future of this iconoclastic fish and fishery.
Whether you fish casually or operate daily one or more deadrise charter boats, each of us must ask ourselves: What makes a good fishing trip?
Capt. Brian McCormick of Southern Girl Sportfishing sums it up pretty well.
“It’s great to have a front row seat to watch a youngster catch their first [rockfish] all on their own with little guidance. Their smiles say it all. And the best part is watching them release the fish boatside. Maryland [and the Chesapeake overall] has such potential as a catch-and-release fishery. Ninety-nine percent of my clients don’t even care about harvesting fish. It’s all about the experience for them — and me.”
Speak Up for Stripers!
Most sport anglers are also staunch advocates for abundant and healthy fisheries. Each of us must speak up for rockfish (stripers) before the Dec. 22 11:59 PM (EDT) deadline. Email to: comments@asmfc.org, and put “Striped Bass Draft Addendum II” in the subject line.
Groups such as the Coastal Conservation Association, American Sportfishing Association, Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership have resources to help you navigate the potential changes for 2024 and beyond. Spend some time reading these materials and submit a comment supporting rockfish conservation.