What: Snap-a-Striper is a data collection program aimed at 1) compiling photos of live release and legal keeper striped bass caught in Maine waters and 2) saving and freezing the heads of legally harvested keepers.

Who: Snap-a-Striper is a collaborative effort between the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, the Coastal Conservation Association - Maine, and local anglers and guides.

When: Snap-a-Striper is an ongoing program aimed at collecting valuable biological information from striped bass throughout the fishing season in Maine.

Why: Body shape data from every striper photo taken with a Snap-a-Striper data card in place, as well as data retrieved from otoliths (fish ear bones) collected from the heads of legally harvested stripers, can help fishery scientists determine the origin (local vs. migrant) of our fish, information that can improve management of the striped bass resource.