Fishermen look to save striped bass amid decline

Associated Press · Patrick Whittle, Robert F. Bukaty · 2026-10-30 11:24 UTC

Striped bass are in decline on the East Coast and fishermen and scientists are in a race to save the iconic sport fish. Stripers have experienced eight consecutive years of poor reproduction in their most critical habitat of the Chesapeake Bay and fishermen report finding fewer fish. Factors including overfishing, warming waters and increased predators such as seals and sharks are making it increasingly difficult for the population to recover. Some fishermen say stricter rules or a fishing moratorium are needed. Losing these higher-level predators, which help regulate smaller fish, would threaten an $8 billion fishing industry and tens of thousands of jobs.

For many, striped bass fishing is a way of life. But the iconic species could face collapse

Striped bass are in decline on the East Coast, and fishermen and scientists are in a race to save the iconic sport fish.

MONTAUK, N.Y. (AP) — Striped bass fishing has been Bill Jakob’s passion for more than 60 years, and he remembers an era when he’d spend all night casting his line into the crashing waves off Montauk and get eight or nine fish ranging up to 40 pounds (18 kilograms), a big catch by anyone’s standards.

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