Stripers and the AMO

Just read an interesting article about the current decline of Striped Bass. If you recall the low point in striper numbers in the early ‘80s was caused largely by overfishing. With catch limits, the stripers rebounded. Recently, there is evidence of a decline. I can sure attest to that!!

Implicated in this decline is now a theory involving the AMO (Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation) which occurs every 35 years or so. This is described as a “mashup” of winds and currents. The entire basin warms up and of course, this would change climate along the Atlantic coast.

“Here's how Wood and his team think the AMO is messing with fish food. When it's in a warm phase, springtime along the East Coast actually tends to be wet and cool — more rain, more water, more food. In the years following that phase, striper numbers tend to go up. Then the AMO flips — drier springs, less rain, less food. After a lag, it looks like striper numbers start to decline.”

“ Wood says the past 100 years of fishing records show that very trend. And currently?"It hasn't been so good in say the last five years," Wood says. "And it just so happens this is also the time when the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation seems to be switching phase."Wood suspects it's switching into a "bad for stripers" phase, and he thinks it was also a down cycle that caused the striper crash in the 1980s. When that cycle ended, stripers recovered — not just owing to the fishing limits but because the weather bcame more favorable.”

Not sure how long I have been attending the Striperhead but the catching has clearly declined over that time.

Bill