| The Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis), also | | | | |
| known as the striper, rockfish, stripe, | | | | This created and exciting new fishery, as |
| linesider and squidhound, has been one of the | | | | they were transplanted in lakes all over the |
| most fished-for species along the Atlantic | | | | country with a national stocking program. It |
| coast since our country was just a colony. | | | | was discovered that they were excellent at |
| Many a coastal Minuteman dined on these | | | | controlling populations of threadfin and |
| savory entrees before tackling the British | | | | gizzard shad. They were even hybridized with |
| Army. | | | | White Bass, creating a new subspecies! It is |
| | | | one of fishing's greatest success stories. |
| Eastern Coastal Native American tribes | | | | |
| thrived on them. If the Pilgrims would have | | | | Marine Striped Bass are anadromous, meaning |
| brought fishing rods instead of muskets, the | | | | that they live in the ocean, but spawn in |
| entire history of our country would most | | | | rivers and estuaries. Chesapeake Bay at one |
| likely have been much more pleasant, for both | | | | time was the spawning grounds for 90% of |
| peoples. Today, Striped Bass represent an | | | | Atlantic Striped Bass population. Their range |
| important commercial and sport fishery, and | | | | has increased greatly, as have their spawning |
| their range and habit has greatly expanding | | | | grounds. Males are sexually mature at 2 years |
| in some surprising and exciting ways. | | | | old. Females reach sexual maturity somewhat |
| | | | later, at around 4 years old. |
| They are referred to by many anglers as the | | | | |
| "Poor Man's Salmon", "Superfish", and "the | | | | When the water begins to warm up in late |
| fish of the future". They are incredibly | | | | winter, the fish move into estuaries and |
| adaptable and prolific, and great fighters on | | | | rivers to spawn. After spawning, they return |
| the hook as well as scrumptious on the table. | | | | to the coastal waters. Some groups of Striped |
| Ocean Striped Bass can grow to 4 feet long | | | | Bass migrate from New England south to the |
| and weigh over 70 pounds. The current World | | | | Carolinas, Georgia and Florida in fall and |
| Record Striped Bass was almost 4-1/2 feet | | | | winter, and back to the northern waters in |
| long and weighed 78-1/2 pounds! | | | | spring and summer. Other populations remain |
| | | | in the same waters all year. |
| The Striped Bass's range was originally from | | | | |
| St. Lawrence River in Canada, south along the | | | | The eggs hatch in 29-80 hours. The young are |
| coast to the St. Johns River in Florida, and | | | | born without a mouth, existing completely on |
| west to the Gulf of Mexico. However, in 1941, | | | | the attached yolk sack for 2 to 4 days, after |
| when the Santee-Cooper River in North | | | | which the mouth forms. The fry then live on |
| Carolina was dammed, forming lakes Moultrie | | | | plankton until they reach a large enough size |
| and Marion, it was discovered that not only | | | | to eat smaller fish. They may remain in the |
| did the trapped Striped Bass in the | | | | river system for up to three years before |
| freshwater lakes not die, they actually | | | | going to the ocean. Most will begin migrating |
| adapted and flourished. | | | | to coastal waters after 1 year. |