Recognizable by 5-7 dark vertical convict bars and heavy incisor teeth built to crush barnacles, oysters, and crabs off pilings. Fights with immense leverage around sharp structure.
Season
June – October
Where
Ocean City Jetties, Chesapeake Bay Bridge Pilings, Cape Charles
Salinity band
Brackish Estuarine (5 - 20 ppt)
Status
Native Chesapeake & Bay Species
Record
MD Record: 18 lbs 0 oz (Ocean City)
How we fish for them
Drop live fiddler crabs, sand fleas, or peeled shrimp on #1 heavy wire circle hooks directly against bridge pilings using a short 1-2oz bottom rig.
Rod: Susquehanna Striper Rod 7'6" MHF Reel: FAIRLEAD 3000 • 30lb Braid + 30lb FC Leader
Gear for this in the catalog →Handle with care
Safe release: Wet hands or rubber net before handling to preserve protective slime layer.
Seasons & limits are the law's, not ours
Size, season and creel rules change; always verify with the official regulations before you fish. Maryland DNR regulations →
Profile last reviewed: August 2026