For many, striped bass fishing is a way of life. But the iconic species could face collapse

Striped bass are declining along much of the U.S. East Coast, and scientists say the population has endured eight straight years of poor reproduction in the Chesapeake Bay, the species’ most critical spawning and growth habitat. Fishermen, including Montauk, New York charter-boat veteran Bill Jakob, report that the fish no longer show up like they used to and young stripers are harder to find. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission cited multiple pressures, including overfishing, warming waters, drought-driven low river flows, pollution, and possibly increased predation from seals and sharks. Regulators and industry warn tighter limits may need to do more than just address harvest. An $8 billion fishing business and up to 100,000 U.S. jobs depend on the species, with some experts forecasting a potential collapse around 2029–2030.