In 1955, menhaden made up 77 percent of the diet of striped bass. Now, menhaden account for just 7 percent. Young striped bass are increasingly eating weakfish juveniles to supplement their diets, putting both stocks at risk. Bluefish eat 30 percent less menhaden than they did in the early '90s.
Striped bass, bluefish and other game fish have lost 90 percent of their favorite food source over the last 25 years alone.