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Copyright
1998-99
TheChesapeake
Bay.com
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MD DNR Sends '99 Proposed Striped Bass Regs to MD General Assembly

Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary John R. Griffin has asked the General Assembly's Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review Committee to approve changes in Maryland's 1999 striped bass seasons.

"The changes in theses regulations will improve opportunities for both recreational anglers and commercial watermen to catch the quota allocated to them while continuing the conservative management of the striped bass fishery," Secretary Griffin said. "The debate among the user groups on how best to manage this fishery now that it is fully restored underscores the commitment we all share to protect and preserve the gains we have made."

The proposal revises the boundary of the Upper Bay spawning reach and establishes a hook and release fishing area upstream of a line from Sandy Point to Turkey Point (Susquehanna Flats) from April 10 through May 2, 1999.

"A 1998 study of the impact of a catch and release fishery in this area demonstrated that no adverse impacts on the spawning stock should be expected," Secretary Griffin said. "The department will intensively monitor this area on a daily basis, and if any unexpected impacts are detected, I will take the appropriate steps to protect the striped bass population, including closures."

The proposal also establishes the following recreational and charterboat seasons, and size and creel limits for Maryland's portion of the Chesapeake Bay, which have been approved by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:

  • April 23 through May 31, one fish per-person per-day with a 28-inch minimum. Fishing will be restricted to waters of the Chesapeake Bay between a line that extends from the Patapsco River to Swan Point, and the Maryland/Virginia state line, including Tangier and Pocomoke sounds;

  • June 1-13, one fish per-person per-day 18-28 inches, and one fish per-person per-day 28 inches or larger, with no area restrictions; and

  • June 14 through Nov. 30, two fish per-person per-day, 18 inches or larger, with no area restrictions.

The proposal also establishes the 1999 seasons for the commercial pound net, haul seine, hook and line and gill net seasons.

The department is changing the allocation for the commercial seasons to run on a calendar year basis. In prior years, the quota year ended in March which, due to winter conditions in January and February, often resulted in the commercial harvest not reaching its quota. This year, for example, more than 500,000 pounds of the commercial allocation remain uncaught. In future years, the department will be able to reallocate any uncaught January or February quotas from the gill net season to the summer and fall commercial hook and line season. During this transition from quota year to calendar year, and for this year only, the department is extending the winter gill net season for 10 days in March, 1999.

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