June 23, 2020 — Fishermen should be prepared to see an armada of boats descend on our best striped bass fishing concentration points this week, possibly through much of July. Commercial striper fishermen will begin their intense harvesting season on June 24 — this Wednesday.
The first days of the frenetic, highly competitive season usually bring the very highest prices — and some of the lowest thoughtful behavior. With the lure of a thousand dollars for a day’s work, motivation can be powerful. If the initial supply is high, though, rewards can plummet fast. Too much early success by too many fishermen hurts their final bottom line.
Whole, gutted wild striped bass averaging 11 pounds right now are retailing at New York’s Fulton Fish Market for $213.18 per fish. That’s about $19.38 per pound and includes bones and head. Fillets are selling for about $29.99a pound What Massachusetts fishermen will get this year is anyone’s guess, but it likely won’t be stable or fair.
I remember lamenting back in 2014 that while the retail price of striped bass in the market was anywhere from $17 to $26 per pound, fishermen were getting only $4 to $5 a pound. Added to the challenge this year is the presence of seals stealing hooked fish off a line and great white sharks chomping off all but the heads.
Commercial fishing days starting this week will be limited to Mondays and Wednesdays until the state’s quota of 735,240 pounds is reached. That’s a huge toll on a species that has been in decline for at least the last five years. Commercial fishermen bring their fish to buyers the same day they catch them, so those wholesalers can immediately report our state’s catch. Seafood lovers should expect stripers at their favorite markets and restaurants this week.