Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis)
Striped bass (Morone saxatilis), also known as rockfish to some are one of the east coasts most valuable species. They are both a commercial fish and are regarded by sports fisherman as a desirable species. Sometimes these two agendas are at odds. This occurred last year when President George Bush signed an executive order against the sale of wild striped bass caught in Federal waters, and urging States to do the same. Striped bass was once over fished but over the past ten years most states have implemented strict guidelines for the commercial sales of this fish as well as fair catch limits for the recreational fisherman. However this fragmented regulation from state top state has made enforcement difficult. Below is a list of some Northeast state regulations.
- Rhode Island
- trap: 26" min
- general category: 34" min
- New York
- 24" - 36"
- Delaware
- 28" min
- 20" special spring season 3/1-3/30
- Maryland
- Bays and Rivers: 18"-36"
- Ocean: 24"
- PRFC ( Potomac River Fisheries Commission )
- 18" min all year
- 36" max 1/1 to 3/25
- Virginia
- Bays and Rivers: 18" min all year
- 28" max 3/26-6/15
- Ocean: 28" min
- North Carolina
- Albemarle Sound: 18" min
- Ocean: 28" min
- Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, District of Columbia
- No Commercial Fishery
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