June 17, 2026
In 2024 I was invited to jump on a boat to catch striped bass — out of season! After learning it was to participate in a George Mason University Fisheries Ecology Lab study on the catch-and-release…
June 9, 2026
It has been said that striped bass fisheries management is a marathon, not a sprint. But if it is, there are hordes of spectators along the route throwing tomatoes and eggs at the participants.…
April 24, 2026
It will come as a shock to exactly no one reading these words right now that striped bass regulations have grown tight in recent years. And that’s generated plenty of angst among recreational anglers…
December 28, 2025
Where are the white perch? That’s a question we’ve heard over and over again for several years running. You don’t have to be an old-timer to remember when white perch were so plentiful that catching…
November 17, 2025
After years of striped bass regulations ratcheting tighter and tighter, the Maryland DNR is considering a “baseline season adjustment” for rockfish for 2026. The proposed changes boil down to this: …
May 5, 2025
With a bite pressure of four tons per square inch and dozens of dagger-sharp teeth, the mako shark jumps to mind when considering what species might be the most dangerous in the ocean. But that would…
December 30, 2024
Good news, people! It seems that the Maryland Department of the Environment and Norwegian salmon aquaculture company AquaCon have come up with a foolproof way to save the flagging Chesapeake Bay…
December 13, 2024
This was no ordinary fishing trip. Aboard the Morning Star I had two engineers and over $350,000 worth of Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) equipment from VideoRay, a Pottstown, PA, company that does…
December 11, 2024
Happy holidays FishTalkers, I hope everyone’s chock-full of holiday cheer and has all their cold weather gear ready for some hot winter fishing action. As we enjoy it, let’s remember that in some…
December 6, 2024
UPDATE: The ASMFC Striped Bass Board voted to make no changes in restrictions and regulations for 2025, taking a wait-and-see approach. That doesn't mean individual states can't make more restrictive…
September 17, 2024
If we’ve said it once we’ve said it 1000 times: we need more science. It’s downright shocking how little we know about the populations of the fish that we chase, even the striped bass — despite its…
June 6, 2024
Attention anglers: you may remember from a previous alert, Angler Alert Another Rockfish Reg Shakeup, that back in January after the DNR announced an Emergency Action to close trophy season we were…
May 25, 2024
Will AI soon be playing a role in a fishery near you? Love it or hate it, as crazy as it sounds the answer is a definite yes, especially if you own a modern fishboat with modern electronics or plan…
May 3, 2024
People, prepare your pitchforks and torches — I propose a new extra tax on anglers. Now, some of you may think that you already pay enough in taxes but clearly this is not the case because some very…
January 24, 2024
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has voted for option B2, setting Chesapeake Bay 2024 striped bass regulations across all jurisdictions in Maryland, Virginia, and the Potomac River. We…
January 22, 2024
You may remember that as we recreational anglers were recently giving comment on 2024 striped bass reg changes, the Maryland DNR announced an “Emergency Regulation” ending trophy season and…
January 18, 2024
As anglers we collectively catch a heck of a lot of fish, and whether we are freshwater fishing, we're fishing the Chesapeake Bay, or we've headed off the coast, some of us will catch fish that are…
December 18, 2023
With the latest stock assessment showing falling numbers of striped bass and five years running of poor young-of-year index results, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is changing the…