No, you would have put yourself in violation of the regulations if you had. If it was undersized, even though it was dead and you didn't take it, you wouldn't be able to use it.

26-159a-2. Striped bass (Morone saxatilis)
(c) No person shall possess, sell, exchange, or offer for sale or exchange any striped bass, regardless where taken, less than the minimum length, except that artificially reared hybrid striped bass (one parent Morone saxatilis) which are less than the minimum length, may be possessed and sold under the following conditions:
(1) such fish, when offered for sale, shall be accompanied by documentation showing that such fish were propagated in a licensed commercial fish hatchery; and
(2) such documentation shall include the name and address of the owner of the hatchery of origin, the number and description of fish received in the current shipment, and the shipping date and date of receipt of the current shipment.