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