Urgent fishing warning over $2k fines and species ban after September 1 deadline

A summer ban on catching striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries has been lifted after the September 1 deadline. Anglers can now legally target striped bass again, which had been restricted during the warm months because catching younger fish and releasing them in summer heat increases the likelihood of death. Violations during the ban period carried fines up to $2,000. Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources encouraged anglers to focus on other species and pointed to research suggesting warm winters and low water flow have hurt striped bass spawning. The rule was first introduced in 2020.