Cover illustration for “Chesapeake Bay Rockfish Catch-and-Release Best Practices”

Essay Fishing Regulations

Chesapeake Bay Rockfish Catch-and-Release Best Practices

How anglers handle released striped bass determines whether they live or die.

Delores Ybarra10 min read

Rockfish Seasons · Features · Fishing Regulations

A blog and newsletter on Chesapeake Bay rockfish and seasonal fishing calendar and What to expect on a charter day.

Cover illustration for “Virginia Striped Bass Regulations on the Chesapeake”

Essay Fishing Regulations

Virginia Striped Bass Regulations on the Chesapeake

Seven years of weak spawning threaten the entire Atlantic coast's striped bass population.

Priya Subramaniam · 11 min read

Cover illustration for “Chesapeake Bay Rockfish Population Trends and Stock Assessments”

Essay Rockfish Seasons

Chesapeake Bay Rockfish Population Trends and Stock Assessments

Chesapeake Bay's record recruitment collapse threatens the entire Atlantic striped bass stock.

Marcus Thibodeau · 9 min read

Cover illustration for “Chesapeake Bay Rockfish Season Dates by State”

Essay Rockfish Seasons

Chesapeake Bay Rockfish Season Dates by State

Maryland and Virginia manage the same fish stock under different season calendars.

Delores Ybarra · 9 min read

Post-release mortality isn't a fixed cost of catching a fish.
From Chesapeake Bay Rockfish Catch-and-Release Best Practices
Cover illustration for “Summer Rockfish Locations in Deep Bay Channels”

Essay Rockfish Seasons

Summer Rockfish Locations in Deep Bay Channels

Thermal squeeze from heat and hypoxia concentrates summer rockfish in narrow mid-depth bands.

Delores Ybarra · 10 min read

Cover illustration for “Winter Catch-and-Release Rockfish Season Rules”

Essay Rockfish Seasons

Winter Catch-and-Release Rockfish Season Rules

Maryland shifts its striped bass season to protect vulnerable young fish.

Marcus Thibodeau · 10 min read

Cover illustration for “Fall Striper Migration in the Chesapeake”

Essay Rockfish Seasons

Fall Striper Migration in the Chesapeake

Water temperature and menhaden movement dictate where migratory stripers will be and when.

Marcus Thibodeau · 10 min read

Cover illustration for “Chesapeake Bay Rockfish Spawning Run Timing”

Essay Rockfish Seasons

Chesapeake Bay Rockfish Spawning Run Timing

Warming waters and changing flow patterns are weakening the Bay's striped bass recruitment.

Delores Ybarra · 11 min read

From the archive

  1. 01Essay FeaturesMaryland Rockfish Size and Bag Limits for the Current YearDelores Ybarra · 10 min read
  2. 02Long read FeaturesLive Lining Spot for Big Chesapeake StripersMarcus Thibodeau · 12 min read