This may be a stupid question. But far be it for me to not post a dumb a$$ question. With my newly obtained interest in fisheries management, I was wondering if there is a way to differentiate between male and female stripers without first gutting them. Generally, I will usually keep most legal fish for myself and friends. I would like to release all females if possible. Any ideas?

Very interesting question. I don't know myself. I would also like to know the answer.

Not the biological inspection answer but the vast majority of fish over 34 inches are female. Odds are if it is a keeper, something like a 70% chance it is female...

I don't think you can tell without looking even deeper inside. And not just gutting them.

At my club we had a gal that worked for the DMF up at the Salem MA project and in the past we have saved complete frames for them. There is a bone inside, I think it is part of the ear bone. By looking at that they can tell the sex and allot more.

It was interesting stuff. But no.....you can't tell by looking.

Thanks for the comeback guys!!

i guess you could squeeze the stripers belly and see if roe comes out

John R, I have found that to be true for the most part myself.


Rat, That really works???

When it is spawning time it does, any Striper over 40 pounds is a female, males don't grow that big.

Hey Bob, The only thing I know about 40 #'ers is that they give over 17 #s of meat. I've only caught 1 and it was female.

I gguess I'll give myself a slot this year of under 15#s and over 45#. Hopefully I'll have to throw back a few 50's to even it out. Thanks a bunch all.

the bone is called the styloist and is located under the tetafil fin. You can tell the sex by shining a flashlite into the corslaus area and counting the anal radium.

I remember i tried that wit a girl i was dating.well she didn't like it very much.:D

I don't think you can tell without looking even deeper inside. And not just gutting them.

At my club we had a gal that worked for the DMF up at the Salem MA project and in the past we have saved complete frames for them. There is a bone inside, I think it is part of the ear bone. By looking at that they can tell the sex and allot more.

It was interesting stuff. But no.....you can't tell by looking.
If they're anything like a human male they have a HUGE callous on their earbone.:hihi:

Females have utters males don't.

I remember i tried that wit a girl i was dating.well she didn't like it very much.:D
:rotfl:

When it is spawning time it does, any Striper over 40 pounds is a female, males don't grow that big.


Thought I`ve read a few times at least that this maxim is untrue?

when my grandpa used to have herring frys they would let the females go and they could tell by squeezing the belly and see if roe came out.when my grandpa would gut stripers he would show me the roe and the sex organs.

You want me to shine a flaslight up someone's rectum?

its the only sure way to tell the sex of a striper. :eyes:

Thought I`ve read a few times at least that this maxim is untrue?

You could be right because I have no facts to back up my answer, I know by some one telling and reading it but I can be wrong

in most cases a bass over 34 in is a female ,,any bass over 40in is a female.most males will not grow larger than 32in..according to the experts...