Maryland shuts August striped bass fishing in Chesapeake Bay

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has closed the striped bass fishery in the Chesapeake Bay for the month of August 2024. The seasonal ban, part of a management plan that began in 2020, is intended to protect younger resident striped bass from heat‑related stress, high water temperatures and low dissolved‑oxygen conditions that increase post‑release mortality.

Officials note that recreational dead discards – fish that die after being caught and released – account for about 21% of all striped bass deaths in the Bay. By halting the fishery during the hottest period, the state hopes to improve survival rates and support future spawning. Anglers are encouraged to target other species, including invasive blue catfish, while the spring catch‑and‑release season for striped bass has been reinstated.

The closure is expected to benefit local recreation, tourism and the ecological health of the Bay, which remains a defining element of the region’s cultural identity.