October 8, 2026
Atlantic Menhaden: The Most Important Fish In The Bay
David Sikorski — Coastal Conservation Association Maryland & Virginia
David will provide the recreational fishing, conservation, and fisheries management perspective. His role will include explaining how menhaden are managed, the evolution toward ecosystem-based management, the current Addendum II process, and why prevailing conditions within Chesapeake Bay should be considered alongside coastwide stock information.
Captain Tyler Nonn — Tidewater Charters, Cape Charles, Virginia
Tyler will provide the on-the-water perspective from Virginia's Eastern Shore and lower Chesapeake Bay. He will connect the management and science discussion with what anglers are observing, including menhaden availability, predator activity, fishing conditions, and changes he has witnessed over time.
Roberta Kellam — Virginia Advocate
Roberta will provide a Virginia citizen and wildlife perspective. As a bird watcher and participant in the menhaden conversation, she will discuss osprey and other bird populations that depend on forage resources and why menhaden management extends beyond a single fishery. Her perspective will help demonstrate the importance of maintaining an ecosystem-based approach to menhaden management and considering the needs of predators—including birds—when making harvest decisions.
Stream live on Facebook or YouTube
September 17, 2026
Striped Bass and More: The Status of Popular Chesapeake Fisheries
Dr. Caroline Ianniello — Striped Bass Initiative (SBI)
Caroline will bring the striped bass science and research perspective, including SBI’s telemetry work, behavior of large female striped bass, reproductive biology, changing environmental conditions, and uncertainty within our understanding of the population.
Mike Waine — American Sportfishing Association (ASA)
Mike will bring the sportfishing industry, fisheries science, data, and management-policy perspective. His role can help connect individual fisheries trends with larger questions surrounding recreational fisheries data, assessments, regulatory decisions, and changes occurring within recreational fishing.
Carrie Kennedy — Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD DNR)
Carrie will provide a Maryland fisheries science and management perspective, sharing what managers and scientists are observing, thinking about and planning for across important Chesapeake fisheries
A Chesapeake Perspective series, moderated by FishTalk Angler-in-Chief, Lenny Rudow, brings together scientists, fisheries managers, industry representatives, anglers, and conservation partners to explain the issues shaping recreational fishing in the Chesapeake Bay and Mid-Atlantic.
In 2022, we presented The Past, Present, & Future of Striped Bass: A Chesapeake Perspective series which featured three live-streamed roundtable events with fishery experts. In 2023, we invited experts to discuss Habitat, Angler Access, and Invasive Species. In 2026, we continue the conversation with new thought-provoking topics designed to spark innovative and real solutions to some of the most pressing issues confronting Chesapeake recreational anglers today, tomorrow, and in the years to come. Viewers will be able to engage with our special guests by asking questions during the presentation. RSVP “going” to the Facebook event or click “notify me” on YouTube to be alerted when the stream goes live.To be notified via email sign up here.