Scientific Name
Morone saxatilis
Other Names
Rock fish, Stripe, Greenhead, Striper, and Sea-run.
Description
Striped bass are laterally compressed, elongated fish with large mouths. The back is olive green or blue-green with a white belly. The sides have up to nine dark lateral stripes against a silver or silvery-blue background. They can be distinguished from white bass by having several stripes extending to the tail, two tooth patches on the back of the tongue, a torpedo shaped body, and normally a larger size. These fish usually weigh between 5 and 15 pounds but can weigh up to 60 pounds or more with fish living in reservoirs growing faster than those in rivers. Striped bass can live up to 12 years.
Habits and Habitat
Striped bass feed on insect larvae, shrimp, small crustaceans, and fish, particularly shad. These bass live in freshwater streams, reservoirs, and coastal drainages. Striped bass prefer cooler water, especially larger striped bass. Because of this, stripers typically don’t do well in Mississippi reservoirs. These fish will spawn as early as February or as late as April when water temperatures reach about 57ºF to 70ºF.
State Record
The Mississippi Rod and Reel record weighing 37.8 pounds was caught in 1993 by T. Graves in the Bouie River.
Fishing Fact
Slab spoons, deep running artificial lures, and jigs (particularly chartreuse and white colors) are effective when trying to land a striped bass.