Researchers at William & Mary and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science say this year’s striped bass hatch in Virginia tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay was about average — a sign of stability after two weak spawning years. The 2025 survey found about five young fish per seine haul, close to the long-term average of nearly eight. Scientists say these fish, hatched in the spring, will reach catchable size in three to four years. Striped bass are both a top predator and a vital resource for commercial and recreational fishing across the Bay.
