Is there a different commercial rule.....

[MajorStu]

A few weks ago, I went to an Asian supermarket in Hempstead.

At the fish counter they were selling whole Stripped Bass (price irrevelent) that were 12-14" at best.

I know for the average Joe fisherman, a Bass must be 28" to be of legal size.

So, how does a market legally sell 14" Bass? Is there a different set of rules for commercial markets?

[RJ]

Those could very well have been:

1. Freshwater hybrids
2. Illegal (probably?)
3. If legal, they would have to have a tag attached to its lip

[surfbeater]

Unless I'm mistaken, comms can't take any Stripers under 24". If the fish you saw had kind of a hump back, they were probably "Wipers", a freshwater hybrid of a Striped and White Bass.

[basssman]

I've been to restaurants that serve the same size bass.
I was told they were farm raised.
Does that make it legal??:confused:

[surfbeater]

The hybrids on the market are farm raised, and they're perfectly legal. From what I've read about farmed raised fish though, I'd rather eat anything but. For my $$ I'll go to Arties' in Island Park (South Shore Seafood, OK RJ?) where I can eat legally caught and tagged saltwater Striped Bass.