EP113: Striper Spawn Nightmare | Rapid Reaction

Unprecedented news has been delivered from the primary spawning grounds of our beloved striped bass. 2023 is officially the fifth straight year of failed spawns for striped bass, as the newly released Chesapeake Bay Young of Year Survey reports the second-lowest YOY Index in the recorded history of stripers. The 2012 YOY Index still stands as the lowest on record, with an index of 0.9. Unfortunately, 2023 almost claimed that abysmal title with an index of 1.0. The vast proportion of juvenile striped bass are spawned in the Maryland portion of Chesapeake Bay. The Hudson River can not save the coastwide stock. It is said that the amount of spawning age stripers in the stock has no impact on the spawn (no stock-recruitment relationship). That is true unless the stock falls below a certain level. We fear we have crossed that threshold. The time to save striped bass is now.