Fishermen cast for striped bass as the species faces decline, in photos
Ryan Cabral, of Dartmouth, Mass, right, and his guide Bill Wetzel fish in the surf for striped bass Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, in Montauk, N.Y.
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Striped bass are in decline on the East Coast and fishermen and scientists are in a race to save the iconic sport fish. Stripers have experienced eight consecutive years of poor reproduction in their most critical habitat of the Chesapeake Bay and fishermen report finding fewer fish. Factors including overfishing, warming waters and increased predators such as seals and sharks are making it increasingly difficult for the population to recover. Some fishermen say stricter rules or a fishing moratorium are needed. Losing these higher-level predators, which help regulate smaller fish, would threaten an $8 billion fishing industry and tens of thousands of jobs.
