The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has released the new regulations for the 2024 summer recreational striped bass fishing season. The regulations, effective from May 16, aim to continue conservation efforts to protect the striped bass fishery along the East Coast.
Mainstem and Tributary Regulations
The striped bass season in the mainstem of the Chesapeake Bay will begin on May 16, while the remainder of the Bay waters, including its tidal tributaries, will open from June 1 to July 15. There will be a closure for all areas of the Bay from July 16 to July 31, during which targeting striped bass will be prohibited. The season will then reopen from August 1 to December 10.
Anglers are permitted to keep one striped bass per person, per day, with a minimum length of 19 inches and a maximum length of 24 inches. These measures are designed to help manage the striped bass population effectively and ensure its sustainability.
Susquehanna Flats Restrictions
Since April 1, targeting striped bass has been off-limits in the Chesapeake Bay. Specifically, in the Susquehanna Flats, the prohibition on targeting striped bass will continue through the end of May. These restrictions are part of the broader effort to protect the striped bass during critical periods of their lifecycle.
Emergency Regulations
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, with approval from Maryland General Assembly's Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review, enacted emergency regulations to better protect large migratory striped bass. These measures were necessary after several years of below-average spawning success, highlighting the need for stringent management practices.
Coastal and Ocean Regulations
For Maryland's portion of the Atlantic Ocean and its coastal bays, which remain open to striped bass fishing year-round, the regulations will also take effect on May 16. Anglers may keep one striped bass per person, per day, with a minimum length of 28 inches and a maximum length of 31 inches. Additionally, the use of circle hooks is mandatory when fishing with live bait, a requirement aimed at reducing injury and mortality rates among the fish.
For more detailed information on these regulations and to access the complete guidelines on striped bass fishing in Maryland waters, anglers can visit the Department of Natural Resources website.
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