Striped Bass Collapse: Anglers Face Shrinking Catch in Montauk
Fishing guides and veteran surfcasters report a dramatic drop in fish numbers, threatening a $8 billion industry and a multi-generational tradition on Long Island's coast.
By Layla Richardson ·
The number of striped bass available to catch along the East Coast has dropped sharply, leaving veteran anglers in New York with fewer options than ever before.
Scientists attribute this decline to a combination of human, environmental, and ecological changes. These shifts put an estimated $8 billion industry at risk. In peak years, fishermen made more than 17 million trips to pursue this species, but that future is now in jeopardy.
Bill Wetzel, a fishing guide with more than 25 years of experience in Montauk, New York, monitors the Atlantic for signs of feeding fish. He logs current seams, sandbar cuts, and bird activity with precision. Despite his expertise, Wetzel reports a lack of small fish to sustain the population. He noted that he has not witnessed a feeding frenzy, or blitz, in four years. Wetzel stated, "There's no small fish left. They're gone." He fears the population is failing to replenish itself, a pattern similar to the mid-1980s collapse that forced a fishing shutdown.
Jason Markowitz, an IT professional and former president of the Montauk Surfcasters Association, swims to offshore rocks to fish. He described the current situation as a case of the "last of the buffalo." Markowitz said that while some people still find fish, the abundance is fading. He added, "You’ve got a lot of folks that are finding fish but it really is a case of ‘last of the buffalo.’"
John Skinner, a 65-year-old author and YouTube creator who has fished for stripers for 55 years, finds the current state devastating. He observes a shortage of small prey fish like menhaden, which stripers need to eat. Skinner also notes a decline in other large predatory fish. He summed up the industry's condition with two words: "It sucks."
John Mahan has fished in Montauk since 1987. He said this is the first year in his four-decade career that he has not caught a striped bass. Mahan recalled the abundance of the late 1980s and 1990s as "spectacular." He believes the only way to save the species might be to leave them alone for a period, a difficult prospect for someone with such a long history in the sport.
Montauk, located at the tip of Long Island, has historically drawn anglers from across the country. The area features sand beaches, boulder-strewn points, and swift currents that concentrate bait fish. The community has shifted from a blue-collar fishing village to an area resembling the nearby wealthy Hamptons, a change that accelerated in the 2000s. Despite this transformation, residents and visitors maintain that the location retains a unique identity. The town's former unofficial motto, "a small drinking village with a big fishing problem," is no longer accurate, according to Wetzel.
Wetzel continues to guide clients and monitor the waters. He remains attached to the sport and the location. He pointed to the surf and ocean and said, "It's in me. If it's not in you, a lot of guys come and go. It's not in you. Plus, I mean, look at this. Look at this, that's why."
