September 19, 2025 — Displaying frustration and skepticism with the management of striped bass, and now faced with potential seasonal closures, one by one recreational fishermen who went to the Stafford firehouse Tuesday, for the public hearing on Draft Addendum III, pleaded to keep the “status quo” rather than go forward with a strategy to reduce striped bass mortality by 12%.
It was a nearly unanimous room, but there were two people who voiced their opinon in support of the reduction.
About 100 party and charter boat captains, tackle shop owners and anglers shuffled into the firehouse and filled out the rows of metal fold-out chairs for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s presentation of the addendum’s options to meet what several recreational industry members in the room said is an “unobtainable” rebuilding goal.