Use of gaffs for recreationally caught striped bass banned in Delaware
Recreational anglers’ use of fishing gaffs to handle striped bass has been prohibited, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced Friday.
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Use of gaffs for recreationally caught striped bass banned in Delaware
Recreational anglers’ use of fishing gaffs to handle striped bass has been prohibited, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced Friday.
The announcement is in compliance with an amendment to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan, which cited the ban as a requirement to reduce the mortality of recreationally caught striped bass.
Recent commission assessments of the fish’s population have shown that recreational release is the largest source of mortality for the species.
The gaff ban seeks to aid the recovery of striper stocks by reducing the mortality of fish that could go on to spawn after they are caught and released by anglers.
The new regulation can be found on DNREC’s regulatory orders webpage. For information, call 302-739-9914.
