Maryland DNR's 2026 Young-of-Year striped bass index: 5.5, the eighth straight year below the long-term average of 10.8
Maryland DNR released its 2026 Chesapeake Bay Young-of-Year striped bass index on October 19: a score of 5.5 against a long-term average of 10.8, a 49 percent gap and the eighth consecutive below-average result. Drought-reduced river flows are cited as a contributing factor. Maryland's spawning habitat produces at least two-thirds of Chesapeake Bay striped bass. The ASMFC stock is declared overfished; Draft Addendum III is in progress.
Maryland DNR's 2026 Young-of-Year striped bass index came in at 5.5, the eighth consecutive year the result has fallen below the long-term average of 10.8. On The Water reported the figure on October 19, 2026, citing the DNR's annual beach-seine survey of Chesapeake Bay spawning areas. The 5.5 index is the highest since 2018 but remains 49 percent below the long-term mean. The survey has run each summer since 1954, covering 22 sites across four spawning river systems: the Choptank, Nanticoke, and Potomac rivers and the upper Bay. Each site receives three visits, with two 100-foot beach-seine sweeps per visit.
Maryland DNR attributed the 2026 shortfall to regional drought conditions and reduced river flows, which likely cut survival for eggs and larvae during the early weeks of life. A compressed spawning window may have also played a role. Young-of-Year abundance at these sites forecasts, with a multi-year lag, the number of legal-size fish the fishery will see once those juveniles mature. Eight consecutive years of below-average reproduction reduce the incoming cohorts available to replace fish removed by harvest and natural mortality. Maryland spawning grounds produce at least two-thirds of Chesapeake Bay striped bass, so a sustained shortfall in Maryland tributaries cannot be offset by average results in Virginia water.
Atlantic striped bass is declared overfished under the ASMFC Interstate Fishery Management Plan, and 2025 stock assessment data confirmed the stock has not rebuilt to target levels. The ASMFC Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board is working through Draft Addendum III, which could produce updated management measures for 2027. Current fall harvest rules in the Bay: Maryland's season allows one fish per day, 19-to-24-inch slot, through December 5; Virginia Bay season runs October 4 through December 31 under the same slot. These rules were set under Addendum VII. Check ASMFC at asmfc.org/species/atlantic-striped-bass and your state's marine fisheries agency page for any in-season changes.
On the water: Rules and conditions can change quickly. Confirm current regulations and official marine forecasts for your exact trip.