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"Last year's survey found the fourth-highest number of juvenile striped bass ever, easing anxiety about the species' sustainability. Spawning survival had been sub-par in four of the previous five years, and many adult fish in the bay have been suffering from mycobacteriosis, a disease that some have linked to a shortage of food for striped bass, particularly menhaden."
The survey has now been subpar for 5 of the last 6 years. Statisticians look for trends. The trend isn't good, and when you combine the trend with the health issues and food shortages in the bay, it is very troubling. There are still bass around, but half a decades worth of poor yoy will show up as lack of size class fish in the future. The statement that typically after a year that is high, there is a low is pretty questionable based on the data. Usually there is a typical year a year after a high not a dreadful year, but weather was a major factor this year. It has been hashed out plenty of times, but I would say listen to the oldtimers. They know where this leads.
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