Striped Bass Closures in Nov and Dec

[jasm1n8]

This is what I emailed them:


I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed closure of striped bass in November and December for 2025. Based on my personal observations over the past few years, particularly in 2024, striped bass populations have been robust and increasing. I believe that closing the striped bass fishery in November and December, when populations are at their peak, is an excessive measure. While I understand the need for sustainable fishing practices, I urge the committee to consider alternative, less restrictive regulations, such as different month or alternate days during each month.

[SNAPS]

Yes we need to stress that closure is not an option, and will kill businesses but at the same time, we need to make them see, that maybe the science is flawed, and if they think the numbers are down, that it may be due to natures way. As some one else said here,they aint getting it done, for various reasons. Water temps current etc. How the eff do they know the biomass is down?? Did they take a head count??? What about natural predators???

[WhaleFart]

this fishery needs to be closed for harvest for at least 5 years. The fish you are seeing the last 3 or 4 seasons are the same fish. The breeding rates for bass is totally crashing. The fact is there are NO fish behind this class of fish that even hold a candle to the current biomass which still even isn’t that great considering .

It’s time to start treating bass like tarpon IMO.

[JSBlue26]

If the “Striper population is down” then why not CLOSE the Commercial fishery for stripers instead of closing the recreational fishery ??
The recreational fishery takes a fraction of what the commercial fishery gets annually. Closing the fishery for recreational anglers in Nov./ Dec. 2025 only benefits the commercial entities and will only ensure that charter and party boats up/down the coast would be devastating for them !!! Does this get taken into account when monitoring the biomass ?? Full closure would be the final straw and unfortunately guarantee putting numerous vessels out of business and both owners/employees losing their livelihood……… does that mean anything to these guru’s monitoring the fish stock “whale fart” …….??? Just mind boggling when the Fall 2024 run has been a great run that’s still going past mid-December !!!!
You can’t fix STUPID …….

[hartattack]

DEC NY RELEASES 2024 STRIPED BASS YOUNG-OF-YEAR SURVEY RESULTS​
Second Consecutive Year of Poor Juvenile Production in the Hudson River​
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the 2024 Hudson River striped bass young-of-year survey results for 2024 depict a second consecutive year of poor juvenile production in the Hudson River. The index value, which provides an estimate of annual juvenile production for striped bass in the Hudson River, is generated through a beach seine survey at 13 sites in the lower Hudson River conducted bi-weekly from July to November. This is the 45th year of the survey, which provides important long-term monitoring information about striped bass and other fish species in the Hudson River.
“DEC’s annual juvenile striped bass survey conducted in the Hudson River is a critical method for measuring the reproductive success and potential future abundance of the striped bass population along the Atlantic Coast,” said DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar. “Given the challenges striped bass are experiencing in other spawning areas and the poor results of the 2023 survey, this year’s below average index value in the Hudson River heightens the concerns of the future availability of this critical resource as we approach the next decade.”
The 2024 value for the DEC’s Hudson River striped bass young-of-year index was 7.85 fish per haul. This value is below the long-term average, and for the second consecutive year, survey values were below the 25th percentile. The survey can be viewed at: Striped Bass
Juvenile production is an important part of rebuilding the coastal striped bass stock and is heavily dependent on environmental conditions in estuaries along the Atlantic Coast. The recent low values in the Hudson River add to concerns about striped bass production in other Atlantic coastal estuaries. The Maryland young-of-year index in the Chesapeake Bay also posted poor results in 2024, extending a string of poor annual reproduction events in the Chesapeake Bay to a sixth consecutive year.
New York State works cooperatively with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) to manage striped bass. In response to projections from the 2024 Stock Assessment Update, the ASMFC Board will meet on Dec.16, to consider adjusting 2025 management measures to reduce fishing mortality and increase the probability of rebuilding the coastal stock of striped bass (meeting details).

[Broad Bill]

Larry that's going to be another nail in the fishery's coffin and another reason there will be a seasonal closure. When fisheries management promotes harvest of the large breeders in the stock for all these years and allows fishing during the spawn in the Hudson and Chesapeake, why should these results be a revelation. Their policy decisions caused it. Close fishing down during the spawn and give the stock a break as they get absolutely pounded year round. And for Christ sake, kick Cooke Inc. out of the Chesapeake and slash their quotas of menhaden in the ocean until the consequential impacts of their netting on other stocks and the environment are quantified and corrected. Stop being politicians and start solving problems. Stop using public resources as your personal piggy bank and start doing your job. If they didn't see both these problems coming with stripers and fluke a mile away, they're either completely incompetent or corrupt and most likely a combination of both. How many people ever worked for a company where one day your walked in and management said, "We have to cut staff by 50% because we thought we were making money but we're actually losing our shirts". These problems took years in the making and are of a scale large enough where the obvious question is why were less severe preventative measure not put on place sooner to avoid decisions which will bring with them catastrophic economic impacts and a potential moratorium on stock access for some period of time. Can you imagine NO FALL SURF FISHING next year for the two best months of the year and the impact that will have on tackle shops, small ocean community businesses and recreational anglers rights to enjoy a activity enjoyed for over a century. These regulatory agencies are destroying fisheries and people's lives and livelihoods with no recourse whatsoever. It's absolutely pathetic how this process works and the results being delivered.


When management has to revert to drastic measures it means they have no idea how to manage the stock. If they did, we wouldn't be at DEFCON 1 and we wouldn't be talking about such extreme measures as seasonal closures and in the case of fluke a 42% quota cut. That's their report card and they're failing miserably since they're management ideologies are completely flawed. Extreme levels of incompetency in both federal and state agencies with no accountability whatsoever to the general public.

[dales529]

Originally Posted by hartattack

DEC NY RELEASES 2024 STRIPED BASS YOUNG-OF-YEAR SURVEY RESULTS​
Second Consecutive Year of Poor Juvenile Production in the Hudson River​
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the 2024 Hudson River striped bass young-of-year survey results for 2024 depict a second consecutive year of poor juvenile production in the Hudson River. The index value, which provides an estimate of annual juvenile production for striped bass in the Hudson River, is generated through a beach seine survey at 13 sites in the lower Hudson River conducted bi-weekly from July to November. This is the 45th year of the survey, which provides important long-term monitoring information about striped bass and other fish species in the Hudson River.
“DEC’s annual juvenile striped bass survey conducted in the Hudson River is a critical method for measuring the reproductive success and potential future abundance of the striped bass population along the Atlantic Coast,” said DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar. “Given the challenges striped bass are experiencing in other spawning areas and the poor results of the 2023 survey, this year’s below average index value in the Hudson River heightens the concerns of the future availability of this critical resource as we approach the next decade.”
The 2024 value for the DEC’s Hudson River striped bass young-of-year index was 7.85 fish per haul. This value is below the long-term average, and for the second consecutive year, survey values were below the 25th percentile. The survey can be viewed at: Striped Bass
Juvenile production is an important part of rebuilding the coastal striped bass stock and is heavily dependent on environmental conditions in estuaries along the Atlantic Coast. The recent low values in the Hudson River add to concerns about striped bass production in other Atlantic coastal estuaries. The Maryland young-of-year index in the Chesapeake Bay also posted poor results in 2024, extending a string of poor annual reproduction events in the Chesapeake Bay to a sixth consecutive year.
New York State works cooperatively with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) to manage striped bass. In response to projections from the 2024 Stock Assessment Update, the ASMFC Board will meet on Dec.16, to consider adjusting 2025 management measures to reduce fishing mortality and increase the probability of rebuilding the coastal stock of striped bass (meeting details).

Interesting on the timing to coincide with ASMFC decision to now include Hudson Stock!

[Broad Bill]

Originally Posted by dales529

Interesting on the timing to coincide with ASMFC decision to now include Hudson Stock!

As I said, the decision has already been made. The upcoming meeting and public comments are the CYA check the box bs that accompanies every regulatory decision and this one is no different. This decision is going to be the final straw for a lot of small businesses. Hope I'm wrong but I don't think I am.

And you won't find one person involved with these agencies that says "We royally %$#&@! this up!"