Pugnose Striper

Type: Chesapeake
Region: Central
Location: Bay Bridge

Caught this unusual looking striped bass.

DNR Response: You caught a pughead or pugnose, there are various degrees of a shortened and broadened upper jaw, steep forehead, pushed-in snout and pop eyes. Although this condition may appear to be highly detrimental to the fish, pugheaded stripers as large as 30 inches have been collected on the spawning grounds by Fisheries Service biologists. Growth is reduced in fish with this condition as they may have difficulty in passing water over the gills or seizing and holding prey. You can read an article written sometime ago at dnr2.maryland.gov/fisheries/Documents/lordosis_striper.pdf.