The Annual Striped Bass Young of the Year Survey begins for 2010

Type: Chesapeake
Region: Eastern
Location: Choptank River

Today marked the beginning of the Maryland annual striped bass young of the year seine survey for 2010. The study has been in place since 1954, covers 22 fixed stations and has never missed a beat in all these years. The study started today at three seining stations located on the Choptank River. Later on this week the fisheries biologists will be sampling the Nanticoke River, the Potomac and Patuxent Rivers and the head of the bay in a similar fashion. I was able to meet the crew today to watch the process of seining, cataloging and counting fish species. The first picture on the left shows the seine being deployed, next the fish which are all juveniles are moved to a large tub where the biologists sort and measure each one. A lot of data and samples are collected on other species such as white perch, various shiners and minnows, spot, menhaden and other species. Most of the fish put up with attention and are released back into the water after examination. In fact the survey teams have cataloged over 100 different species over the years. The results of the striped bass juvenile index are tabulated in October of each year and fishermen always wait anxiously for the results; for it is hoped that the little guy in the far right picture will one day grow up to tickle a fisherman�s fancy. It takes approximately 4-years for a striped bass to reach the legal size of over 18� and as long as 13-years to reach 40�. To learn more about the striped bass young of the year seining surveys and juvenile fish identification check out the following link to the program site on the Fisheries website.