American Saltwater Guides Association

12/15/2025

120 tags. 7 states. 1 mission.

aims to uncover the mysteries of jack crevalle movement and distribution throughout the Atlantic and Gulf.

Why do adult fish congregate in specific seasonal areas? Why are certain angling communities witnessing significant annual declines in jack abundance?

Data from each tag will connect like pieces of a puzzle, forming a more comprehensive picture of the jack life cycle. 🧩

We’re proud to work alongside FIU fisheries Lab , MSU Fisheries Ecology Lab and The Lower Keys Guides Association on this coastwide effort.

A debt of gratitude to brands like Scientific Anglers who make it all possible.

Learn more about the mission and support at www.saltwaterguidesassociation.org.



🎥: Scientific Anglers & Jarrod Reynolds

12/02/2025

03.21.26

Mark your calendars.

03•21•26

An iconic event returns… 🪶

11/11/2025

The Latest on Striped Bass Natural Mortality:

In Episode #187 of The Guide Post Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Mike Wilberg, who leads a deep dive into natural mortality rates for striped bass.

Unlike fishing mortality, natural mortality encompasses all other factors that contribute to fish deaths, such as predation, disease, and environmental changes.

The latest from Wilberg's research shows that natural mortality rates in the Chesapeake Bay have increased dramatically. While natural mortality rates in the ocean have remained stable, the Chesapeake Bay is witnessing an increase that may be as much as two to three times higher than previous estimates. This increase could lead to a lower abundance of striped bass than previously thought, raising concerns for fisheries management and conservation efforts.

You can listen to the new episode at the link below:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-guide-post/id1556170236?i=1000735393352

11/06/2025

BREAKING NEWS: Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries Commission votes 4-3 in favor of REPEALING BUFFER ZONES for industrial menhaden in state waters.

The approval of today's NOI will allow menhaden fishing within 1/4mi of the beach, only a year after Louisiana implemented these buffer zones to protect inshore fisheries, habitats and their user groups.

During the meeting, we heard commissioners lobbying on behalf of the menhaden industry, saying they were soon to go out of business. This was just moments after industry representatives said on record that last year was quite profitable.

Let's be clear: this industry has no regulation. It is currently managed to the maximum capacity of the industry's production. That is NOT science-driven management.

This fight is far from over. Louisiana's shallow waters need relief from this massive industrial footprint. Even more importantly, this industry needs a cap and legitimate regulation for the betterment of all of Louisiana's natural resources.

Commissioners are entrusted with protecting and conserving the public's natural resources. No more back-door deals. No more industry politics driving management. These conversations need to happen in the public square, and all parties involved need to be held accountable.

11/04/2025

Buffer Zones for Industrial Menhaden Fleet Under Attack in Louisiana!

This Thursday, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission will meet and consider initiating a Notice of Intent to open closed areas (buffer zones) to the reduction fishery. Recreational anglers in Louisiana have supported new restrictions on redfish, speckled trout, and flounder in recent years. The buffer zones were the only limitation on a menhaden fishery that harvests approximately a billion pounds of menhaden per year, with no upper limits. This cannot continue. We all share the resource. The bias in these regulations is tangible and undeniable.

ASGA stands firmly against any rollback and calls for ADDITIONAL measures to safeguard Louisiana fisheries. We encourage managers to take meaningful action:

* Establish an annual quota (TAC) and reevaluate after the next Gulf menhaden benchmark stock assessment.

* Expand buffer zones to include time and area closures to protect spawning aggregations of fishes, including species of high recreational importance like redfish.

* Implement standardized extruder devices on all reduction fleet vessels to minimize bycatch, as per the most recent bycatch study.

Join the angling community in speaking up on behalf of menhaden and all Louisiana fisheries this Thursday!

📅 Meeting: Thursday, November 6
📍 Location: Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries
2000 Quail Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70898
🕘 Start Time: 9:30 AM

Learn more about the menhaden fight on both coasts at the ASGA Menhaden Action Alert Page:

https://www.saltwaterguidesassociation.com/menhaden-action-alert/

10/30/2025

There’s no way around it. Fisheries conservationists for menhaden, striped bass and Atlantic redfish all took losses this week. The ASMFC Annual Meeting was a massive disappointment.

The Menhaden Board voted for a 20% reduction, which will essentially be unrealized, as the fishery has not fished to 80% of its quota in years.

The Striped Bass Board kicked the can yet again, ignoring seven straight years of poor recruitment with a vote for status quo in 2026.

The Red Drum Board meeting was dominated by southern states, including Georgia, Florida and South Carolina, who completely ignored a 295 to 2 landslide public comment (often stating that all public comments were uninformed). Contrary to their constituents' cries for sustainable management, this Board voted to lower the bar for a fishery that supports their coastal economies.

Many of our advocates are disappointed, and we understand why. Just know that our community will continue to grow larger and get louder — and we will drive positive change.

More to come from our Association as we regroup, reassess and continue to empower our community.

10/28/2025

For 30 years, managers have used a 9% “release mortality” rate for striped bass — a number pulled from a 1990s study that even its author said shouldn’t guide management.

Now, new research from Massachusetts DMF is set to change everything. Using telemetry tags and data from over 8,000 fish, this comprehensive research finds that release mortality is closer to 4–5%, and that rate could even be lower for single-hook artificial and fly anglers.

That means responsible catch-and-release anglers — the same ones who’ve been vilified for “playing with fish” — aren’t the core of the problem. Our community held the line valiantly. Now, we finally have what may be the most comprehensive release-mortality research ever done for a saltwater species, and it tells a very different story.

So, where does that leave us?

1. Release mortality is roughly half of the standard rate we've been using for decades.

2. No-targeting closures are scientifically indefensible with this information.

3. Education remains essential. Anglers can and should reduce multiple treble hooks, shorten fight times, be weary of water temperature and minimize time out of water—especially for big fish.

Get the full story at the link below:

https://www.saltwaterguidesassociation.com/release-mortality-revisited-new-research-from-massachusetts-dmf/

A debt of gratitude to Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries for this multi-year comprehensive effort to better understand and effectively manage the most critical inshore fishery on the Atlantic Coast.

Video Credit: Robbie Tartaglia

10/23/2025

Certified as “Sustainable”? 🧐

Based on a new scientific review, the Atlantic menhaden fishery has gone hundreds of millions of pounds over quota each year. Now, there are potential ramifications for the fishery’s Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.

Recent developments in the 2025 Atlantic Menhaden Stock Assessment Update have exposed a critical issue that demands our attention. A dramatic error in natural mortality (M) estimates has massive implications for reassessing recent quotas and setting new ones going forward.

If the industry does not take the fullest extent of the reductions necessary, we’re not sure how anything about the operation could be stamped ‘sustainable’ going forward.

Learn more at link below:

https://www.saltwaterguidesassociation.com/menhaden-industry-risks-sustainability-certifications/

10/22/2025

We need menhaden management reform because we care about our forage fish and the ecosystems they support.

This campaign is greater than one species or angling community. It’s about restoring balance and protecting the food web that holds our oceans together.

Join our call for menhaden reform in the Atlantic & Gulf!

New research discovered the Atlantic fishery has harvested 275,000,000 pounds per year over quota on the basis of faulty science.

At the same time, Louisiana is considering repealing buffer zones that protect inshore fisheries and anglers, while the fishery remains without a quota.

Learn more and sign the Official ASGA Letter at the link below:

https://www.saltwaterguidesassociation.com/menhaden-action-alert/

10/20/2025

🚨COINCIDENCE OR STRATEGY?🚨

While managers seek solutions for significant overages in the Atlantic Ocean, Louisiana menhaden operations seek to HARVEST MORE and CLOSER TO SHORE...

Managers must establish a quota and defend buffer zones! Learn more and sign the Official ASGA Letter below:

https://www.saltwaterguidesassociation.com/menhaden-action-alert/

On November 6th, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission will meet and consider initiating a Notice of Intent to open closed areas (buffer zones) to the reduction fishery. The buffer zones were the only limitation on a menhaden fishery that harvests approximately a billion pounds of menhaden per year, with no upper limits.

It is interesting that this proposal comes to the table on the heels of the menhaden industry finding out they could face a 55% reduction in harvest in the Atlantic. Those reductions could result in increased effort and landings in the Gulf if precautionary action is not taken!

Sign the Official ASGA Letter and encourage Gulf managers to take meaningful action!

-An annual quota (Total Allowable Catch) should be placed on the Gulf menhaden fishery, averaging the last five years of harvest. This quota can be reevaluated after the next Gulf menhaden benchmark stock assessment.

-Maintain existing area closures (buffer zones). Consider expansion of the buffer zones to include time and area closures to protect spawning aggregations of fishes, including species of high recreational importance.

-Implementation of standardized extruder devices on all reduction fleet vessels to minimize bycatch as per the most recent bycatch study.

-We strongly suggest a review of the offshore shrimp fishery, as the bycatch of adult redfish is 5 to 10 times that of the menhaden reduction fleet.



Photo Credit: Bryant Turffs

10/20/2025

🚨 CALL TO ACTION — MENHADEN REFORM 🚨

SIGN THE OFFICIAL ASGA LETTER CALLING FOR MAJOR REDUCTIONS & REFORM IN THE ATLANTIC & GULF!

The “most important fish in the sea” just exposed one of the biggest management failures in decades.

A new assessment shows Atlantic menhaden natural mortality was inaccurately estimated for years, causing quotas set over 275 million pounds too high. A significant, immediate reduction is necessary to align with science-driven management and right the course of a critical forage fish.

ASGA believes:

•Atlantic fishery should take the FULL reduction. No “phase in” to action!

•Board should initiate addendum to reallocate catch from reduction fleet to bait fishery.

•Gulf fishery needs a quote/TAC immediately, average the last 5 years of harvest.

•Gulf states should maintain & expand all buffer zones to protect inshore waters of high recreational importance.

Get the full scoop and SIGN the Official ASGA Letter on our Menhaden Action Alert page! 📝

Link below:

https://www.saltwaterguidesassociation.com/menhaden-action-alert/

10/16/2025

Redfish Advocates - Your Voices Were Loud!

The public comment summary for Addendum II for red drum management shows a consensus across the community. Anglers throughout the coast demanded that ASMFC establish processes to adjust management measures and called for changes in both the Chesapeake Bay and North Carolina.

Most importantly, advocates were steadfast in saying that managers should NOT lower the SPR threshold. Our community wants to see thriving fisheries. Lowering the goal posts will never achieve that goal.

There were only 7 comments in opposition to conservation efforts during the entire public comment period.

The Sciaenids Management Board will meet October 30th at 8:30am. Expect further ASGA coverage as the a tumultuous week at the ASMFC Annual Meeting plays out for striped bass, Atlantic redfish and menhaden.

To the advocates who took time out of their busy lives to participate in this process:

We thank you — and the next generation of redfish anglers thanks you. We stand so reds can tail.