Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
Record Weight
81 lbs 14 oz
Connecticut River, Connecticut
Average Size
5-20 lbs
Preferred Temp
55°-70°F
Lifespan
15-30 years
Fight Rating
5/5
Taste Rating
4/5
Identification
Striped bass have a streamlined, silvery body with 7 to 8 dark horizontal stripes running from the gill plate to the tail. The back is olive to dark blue-green, fading to bright silver on the sides and white on the belly. They have a large mouth with a projecting lower jaw. Two separate dorsal fins and a broad, forked tail contribute to their powerful swimming ability. Landlocked stripers tend to be stockier than their coastal counterparts.
Habitat & Behavior
In their native anadromous range, striped bass are found along the Atlantic coast from Maine to Florida and in the Gulf of Mexico. They migrate up major river systems to spawn in spring. Landlocked populations thrive in large reservoirs and lakes across the central and southern United States. In freshwater, stripers favor open water near dam tailraces, deep main-lake points, and areas with strong current where they chase schools of shad and herring.
Striped bass are schooling predators that follow massive schools of baitfish such as threadfin and gizzard shad. In reservoirs, they often suspend in open water at specific temperature and dissolved oxygen levels, making electronics essential for locating them. Surface-feeding frenzies — called "boils" — occur when stripers push baitfish to the surface, creating explosive topwater action. They are powerful fighters known for long, sustained runs.
Best Techniques
Show setup details
Trolling too fast — use GPS speed (not speedometer) and slow down 0.2 mph at a time until you find the bite.
Show setup details
Setting the hook on the explosion instead of waiting to feel the weight of the fish. Count "one-Mississippi" then set.
Best Baits & Lures
- live gizzard shad
- live threadfin shad
- large swimbaits
- topwater poppers
- bucktail jigs
- umbrella rigs
- live eels (saltwater)
- chicken liver (freshwater)
Seasonal Patterns
SpringSpring Fishing
Spring is spawning season for striped bass. Anadromous fish migrate up coastal rivers in massive runs that create legendary fishing opportunities, particularly in the Chesapeake Bay tributaries and along the New England coast. In freshwater reservoirs, stripers move toward dam tailraces and tributary mouths where they can be caught on live bait and swimbaits.
SummerSummer Fishing
In reservoirs, summer stripers seek the thermocline — the narrow band of water where temperature and oxygen levels are optimal. Locating them requires electronics to find fish suspended at specific depths, often 20 to 40 feet. Dawn and dusk surface boils provide the most exciting fishing. In saltwater, stripers spread along the coast and can be caught from beaches, jetties, and boats.
FallFall Fishing
Fall triggers aggressive feeding as stripers chase baitfish schools. In reservoirs, surface boils become frequent as water cools and shad move shallow. On the coast, the southward fall migration produces spectacular surf fishing along the Atlantic seaboard. Topwater lures, large swimbaits, and live bait all produce well during the fall feed-up.
WinterWinter Fishing
Stripers slow down in winter but remain catchable, particularly in southern reservoirs and dam tailraces where water temperatures stay relatively mild. In coastal areas, fish move to deeper, warmer water offshore. Slow presentations with live bait or deep-running lures fished near bottom structure produce winter fish. Some tailrace fisheries offer excellent year-round striper action.
State Records
Tips & Fun Facts
- The world record striped bass of 81 lbs 14 oz caught in 2011 was taken from the Connecticut River — a freshwater tidal river, blurring the line between fresh and saltwater records.
- Striped bass can live over 30 years, and females do not reach sexual maturity until age 4 to 8, making them vulnerable to overfishing.
- Landlocked striped bass in freshwater reservoirs can reach weights over 60 pounds, rivaling their anadromous coastal relatives.
- During fall migration, huge schools of striped bass move south along the Atlantic coast, creating a legendary surf fishing season known as the "fall run" that draws thousands of anglers to beaches from Cape Cod to the Outer Banks.
- Striped bass were so important to early American colonists that one of the first conservation laws in the New World, passed in Massachusetts in 1639, protected striped bass spawning runs.