IMO the future of the fishery depends on allowing as many fish as possible from the 2011 year class to reach viable spawning age, and I question the evidence that suggests that 28" females are viable spawners.
Back in the 80s, the 36" limit was chosen because it's conclusive that females that size are viable spawners.
There was a time when I thought that because the striped bass recovery was the lone success story in a long history of failed fisheries management, the managers would do everything they could to prevent another collapse. I think I thunk wrong, too.
