Sick Striped Bass

Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Mill Creek

This is a striped bass I caught out of Mill Creek I believe on Monday, May 30. It was a very sick fish. The second sick fish I�ve caught already this season.

DNR Response: These lesions appear to be ulcers. The most common cause for ulcers in stripers resident to Chesapeake Bay is a bacterial infection called mycobacteriosis. There are other bacteria and parasites that can cause skin lesions however. We recommend that anglers and watermen protect their hands when handling striped bass. Bacteria can get into open cuts or sores on the hands, or from cuts or punctures from handling fish. Wearing gloves and bandaging or protecting cuts or sores can reduce the risk of infection in people. We also advocate disinfecting hands after handling fish, which can be done with waterless hand sanitizer or with warm water and soap. The department recommends that fish with obvious lesions, such as this one, not be consumed. Select only fish with no lesions or sores on the body or in the filet for consumption. The health department indicates that properly cooked fish fillets do not pose a risk of infection.