While mycobacteriosis studies on Bay stripers won?t be complete for a few years, there is no reason to stop fishing, hang up your rod, cancel a charter or not eat fish. Releases by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Department of Health & Mental Hygiene and Department of Agriculture stress the safety of catching and eating fish when using common sense precautions.
DNR striper tagging studies to learn more began in spring 2007 to be completed in 2009; Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) surveys started fall 2005 and should be completed in 2008.
Thetagging studies are to determine facts about the disease in Bay stripers, most of which are not now known. DNR fish health biologist Mark Matsche explains the survey as the only way to study fish long term and get stripers for necropsy.
The survey involves obtaining stripers from cooperative pound-net waterman, tagging and photographing them, the detailed photos matched to tag numbers. Photos show whether or not fish have lesions. The fish are released, with returns by fishermen then collected by the DNR or VIMS for study and comparison to pre-release photos. That?s why MD DNR and VIMS are offering a $5 reward for tag information and/or $20 for iced fish, both by calling the toll-free number on the tag, (866)845-3379.
That?s why there is an emergency exemption to striper regulations to allow fishermen to keep any and all green-tagged fish beyond the legal striper limit regardless of size or numbers. DNR needs stripers for photo comparison and biological studies.
The photo comparisons will show lesion growth or reduction along with striper condition. Lesions appear on stripers when they reach 4 years old, or about summer-legal size of 18 inches. In time, the disease affects the spleen and liver, even skin and muscle, causing internal damage and possibly death. But Matsche is not sure on the latter.
Matsche notes that culture studies, right down to the “gamete” stage of egg and sperm, show that virtually all stripers are carriers, although not all get the disease. Many are the Typhoid Marys of the finny world.
But this is no reason to stop your striper sport. Go on ? go fishing. Humans can get the disease, but rarely. In most cases, it can be treated easily with over-the-counter products.
Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene suggestions, according to Matsche, are to use a waterless bactericide wash after handling fish. If you handle a bunch of fish (think optimistic about your fishing skills), wear gloves. With scrapes or fin/spine punctures, apply an antibiotic such as Neosporin. Release stripers with lesions and thoroughly cook those you keep. Don?t eat raw stripers.
I don?t know about you, but I am going striper fishing and will have done so by the time you read this. And I hope to catch some stripers, including those sporting green tags. Hey, I could use a few $20?s. Some tasty fillets on the grill would be great, too.
C. Boyd Pfeiffer is an internationally known sportsman and award-winning writer on fishing, hunting, and the outdoors. He can be reached at [email protected].
