Not only that, but their recreational fishermen are taking fish over 18 inches!
Here's the text of the story:
Striped bass allocation was the hot topic of a recent ASMFC Striped Bass Management Board meeting held in January. The Maryland/Virginia/Potomac River quota for the 1999-2000 season will remain the same {10.5 million total (commercial and recreational) pounds}; of which Maryland receives roughly 50%, however, ASMFC has approved an extension of our recreational season. The spring season will begin April 23rd and continue through May 31st, allowing one fish, 28 inches or larger. From June 1st - June 13th, fishermen will be allowed one fish between 18-28 inches and one fish greater than 28 inches. The summer-fall season (June 14th - November 30th ) will allow 2 fish with both measuring 18 inches or larger. The first evidence of the record 1996 year class of striped bass should begin to show up this summer. Even though we will probably see a wide variation in growth rates of these fish, some of the 18-19 inch fish caught in the Bay this year may be part of this tremendous year class.
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Pisses me off, that we're conserving, practicing catch and release, and even releasing 28"+ keepers, when any idiot with a bait rod in Maryland can keep two fish every day for most of the summer!
We may have to re-evaluate our position on recreational catch in light of this or risk losing part of our allocation to the, " Brain Belt."
Jay