With the assessment of striped bass stocks looking dire, and the MV Derby having pulled them from the tournament entirely, New England states have introduced new catch limits. (And on bluefish, too.) Find a summary of those limits below. Whether these changes are enough is not for this article (they’re not! in my opinion), but I hope this is a helpful summary.
One clarification: the limit is 28 to but not including 35″, so consider that 34.11″ as a limit.
- A slot limit has been implemented. This slot limit allows anglers to only retain striped bass measuring at least 28″ and less than 35″ total length. Striped bass measuring less than 28″ or 35″ and greater must be immediately released. This slot limit replaces the 28″ minimum size limit that was previously in effect.
- Recreational anglers are now required to use in-line circle hooks when fishing with whole or cut natural baits. An inline circle hook is defined as a fishing hook designed and manufactured so that the point of the hook is not offset from the shank and bend and is turned perpendicularly back towards the shank to form a circular or oval shape. DMF’s Circle Hook Brochure has additional information about this gear.
Exempt from this requirement are recreational anglers fishing aboard a for-hire vessel during a for-hire trip and recreational anglers fishing with a natural bait affixed to an artificial lure that is to be cast and retrieved, trolled, or vertically jigged (e.g., tube and worm).
- Lastly, recreational anglers are required to remove striped bass from the water using only non-lethal devices (e.g., dip nets) and are prohibited from using any device that may pierce, puncture, or otherwise cause invasive damage to the fish (e.g., gaffs).
- BAG LIMITS A person may take and possess 1 fish per day.
- SIZE LIMITS The fish must be equal to or greater than 28 inches and less than 35 inches total length
New Hampshire:
A quick Google search doesn’t turn up New Hampshire’s most recent regs. Here they are:
In short, it’s the same as the above: “Length limit for striped bass is now within the slot-size limit of at least 28 inches in total length and less than 35 inches in total length.”
- No person shall possess any striped bass less than 28 inches or greater than or equal to 35 inches measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail. Any striped bass less than 28” or greater than or equal to 35” shall, without avoidable injury, be returned immediately to the water from which taken.
- Daily creel limit: 1 fish per angler
- Open Season: Open Year Round
- Bonus Striped Bass Fishing Program has been discontinued for 2020
Looking for regulations for another state? On the Water has a helpful summary which you can find here.
On that note: Hey New Jersey! Yeah! You! We’ve got our eyes on you… Jeezuz.
If you’re catching stripers this year, here’s a few other things to consider for the future of the fishery:
- Try barbless hooks — you won’t loose that many fish, I swear
- Keep ’em wet — do I have to explain this at this point?
- The daily bag limit is a limit. You don’t have to keep one. No, you really don’t.
Ok, folks. Get out there and enjoy!