What are the regulations for striped bass in Massachusetts 2025?

In 2025, the regulations governing the recreational striped bass fishery will remain unchanged. Recreational anglers will continue to be permitted to catch one fish per day within the established slot limit of 28 inches to less than 31 inches, thereby preserving the three-inch slot that was initially introduced in 2023.

In 2023, the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) revised its regulations primarily due to the need to address increased fishing pressure on the stock, as outlined in the Interstate Fishery Management Plan. The adjustment involved narrowing the slot limit from a range of 28 inches to less than 35 inches, a decision prompted by a significant rise in recreational harvest, which nearly doubled in 2022. This surge in fishing activity raised concerns that without implementing stricter measures, achieving the stock rebuilding objectives would be highly improbable. Were these new regulations effective? In the short term, the answer is affirmative. The stock assessment for 2024 revealed that, despite experiencing overfishing in 2022, the revised slot limit successfully curtailed recreational fishery removals in 2023, thereby aiding in the reduction of fishing mortality to levels closer to the target rate. Additionally, estimates for recreational harvest from January to October 2024 indicate a downward trend compared to 2023 figures. However, projections suggest that fishing mortality may rise again in 2025 as the above-average 2018 year-class matures and falls within the revised slot limit, potentially jeopardizing the stock’s rebuilding progress.

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