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Numbers up, health down?
Numbers of stripers are definitely up, and the projections based on 2003 recruiting class are excellent. These numbers and those since 1992 show that if everything goes well, the number of fish in the 13+ year class (30 pounds +) should be quite high in 2006 and beyond.
However, the emergence of mycobacteriosis which is a bacteria that has a wasting effect, slowly kills older fish. 50% to 70% (by some estimates) of Chesapeake Bay stripers (which are the majority of all stripers) are infected. This does not bode well.
Biologists and Fish Management believe that part of the cause is the reduction in menhaden (pogies) in the Chesapeake Bay due to massive over-harvesting coupled with higher than normal water temps. Pogies' high oil content is essential to preventing the stress in stripers caused by the higher temps. We need to seriously consider supporting legislation to curtail such over-fishing of menhaden.
Also, this bacteria can infect human skin as well. If you catch a fish with skin lesions, it should be handled with gloves. I understand that the flesh, if cooked thoroughly, is still safe to eat.
---- Tight Lines!
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