Species Spotlight: Striped Bass
Striped Bass season is almost officially upon us in New York State! Striped Bass are members of the family Moronidae and found primarily along the Atlantic coast of North America. They are a temperate fish, meaning they can live in waters between 57-75°F. They are also known as Stripers, Linesiders, Rocks, and Rockfish.
The population of Striped Bass along the northeast has decreased over the years, largely due to the mortality rate of these fish after they are released from being caught. New York State has determined that the population is threatened and has created a new "Size Slot" fishing regulaltion. Fish any smaller than 28 inches and any larger than 35 inches may not be kept. Did you know, CCE has a Striped Bass Project dedicated to outreach and the education for anyone fishing recreationally to ensure the survival of this species!
For more information, please check out the CCE Striped Bass Outreach and Education webpage!
Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
Striped Bass are known for their seven to eight dark longitudinal stripes running from their gills to their tails.
Striped Bass schooling.
Adult Striped Bass can range between 16 inches to 30 inches on average in length.
Striped Bass are a popular recreational fishing species.
Striped Bass
Scientific Name: Morone saxatilis
Identification: Adult Striped Bass can range between 16 inches to 30 inches on average in length. Striped Bass are known for their seven to eight dark longitudinal stripes running from their gills to their tails. They are light green, olive, steel blue, black, or brown on top, with a white or silver iridescent underside. They also have 8 to 10 spines located along their first dorsal fin.
Diet: Striped Bass are opportunistic predatory fish. They ambush prey such as bunker, alewife, and eels, and are also known to eat crustaceans, worms, insects and even clams. Larval Striped Bass feed on zooplankton (microscopic animals), while juveniles eat insect larvae, small crustaceans, mayflies, and other larval fish.
Habitat: Striped Bass are native to coastal waterways along the Atlantic coastline of North America. They are able to inhabit fresh, salt, and brackish waters! Striped Bass are anadromous breeders. Much like salmon, these fish will live their adult lives in the ocean and enter freshwater rivers and streams to spawn.
Find this Species: Striped Bass can be found pretty much everywhere on Long Island! This species is subject to closed and open fishing seasons in New York. When it comes to Striped Bass fishing, the season is open from April through mid-December. This is when they are the most abundant in our waters!
Interesting Facts: Striped bass have a fairly long life, up to 30 years!
Adults spawn during the spring months in fresh running waters. During spawning, numerous males will court a single female. A single female can lay one million eggs for every 10 pounds of body weight! Once the female lays her eggs, the adults will travel back down stream and continue out to the ocean.
The eggs will then hatch and the juvenile stripers will spend up to 2 years of their life in the shallow tidal waters before entering the ocean. These fish will then come back to these freshwater tributaries the next spawning season and the cycle will continue. Ospreys pair for life and usually return to the same nest every year to lay their eggs.
Adult Striped Bass have few predators, with the exception of seals and sharks. However, bluefish, weakfish, cod, and silver hake prey on juvenile striped bass.