Pug Nosed Striped Bass

Type: Chesapeake
Region: Lower Bay
Location: Point Lookout

My brother and I fished the southern part of the bay off point lookout. Working birds put us on fish only a couple of miles offshore. I�ve been fishing near the bay bridge most of the year and haven�t found a fish over 16� since May. Down south, we caught our limit in 30 minutes. We chased birds for a while longer until the bite went cold on a slack tide. 10� BKD and 2oz Crippled Herring bounced off the bottom in 35� was what worked for us. Among the keepers was a 22� fish with a deformed head. Hard to say if it was congenital or an early injury, but definitely strange looking. Safe to eat, I assume?

DNE Response: The striped bass in the picture is commonly called a "pug nosed" striped bass and occurs now and then due to a congenital defect. Therefore it is safe to eat.