Maryland Department of Natural Resources officials submitted a proposed “baseline reset” for recreational striped bass fishing seasons to the state’s Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review in early January 2026, advancing a regulatory change that could take effect later in the year. The proposal aims to simplify the complex patchwork of current seasons while shifting conservation focus to periods when striped bass face higher stress from high water temperatures and low oxygen in the Chesapeake Bay.
Striped bass, known locally as rockfish, remain a cornerstone of Maryland’s fishing economy and ecosystem, drawing anglers to the Chesapeake Bay where up to 90 percent of the Atlantic coast population spawns. The species has faced challenges for seven consecutive years, with Maryland’s annual young-of-year survey recording below-average juvenile survival. The 2025 index stood at 4.0 fish per sample, an improvement from 2.0 in 2024 but well below the long-term average of 11.0. This marks ongoing low recruitment of young fish despite a rebound in spawning-age adults from prior conservative management measures. Environmental factors including habitat loss, pollution, invasive predators such as blue catfish, and climate-driven stressors contribute to poor juvenile survival, unlike the 1980s decline primarily caused by overfishing.
The baseline reset proposal, developed with input from a stakeholder workgroup and supported by the majority of public comments during 2025 scoping that drew about 1,100 responses, maintains equivalent overall fishing mortality to current rules according to coastwide models. It adjusts timing to better protect fish during high-risk summer conditions. Key changes include reopening limited catch-and-release fishing in April, continuing harvest opportunities from May through July with a one-fish daily limit of 19 to 24 inches, implementing a full no-targeting closure for August when release mortality can reach 30 to 40 percent due to heat stress, and allowing catch-and-release from September through December with harvest permitted in September through early December. The proposal preserves area closures in spawning rivers and maintains the ban on targeting trophy-sized fish.
Dr. Allison Colden, Maryland Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and a fisheries expert, explained that while coastwide models estimate 9 percent release mortality across seasons, Maryland-specific studies show significantly higher rates in summer due to elevated temperatures and low oxygen. “Studies indicate that 30 to 40 percent of striped bass can die when caught and released in Maryland in the summer,” Colden said. A full August closure targets this vulnerability, offering conservation benefits not fully captured in broader models. The reset also simplifies the schedule, reducing confusion from the current mix of harvest days, catch-and-release periods, and closures, which improves angler compliance essential for accurate population assessments.
Concerns about spring reopenings during spawning were addressed by noting low release mortality in cooler conditions, less than 1 percent, and the focus on smaller fish rather than large spawners. “Striped bass are much less likely to die from stress during this time, when air and water temperatures are significantly cooler,” Colden said. The proposal avoids a full moratorium, as current issues stem more from environmental challenges to juveniles than overfishing of adults.
Anglers can support recovery by following regulations, avoiding fishing when air temperatures exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit, using careful catch-and-release techniques such as circle hooks, and targeting invasive species like blue catfish. Maryland DNR anticipates publishing the proposal in the Maryland Register for a 30-day public comment period after AELR review, with potential final implementation in spring 2026. The current 2025 seasons remain in place pending approval, including one-fish limits in specified slots.
These adjustments align with Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission efforts to rebuild the stock by 2029, though coastwide actions in late 2025 maintained status quo without additional reductions. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and others emphasize addressing broader ecosystem factors alongside fishing rules for long-term sustainability.