2018 YOY survey
 

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced results of its annual young-of-year striped bass survey in Chesapeake Bay, which documented healthy reproduction of the state fish. The 2018 young-of-year index is 14.8, higher than the 65-year average of 11.8.

Known locally as rockfish, striped bass spawn in Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries each spring. The juvenile striped bass survey is conducted annually to measure spawning success and help predict future abundance. The index represents the average number of young-of-year – those hatched in the current year – striped bass captured in each sample.

During this year’s survey, department biologists collected more than 36,000 fish of 55 species, including 1,951 young-of-year striped bass. Results show that white perch and American shad also experienced above-average spawning success this spring.

“Consecutive years of healthy reproduction is a great sign for the future of this iconic species,” Fishing and Boating Services Director David Blazer said. “The survey results are encouraging and complement our efforts to conserve and protect the striped bass fishery throughout the watershed for the benefit of anglers, commercial watermen and the species.”

The department has monitored the reproductive success of striped bass and other fish species in Maryland’s portion of Chesapeake Bay annually since 1954, making it one of the oldest fish community surveys in the nation. Twenty-two survey sites are located in the four major spawning systems: Choptank, Potomac and Nanticoke rivers and Upper Chesapeake Bay. Biologists visit each site three times during the summer, collecting fish with two sweeps of a 100-foot beach seine net. The fish are evaluated for age, size and other factors, and then returned to the water.

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science conducts a similar survey in the southern portion of Chesapeake Bay.https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/wp-con.../Capture-1.png

hopefully this translates to more fish in the future

The 2011 class spawned in 16 and 17 I’ve read...
Looks more like 17 ... 18

Hopefully yoy computes to healthy stocks

Lots of cookie cutter fish this year
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they,ll use this to get the EEZ opened up the whole East Coast …………………………… this is the only time I don,t mind I,m near the end ..its all about BIG MONEY ><>

Looks like next year could be telling based on the trend since 2012 and the overall history.

Ask yourself where all those 1996 and 2001 fish are now and you'll quickly realize what a pathetic drop in the bucket this 2018 year class is under the relentless greed that dictates management of Striped Bass.

As Clammer says, it will only be used as reason to kill more of what is out there now. The EEZ bit is only part of it. There will be a strong push to drop the commercial size limit to 32" so they can kill and profit from the 2011 fish sooner.

^^^^ This

I am soon to be 72 years old. I will not benefit from any yoy year class number in my time remaining. My avocation beach fishing is predicated on what exists in the water, living, right now. And what is in the water right now, will be a damned increment less next month, next year, and next decade with the mismanagement of the resource and the GREED of the commercial fishing industry and individual human nature mind set.

I'm 53 years old- at an age where I realize my best days of striper fishing are behind me. I'm torn between saying "f&ck it" and just letting things continue to get worse, or jumping into the fight to try and make things better for the future.
it seems there's always some group trying to kill more fish for personal gain.... its a relentless attack on a public resource and it pisses me off.

Just turned 71 and have chased the Striped ones for over 50 years. I gave it up and haven't wet a line this year. I just cannot fish for Bass anymore. I don't fault anyone for doing it but my mind says no. I have developed other interests (golf) that keep me satisfied.

Do I miss the thrill of a big fish on my line...yup. I use to get pumped just hunting for that one big fish all night in the surf. Bryan Oakley and I fish over 100 nights a year in the surf from Tiverton to Watch Hill, always in the dark. We never killed all we caught and most night put most fish back. We had 100 fish nights and more "skunks" than I care to remember but I feel that stocks are such that I can't morally condone hooking and injuring such a valuable resource. I would go back if Stripers gained Game Fish Status, which I have written about ad nauseum, but I don't think I'll see it in my lifetime.

I’m with you Paul, I fish for good eaters now, if stripers happened to be busting on my way fine I’ll catch a few. Otherwise I will be setting a ball on a tee and getting some fresh air and exercise in another way.
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