How many Pigs or Stripers each day?

Ramrod put Joy and Raymond Hansen into some decent pigs. Gotta love how Ramrod gets on the fish!


Hey fishermen, ya gotta be sure ya got a few things in order. Unless you are fishing with a licensed charter captain, ya need a license for the salt, a NOAA registration, and . . . we are fishing for COWs and Pigs, not CBBT schoolies. Meaning ya can only keep one striper 35 inches or greater each day. You cannot posess a striper between 28 and 34 inches. You can catch and release as you like. The slot for keepers is 18 to 27 inches each day. It's typical for stripers feeding on eels in December to be a minimum of 30#s and about 38 inches. A 40 inch C&R verified by a companion fisherman is worth a citation. 44 inches verified at a weigh station is also a citation. Any fish COW size is a citation. I'll leave this post open for comment as my memory may not be as good as I once was.


Fishermen cannot use a gaff on stripers. Rather, have a substantial net suitable for a 60# striped bass. My Frabill Power Catch measures 36 inches from the top to the yoke and 30 inches across. The handle telescopes and is 4'. A word of caution is "NEVER" try to lift a fish in the net as you would a shovel. Instead, always net the fish and then grasp the net material to lift the fish on board. In fact, with a COW, you might want help getting the critter over the rail. If ya do catch and release, a dehooker might be a wise investment as long as you learn how to use it. The lips on a striper can be tough. I have pliers suitable for grasping a hook. If ya intend to catch and release, be prepared to just cut the leader rather than injure the fish. I seem to remember that holding a cow from the lips will damage the internal organs of a striper. Rather, support the body of the striper at the head and vent.

Check out Chris' Bait and Tackle (757) 331 3000. Lots of great information, eels, tons of appropriate striper fishing gear. Well, hunting too if ya do both on the Eastern Shore.


Ramrod put Steve Smith on this monster striped bass, shown here with Ramrod and Joy at the Chris' Bait and Tackle weigh in. 58 1/4 pounds and 54 inches long.