Let me quote from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries CommissionStriped Bass Stock AssessmentReleased in Oct. 05 and revised in Nov. 05:

"Resource remains at high level of abundance at 65.3 million fish, 10% higher than stock size for the previous 5 years... The stock is not overfished and overfishing is not occuring... Total catch has risen to 5.2 million fish... recreational harvest and [recreational]discards account for 72.5 percent of total mortality."

Cheers, Alec