Season 6 of Masters of the Fly kicks off once again with our friends Tony Friedrich and Cody Rubner from the American Saltwater Guides Association (ASGA). This past year, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) considered significant changes to striped bass regulations - including commercial quota cuts, harvest closures and no-targeting proposals - amid continued weak recruitment and stock concerns. However, the ASMFC’s Striped Bass Board ultimately voted to maintain much of the status quo while establishing a Work Group to tackle long-term stock challenges through 2029 and beyond.
ASGA will break down what this outcome means for anglers and the fishery in 2026, including the implications of postponed action, continuing low juvenile abundance, and the next steps in advocacy and management. Expect clear analysis of how public comment, sector equity, and ecosystem linkages (e.g., menhaden/forage dynamics) shape the path forward for striped bass conservation.