The Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) will not implement the Striped Bass Bonus Fish Program as suggested under 2019 management actions for Striped Bass.
“Given the present circumstances, it would not be prudent to initiate a program that harvests the spawning stock,” said Commissioner Steven G. Bowman. “We’d be better served protecting the large females until we reduce fishing pressure and ensure a healthy population for current and future generations of anglers.”
The VMRC had planned to develop a program where anglers could purchase one tag per year to harvest a single trophy sized fish larger than the legal limit—less than 36 inches. These measures were planned to come before the Commission for review in June 2020.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has initiated a new….
