How would anyone know that more aggressive measures need to be taken if the results of one or two years of more conservative measures aren’t even in yet? Recall for example that circle hook regs were just implemented uniformly throughout the coast in 2021.
Additionally, there already is a system that annually considers JAI values from the most recent three year periods in the combined regions that can trigger more conservative management. It should be permitted to function as designed, given that poor year classes in one area can be buffered by better year classes in others. Even at that, successful recruitment (survival) to age 1 or to the legal size is not guaranteed when a big year class is produced. A somewhat smaller year class, such as an average year class, may recruit just as well to age 1 due to less intraspecific competition and more fat reserves or growth entering the winter.
Finally, recall that the coastal estimated striped bass C&R mortality was greater than harvest mortality using the 9% C&R delayed mortality rate for stripers. This is what triggered the 2021 circle hook regs mentioned above and this may be enough to enhance the striped bass fishery along with the more conservative harvest regs that have been implemented coast-wide, including in Pa.
