Ken Moran, Outdoor writer NY Post Based on numbers from the federal government, striped bass catches are declining at an alarming rate. According to data from the National Marine Fishing Service's recreational angler survey, recreational striped bass catches along the Atlantic coast declined by 66 percent from 2006 to 2009, a trend that is likely to continue, according to the results of the latest Stripers Forever annual angler survey.
"The results in 2010 were by far the most disappointing that we've seen for both anglers and guides," said Brad Burns, President of Stripers Forever. "In our 2010 survey, 76 percent of all anglers reported catching fewer or many fewer stripers per hour of fishing. This is up from 66 percent in 2008 and 72 percent in 2009. "The Atlantic States Marine Fishery Commission continues to report that officially, things are fine with striped bass, but there are a lot of people out there who would not agree with them," said Burns. This year's survey was completed by 1,068 anglers, including 109 fishing guides representing every coastal state from Maine to South Carolina except New Hampshire. The vast majority of these fishermen have more than 10 years of experience fishing for striped bass.
Stripers Forever is a non-profit, internet-based organization advocating for the conservation of wild striped bass by designating them as game fish and managing the resource for the estimated 3 million recreational striper fishermen and the vast industry that they support on the Atlantic coast.
Stripers Forever is a non-profit, internet-based organization advocating for the conservation of wild striped bass by designating them as game fish and managing the resource for the estimated 3 million recreational striper fishermen and the vast industry that they support on the Atlantic coast.