(06/08 NCDMF)

Stock Status – Viable – The stock is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring.  Age structure of the stock continues to expand, with an increased number of age 13+ fish in the population since the adoption of Amendment 6 of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) in 2003.  Spawning Stock Biomass (SSB) is leveling off at ~55 million pounds, above the target of 38.6 million pounds.  Age-1 recruitment continues to be around the average observed since stocks were declared recovered in 1995.
           
Average Commercial Landings and Value 1998-2007 – 351,396 lbs./$521,816
           
2007 Commercial Landings and Value – 379,444 lbs./$812,762 (quota managed)
           
Average Recreational Landings 1998-2007 – 1,417,171 lbs., 2007 – 1,029,107 lbs.

Average Number of Citations 1998- 2007 (35 lbs.) – 342 (178 releases), 2007 - 228 (18 releases)

Status of Fisheries Management Plans (FMP) - Atlantic striped bass are currently included in the state’s Interjurisdictional FMP, which defers to ASMFC Atlantic Migratory Striped Bass FMP compliance requirements.  Addendum I to Amendment 6 addresses bycatch concerns in all sectors of the striped bass fishery and was approved by the ASMFC Striped Bass Management Board in Nov 2007.  For more information about the status of the Atlantic Coastal Migratory stocks visit the ASMFC website at www.asmfc.org.

Research and Data Needs – increase accuracy of discard mortality estimates in all sectors of the fishery

Current Regulations –Atlantic Ocean – 28 inches minimum Total Length (TL), 2 fish daily creel limit.

Size and Age at Maturity – males: 12 – 22 inches TL/2 – 4 years; females: 22 – 28 inches TL/5 – 8 years

Historical and Current Maximum Age – 29 years/ 23 years

Juvenile Abundance Index – 1998 – 2007 – MD – 6.25, VA – 11.71, Hudson River – 15.21, 2007 – MD – 5.12, VA – 11.96, Hudson River – 35.02

Habits and Habitats - Striped bass are anadromous, spending the majority of their adult life stage in the high salinity waters of the near-shore ocean and estuaries, migrating to fresh water to spawn in the spring.  Striped bass require flowing, fresh water habitats in order to spawn successfully, allowing the eggs to remain suspended until they hatch, and to transport larvae to the nursery areas.  Spawning takes place during late April until early June.  North Carolina is host to several different stocks of striped bass.  One is the Atlantic migratory stock that often over-winters off the Outer Banks.  These striped bass originate principally from the Chesapeake Bay, Delaware and Hudson River systems.  They remain in their natal systems from two to three years then begin migrating along the Atlantic coast, northward in the summer and southward during the winter.  The Albemarle Sound-Roanoke River area supports the largest spawning population in North Carolina.  Other populations are found in the Neuse, Tar/Pamlico, and Cape Fear rivers.