Production and Harvest of Anadromous Striped Bass Stocks along the Atlantic Coast

Abstract

Production indices for juvenile striped bass Morone saxatilis in the Chesapeake Bay and Roanoke River-Albemarle Sound regions have declined in recent years. A concurrent decline in harvest of striped bass along the Atlantic coast also has been observed. Lack of the occurrence of a dominant year class in the Chesapeake Bay since 1970 has affected the coastal harvest and the abundance of the spawning populations. Occurrence of another dominant year class will depend on two factors: Relatively good survival between the egg and juvenile life stages; and a sufficient amount of egg deposition to take advantage of the good survival conditions.