Feature Photo: Captain Ben Whalley and his clients release a beautiful bass at water level. ABC 123? Let’s face it: fisheries management conversations need more acronyms. At the August 6th ASMFC Summer Meeting, the Striped Bass Plan Review Team (PRT) presented the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) review and state compliance
One number has quietly shaped striped bass management for nearly 30 years: 9% release mortality. As of summer 2026, the Striped Bass stock assessment benchmark process is in full swing and the implications of release mortality estimates have never been greater. The following blog examines the science behind catch-and-release mortality,
Photo: J. Gao If you caught the conversations in Episode 212 of “The Guide Post Podcast” and our previous blog “Striper Fishing is Incredible!” Says Menhaden Advocates, this follow-up post breaks down the perversive and baseless “stripers are dependent on menhaden” talking point. In serious fishery management conversations, there’s no room for fantasy
ASMFC Summer Meeting – August 4–6, 2026 The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission meets in Arlington August 4-6 for its Summer Meeting. Several boards will convene, but a handful of agenda items will shape management decisions for years. Here is a detailed breakdown of what matters most for fisheries conservation
Header Photo Credit: Sean Cobelli Media Spend enough time on social media during the 2026 striped bass migration and you’ll inevitably consume a dominant narrative: the striped bass fishing is better than it’s ever been! Massive trophy fish are being landed from New Jersey to Maine. Anglers are touting their
The Connecticut Senate Has a Powerful Opportunity to Protect Striped Bass Before Session Ends. The striped bass fight never stops. Right now, the Connecticut Senate has a bipartisan piece of legislation ready to go. Raised Bill 5333 is sitting on the Senate calendar. The bill has already passed the House and
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission holds its Spring Meeting this week. The quarterly gathering runs from Monday, May 4th through Wednesday, May 6th in Arlington, Virginia. ASMFC is the interstate board that sets the rules for menhaden, striped bass, red drum, and a dozen other species we advocate for
This week, an Axios Raleigh article made the rounds claiming there may have been a strong wild spawn of striped bass in North Carolina’s Roanoke River — a “dramatic turnaround” after years of poor recruitment. We understand why people want that to be true (trust us, we do as well). Unfortunately, wanting
Feature Photo Credit: Robbie Tartaglia What’s going on? For decades, striped bass management relied on a 9% release-mortality estimate from a 1990s study that even its author warned wasn’t suitable for management. New research from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries has finally set the record straight—release mortality is roughly half
What’s going on? The “most important fish in the sea” just exposed one of the biggest management failures in decades. A new assessment shows Atlantic menhaden natural mortality was inaccurately estimated for years, causing quotas set 300 million pounds too high. A significant, immediate reduction is necessary to align with
GIVE THE GIFT OF FISHERIES CONSERVATION THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. SHOP ASGA GOODS THAT FUND FISHERIES RESEARCH & ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS
JOIN ASGA IN CALLING FOR CRITICAL MANAGEMENT ACTION AFTER YEARS OF SPAWN FAILURES & POOR MANAGEMENT.
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