Friday February 6, 2026
WBOC —
One of the coldest winters in recent memory could offer a rare bright spot for Maryland’s iconic striped bass, as state fisheries officials say frozen Chesapeake Bay waters may improve spawning conditions this spring.
Scientists with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources believe recent declines in striped bass reproduction are closely tied to environmental factors, including warmer, drier winters and reduced spring freshwater flows into the bay. Those conditions have contributed to several consecutive years of below-average spawning success.