Recreational Landings of Striped Bass

How did the 2021 catch of striped bass compare to other years?

The total catch (includes harvested and released fish) in 2021 (preliminary data) was approximately 2,060,956 striped bass. Of this total, approximately 12,739 were harvested' or about 0.6% of the total catch. The two graphs below show the yearly total catch and harvest respectively, for Maine from 1992 to 2021.

Estimated Numbers Caught

Graph of yearly total numbers of striped bass caught from 1992 to 2021, peaking at over 8 million in 2006

Estimated Numbers Landed

Graph of yearly total numbers of striped bass landed from 1992 to 2021, peaking at almost 150,000 in 2009

How does Maine's total catch and harvest stack up to the rest of the Atlantic coast?

In 2021 (preliminary data), Maine accounted for 6.7% of the total striped bass catch and 1.1% of harvested striped bass along the Atlantic coast. The two graphs below illustrate Maine's striped bass total catch and harvest respectively, compared with that of the remainder of the Atlantic coast, New Hampshire through Florida, for the time period 2002 - 2021.

Estimated Numbers Caught Coastwide

Graph of Maine catches compared with other Atlantic coast states 2002 to 2021; highest coastal total was almost 60 million in 2006

Estimated Numbers Landed Coastwide

Graph of Maine landings compared with other Atlantic coast states 2002 to 2021; highest coastal total was about 5.5 million in 2010