Atlantic Coast fishery managers met Tuesday to consider an amendment that could further reduce the rockfish catch in the Chesapeake Bay. The Atlantic Coast Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) meetings have been at the center of the contentious debate over the well-being of the fish population versus the well-being of the fishing industry. As the Bay enters its sixth year of below-average juvenile striped bass recruitment, the commission is considering even more reductions to the catch or expanded seasonal closures. Tuesday’s meeting focused on Amendment III, a measure looking at whether another reduction would help the species enough to justify tightening limits on anglers and commercial fishermen yet again.
ASMFC reported that without any additional reductions, there is a 49% probability of rebuilding the striped bass population. With an additional 7% reduction, the probability of rebuilding the population goes up to 60%. Of course there is a level of uncertainty in those numbers, making some wonder if the 7% reduction is worth the trouble.
Four different options were laid out for how to split the 7% reduction between the commercial and recreational sectors. More questions ASMFC was considering: which is more preferable, a short closure during peak season, or a longer closure during the slower part of the season? Is any closure less than 14 days long even worthwhile? During a closure, will charter guests target other species, or will they skip the trip altogether if they can’t target rockfish? The commission continues to look at these factors as Amendment III moves forward to ASMFC’s Aug. 2025 meeting.
Also on today’s agenda, Maryland proposed a new, simplified version of its striped bass seasonal openings and closures.
Currently, mid-December through March are designated as a catch & release season, with April and half of May closed to striped bass targeting entirely. From mid-May to mid-July, recreational anglers and charter guests can keep one fish per day between 19-24″. The last two weeks of July are closed to targeting striped bass, and from August to early December, anglers can keep one fish per day at 19-24″ again.
Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries’ Michael Luisi, director of the Tidal & Coastal Management and Science Branch, points out that this schedule is much more complicated than it was a decade ago. At that time, catch & release took place January through April, with a short early-May trophy season, and the rest of the year allowed two fish at a 18″ minimum. Here is DNR’s graphic representation of the contrast in complexity between 2025’s baseline and that of the mid-2010s:
While most would agree that the state’s current rockfish season is confusing for anglers and charter guests, some commissioners raised serious questions about the alternative DNR is proposing for Maryland’s baseline season.
Under Luisi’s proposal, December through April would return to a catch & release season, May through July would allow for one fish at 19-24″, the no-target season closure would last the full month of August, and September through November would return to one fish at 19-24″. Using full-month blocks would make the seasonal changes easier for the public to remember. It also keeps the catch reduction the same, or even saves a few hundred more fish, than our current season does.
To come up with this proposal, DNR met with a joint committee of Maryland stakeholders, ranging from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Coastal Conservation Association to the Maryland Charter Boat Association and a tackle company. Luisi acknowledged that after the proposal was drawn up, some stakeholders had second thoughts.
The part of the plan that hit roadblocks at ASMFC’s spring meeting was the closure of the rockfish season for the full month of August. A full closure in August would hit the charter businesses hard, some Maryland stakeholders say. And they question lengthening the spring catch & release season, pointing to vulnerable spawning females being present in spring. Maryland Watermen’s Association President Robert T. Brown said, opposing the plan, “You’re taking away two more weeks of the charter season while opening spawning time for catch and release.”
Tom Weaver, an Annapolis charter captain and fishing guide, supports the new season proposal. He said it is clear that the current baseline is not working. “Businesses are failing and charter boats are being sold.” He called the current seasonal schedule a “mishmash” of reductions Maryland added to comply with coastwide limits, and believes that the new baseline would clean things up.
Ultimately, ASMFC agreed to add the proposed Maryland Baseline Adjustment to Amendment III for public comment, as long as the commission’s own Technical Committee gave it a final review. Depending on the feedback from the public, the season adjustment could be approved at ASMFC’s Oct. 2025 meeting and implemented sometime in 2026.
