How might mycobacteriosis be affecting the striped bass population in Chesapeake Bay?
There is insufficient data to determine whether mycobacteriosis will affect the stocks of striped bass in Chesapeake Bay. Anecdotal evidence from fishing tournaments shows that younger stripers (below 24 inches long) are sometimes emaciated yet show no external or internal signs of the disease, whereas older fish (greater than about 24″ long) commonly exhibit external lesions and infected internal organs but are otherwise robust and healthy. Thus the relationship between “skinny” bass and mycobacteriosis is presently not clear.
