Striped bass harvest cut by a quarter for 2015

With soft fog covering the Indian River inlet, fishermen landed bluefish after bluefish Thursday.

Nine apiece. They could get up to 10, if they felt inclined and were lucky enough. There aren't many restrictions on bluefish because populations are doing well.

Finding that balance between harvesting fish and keeping the population at a healthy rate is tasked to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Bluefish are the second most harvested species behind striped bass, according to ASMFC.

And while striped bass aren't yet overfished, this year ASMFC has asked for a 25 percent reduction in harvest from Maine to North Carolina to keep the spawning stock from becoming too low — it has been steadily declining since 2004. The decline has been caused by a lack of strong year classes, according to ASMFC, which means there have been fewer fish born in recent years, with the exception of 2011.

Michael Luisi, assistant director of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Estuarine and Marine Fisheries Division, said action was being taken now to turn that trend around.

"What the science is telling us is that over the past 10 years there has been a steady decline in (the female population)," he said.

To make the necessary 25 percent reduction, Maryland is changing regulations for striped bass both inland and along the coast. Last year in the coastal area, including the Atlantic coast, coastal bays and tributaries, anglers could catch two striped bass per day per person. This year they can catch one per day per person. The minimum size, 28 inches, remains the same.

Delaware has taken a different approach to reducing the harvest by 25 percent. Anglers can still catch two fish per day, but instead of the previous minimum of 28 inches, anglers can now keep any fish from 28 to 37 inches, and from 44 inches and up.

For example, a person can have two 29-inch fish, a 29-inch fish and a 46-inch fish, or two 46-inch fish — but any fish from 38-43 inches must be released. Anglers said they understand that the change is necessary, but they think the new rules are confusing.

"It's complicated," Vince Grenkevich of Long Neck said. "I can't even remember what it is."

He also said he was worried about the likelihood of anglers successfully returning 38-43 inch fish to the water alive, saying the fish could be treated too roughly outside the water when hooks are removed, or even hit a rock when they're thrown back in.

Stew Michels of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control said slot limits similar to what is being done for striped bass aren't uncommon, and that most fishermen are familiar with the concept.

"The break in the slot may be confusing to some anglers," he said. "We've done our best to try to explain it."

DNREC chose the slot limitation to reduce the harvest out of six different options, based on public opinion, he said. The split slot size limit was the most popular option he said, which also correlated with DNREC's professional judgment.

The new striped bass regulations go into effect in Delaware May 11.

rpacella@dmg.gannett.com

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