Rockfish
Rockfish are one of the most targeted species on the Chesapeake Bay. Fished by everyone from casual anglers to commercial charter fishing companies, these fish are in high demand. Being one of the tastiest fish in the bay, they are highly sough after in restaurants and dinner tables up and down the coast.
Every year, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD DNR) conducts a “Young of the Year survey”. This survey takes note of the number of young fish in the bay. The data from this survey influences the decisions DNR and politicians make when it comes to fisheries management.
The most recent survey (October of 2023) showed record lows. The survey index was 1.0, well below the long-term average of 11.1 These results put our Rockfish populations in dire straits.
Rockfish typically begin their spawn around April, when the water temps hit 60 degrees, however with a fairly mild winter in 2022-2023, the waters warmed up sooner than expected. This caused an early spawn.
For a spawn to be successful, cold winters and rainy springs are crucial. These conditions enhance the copepod populations that rockfish larvae feed on that are critical to early growth and survival to the next stage of life.
< A timeline of the Young of the Year Survey.
In the history of this survey, take note of a few important years. Notice the large dip in population in the 1980’s. That time had a similar situation to the one we are currently facing. The solution then was to induce a moratorium, aka, a closure of the fishery. If caught fishing for rockfish during the closure you would be liable for a $1,000 fine, a year in jail, and confiscation of equipment. While it may sound extreme, it proved successful. The hold gave the fish a chance to spawn without stress and grow the population. Some of the best years of fishing were seen post moratorium.
The issue is that Rockfish in the bay support a whole group of people financially. The industry that surrounds our state fish reaches much further than Pound netters and Charter boats.