2000 Striped Bass Young-of-Year Index Shows Above-Average Reproduction

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary Sarah Taylor-Rogers announced today that the 2000 striped bass (rockfish) juvenile index is 13.8, an indication of healthy reproductive success and significantly higher than the 47-year average of 10.9.

"The continued recovery of this fishery, which was on the brink of collapse only 15 years ago, is a demonstration of the success of scientific management of a fishery through the use of biological targets and thresholds," Secretary Taylor-Rogers said.

During this year's survey, DNR biologists collected 1,817 young-of-year (YOY) striped bass. The Upper Bay index was 13.3, more than four times the index of last year. The Nanticoke River produced an unusually high index of 17.6, more than double its long-term average. The Choptank River, with an index of 21.2, continues to be an excellent spawning area for striped bass. The Potomac River index of 7.8, however, was the lowest in six years.

This is the second year in a row that biologists have documented increased abundance of YOY striped bass in the Nanticoke River. These findings are consistent with evidence from other surveys that found very successful striped bass spawning in several lower eastern shore rivers not usually considered important spawning areas.

DNR biologists have monitored the reproductive success of striped bass in Maryland's portion of the Chesapeake Bay annually since 1954. Twenty-two survey sites are located in the four major spawning systems: the Choptank, Potomac, and Nanticoke rivers, and the Upper Bay. Biologists visit each site monthly from July through September, collecting two fish samples with a 100 foot beach seine. The index is calculated as the average catch of YOY striped bass per sample.

Posted: 10-16-2000