Brackish

Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis · Moronidae

Also known as: Striper, Rockfish, Linesider

A migratory, hard-pulling gamefish and the premier inshore target of the US East Coast.

Identification

Silvery, streamlined body with seven or eight dark, unbroken horizontal stripes along the flanks.

Coastal surf, estuaries, and bays; anadromous, running up rivers to spawn. Landlocked populations thrive in reservoirs.

Native to the US Atlantic and Gulf coasts; introduced to the Pacific coast and many inland reservoirs.

Baitfish (menhaden, herring, sand eels), squid, crabs, and worms.

Spring, running up freshwater rivers to release eggs into the current; the eggs drift and hatch downstream.

Fish moving water — tide rips, inlets, and current edges — especially at dawn, dusk, and after dark.

Best techniques

Lures & baits

Best season: The spring and fall migrations (the 'run').