This popular game fish, known as rockfish by Chesapeake Bay anglers, is dependent on the water quality of tidal fresh water in the upper bay and bay tributaries for successful spawning. After centuries of abundance, the striped bass (Morone saxitilis) suffered a serious setback in the 1980s because of over-fishing in combination with high acidity and pollution in its spawning grounds. After a fishing moratorium and some progress in bay cleanup, the fish has made an astounding comeback. Fishing is once again allowed, with size and possession limits that encourage catch-and-release fishing.
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