Striped Bass

General Information

The striped bass, also known as rockfish				Windcheater during a stormy, fall night in
south of New Jersey, can be found all along				1982. The largest female bass ever caught in
the Atlantic coast from Florida to Maine.				a bay was 76 pounds. There have been
Striped bass are a popular game fish and				reports of striped bass netted weighing 125
they are much venerated among surf				lb (57 kg). However this was during the
fishermen. They can grow quite large: the				1700s. There has not been so large a fish
world record striped bass caught on rod and				recorded in recent history, however these
reel is 78 lb 8 oz (35.6 kg). It was landed				accounts indicate the growth potential that
from a jetty in Atlantic City, NJ by Albert				striped bass possess.
McReynolds. He was fishing a Rebel

Life Cycle

Striped bass breed in freshwater and spend				population such as the Takanasse Lake. It
their adult lives in saltwater. There are				is believed that many of the rivers and
three main breeding stocks of striped bass:				tributaries that emptied into the Atlantic,
Chesapeake Bay, Hudson River and Delaware				had at one time, breeding stock of striped
River. There are many smaller breeding areas				bass.
that contribute to the overall striped bass

Fishing for Striped Bass

Striped bass can be caught on a number of				fishing opportunity, especially with Pencil
baits including: clams, eels, anchovies,				Poppers or other similar trout-looking
bloodworms, night crawlers, chicken livers,				surface lures.
bunker/menhaden and sand worms. At other				In winter they still keep their haunts, and
times, striped bass can be very choosy about				do not go into deep water like other fish
the baits they take. Because of the wide				of similar habits. The word (bass) is said
variety of baits that are known to work and				to be a Dutch name, signifying perch; but it
their finicky nature, they are considered				little resembles the fish we know by that
among fishermen as being an opportunistic or				name. The bass is one of the most beautiful
“lazy” feeder. However, it is estimated				fish in point of color and perfect symmetry
that 90% of their diet is fish.				that swims, and next to the salmon is the
In many of the large reservoir impoundments				most delicious for the table.
across the United States, striped bass have				In the spring of the year the striped bass
been introduced by state game and fish				runs up the rivers and into other fresh
commissions to the pleasure of local				water places to spawn - and then again late
anglers. They have also been hybridized with				in the fall to shelter. The fall run is the
white bass to produce sunshine bass and				best. It can be taken, however, nearly all
stocked in many freshwater areas across the				the year round, and of all sizes.
U.S.				The apparatus for bass fishing is a pliable
This excellent fish is found all along the				rod from 12 to 18 ft (300 to 500 mm) in
Atlantic coast, from Florida to Maine, fish				length, according to circumstances. The reel
have been caught as far north as Hudson Bay,				should have 200 to 300 feet (60 to 90 m) of
and are common in parts of Nova Scotia. It				line, which may be made of flax or grass.
inhabits the rivers, bays, inlets and				Silk line is sometimes used. The swivel
creeks; and is taken in great abundance,				sinker and float should be gaged according
particularly in the Chesapeake Bay and its				to your ground. The leader should be three
tributaries. There, it frequently grows to				or four feet in length, with a Limerick or
the length of three, four and even five feet				Kirby hook from 0 to 3, according to the
and weighing in some instances, full one				size of the fish to be taken. Double leaders
hundred pounds! The striped bass will run up				are often necessary. Use your own judgment
some rivers a hundred miles or more, and in				in this respect. In boat fishing, the float
Maine they are found quite plentiful in the				is not usually used, and the sinker should
Penobscot. In the Connecticut, too, some				be light enough to float off with the tide,
very fine ones are taken, and surprisingly				but at the same time to touch bottom at all
the waters surrounding New York City have				times. By this mode you will get large fish,
proven a fertile fishing ground with good				as the large ones are generally nearest the
sized specimens being caught each spring.				bottom.
On the West Coast, stripers are found in				The best place for fishing bass is the
the Bay Delta and as a result have entered				quietest place you can find, and at full
the California Aqueduct canal and lake				neap tide. When this tide occurs early in
system. Buena Vista lakes, Pyramid Lake,				the morning, or late in the afternoon, and
Castaic Lake and Silverwood Lake all have an				if the wind is off shore and a gentle ripple
abundance of striped bass. The lake record				on the water you may take bass very easily,
at Pyramid is 42 lbs! Frequent "boils" or				and in abundance. In rivers, get in the
swarms of these fish may be observed in				exact channel, or over some deep cove, near
these lakes, representing an excellent				an outlet of a brook, or some small stream.

11/2002