Striped Bass Tip Videos
- Making Your Own Feathered Trebles
Feathered trebles add flash to any bait that uses treble hooks, here's how to make your own at home.
- Bobby's Perfect Frog
Snag Proof has developed a frog for fishing open water. This frog is weedless and sink proof the only place you are going to see that frog disappear is down the throat of a trophy fish!
- Live Target Frogs
Dave Mercer stops by the WFN booth at ICAST 2010 for a snack - I mean to talk about the winner of the Best Soft Plastic Lure, the Live Target Frog (Hollow-body). Mercer offers tips on how to rig up this frog and when to fish it.
- Michael Murphy On The Bubbling Shaker
Michael Murphy talks about the new Reins Bubbling Shaker at ICAST 2010 and his favorite way to fish these soft plastics.
- Preventing Line Twists
JP answers a new anglers questions about swivels. The main purpose for swivels is to prevent line twists and JP offers tips on picking the best type for your style of fishing.
- Working Owner's Wounded Minnow
JP talks about the best way to fish Owner's Wounded Minnow and land more fish with its unique action.
- Love Your Lake: Lake Texoma
Lake Texoma is one of only seven lakes in the USA where striped bass reproduce naturally, and with an abundance of them available to anglers, the lake is widely considered to be the best striper fishery in the country. But the lake also has largemouth and smallmouth bass and is a regular on pro fishing tours.
- Brent Ehrler Excited Over New Owner Hook
Pro angler Brent Ehrler goes over why the new Owner Twistlock is the best flipping hook on the market.
- New From Owner: Wacky Jig Head
Introduced at the 2010 ICAST show, Owner has designed a Wacky Jig Head to use with their new soft bait - the wounded minnow.
- The Number One Freshwater Reel ICAST 2010
Robby Gant of Shimano America talks about the great features of the Stella FE that won Shimano the top prize in freshwater reels at ICAST 2010.
- How To: Drifting For Stripers
Lake Texoma, located on the Texas/Oklahoma border, is considered to be one of the top bass fisheries in the USA. Striper Mark Thompson shows us how the local guides pursue these abundant fish with a method called drifting for stripers.
- Deep Cranking With JP
While everyone else is bottom fishing and getting no bites JP ties on a deep diving crank to bounce off the ledges and steep drop offs with great results.
- Browning On Live Target Gizzard Shad
Stephen Browning stops by the Getting School'd set at ICAST to talk about the Live Target Gizzard Shad he had a part in developing. Both the lipless and crankbait have great action and are sure to excite the bass into biting in the cooler water in the early spring and fall.
- Crews On The Spro Fat John
John Crews talks about the Spro Fat John, a crankbait he designed, at ICAST 2010. With a name like Fat John, you might think it is just a larger version of the older Little John but this crankbait's design has been modified enough that when you retrieve the lure the action is very different. Crews also explains the best set up and technique for fishing his bait.
- Local Flavor: Riverview Tournament
The Riverview Striped Bass tournament is held every year on election day. The competition is the largest single day Striper tournament on the east coast. The weigh in takes place at the Riverview restaurant on the Connetquot River in Oakdale Long Island which is less then 45 miles east of New York City.
- Kevin On His New Strike King KVD Crankbait
Kevin VanDam stops by the Getting School'd set at ICAST to talk about his new crankbaits and the benefits of its size and swimming action.
- Knot Tying Tip From JP
JP answers a viewer's email question about the best knot to tie to join a fluorocarbon leader to a braided main line.
- Power Team Lures
JP talks about the new Power Team Lures' Texas Rig Jig and the benefits to fishing this soft plastic out in the weeds
- My Town: Kingston
Located near the fishing hotspot known as Lake Texoma in Oklahoma, is the town of Kingston. The town is a favorite of lake tourists and holds the national sand Bass Festival and the National Stripe Festival each June.
- Local Flavor: Sandbridge Pier
The state of Virginia ha a multitude of piers along its coastline which are used for many activities such as exercise, sunbathing, kite flying, crabbing, photography, painting, site seeing and, of course, fishing. One such pier is the Sandbridge Pier, also known as Little Island Fishing Pier, which is located about 15 miles from Virginia Beach.
- My Town: Virginia Beach
Located at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay is Virginia Beach, the largest city by population in Virginia. Well known as a tourist destination thanks to its miles of beaches and many other summer attractions. Of course those beaches also offer anglers plenty of room to fish.
- Love Your Lake: Saylorville Lake
Located 11 miles upstream of Des Moines, Iowa, is Saylorville Lake, a reservoir built on the Des Monies River in 1958. Being a northern lake, anglers will enjoy fishing for bluegill, catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, striped bass, white bass and even some northern pike.
- Fish Facts: Hybrid Striped Bass
Did you know that one of the differences between white bass and hybrid striped bass is a row of teeth? Which fish has the extra row of teeth and what other differences separate these two fish? Iowa DNR Biologist Ben Dodd explains.
- Love Your Lake: San Francisco Bay
Perhaps best known for the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and the walrus that populate the docks, San Francisco Bay is a great tourist destination. But it's also a great place for anglers who are willing to challenge the cold and busy waters of San Fra
- Strike King Shim-E-Stick
Greg Hackney talks about how he likes to use the Strike King Shim-E-Stick.
Fresh Water
Salt Water
Striped Bass Species Identification
Striped Bass
Laura Salyers/NOAA
Appearance
Striped bass have full bodies with long horizontal black lines.
Maximum Size
Striped bass generally grow to lengths of up to 59 inches (149 cm) and weights of 55 to 77 pounds (25-35 kg). The largest striped bass on record is a 125-pound (56.8 kg) female caught off North Carolina in 1891.
Growth Rate
Growth rates are variable, depending on a combination of season, location, age, sex, and
competition. Growth is more rapid during the second and third years of life, before striped bass reach sexual maturity, than during later years. After age 4, growth may be 2.5 to 3 inches a year until age 8. Starting at age 4, females grow faster than males. Growth occurs between April and October.
Geographic Range
In the Atlantic, from the St. Lawrence River in Canada to St. John's River in Florida. Also found in the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Louisiana. Striped bass has successfully been introduced in numerous inland lakes and reservoirs and to the Pacific coast where it now occurs from Mexico to British Columbia.
Habitat
Striped bass larvae and postlarvae drift downstream toward nursery areas located in river deltas and the inland portions of the coastal sounds and estuaries. Juveniles typically remain in estuaries for two to four years and then migrate out to the Atlantic Ocean. Striped bass spend the majority of their adult life in coastal estuaries or the ocean. Important wintering grounds are located from Cape Henry, Virginia, south to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
Life Span
Striped bass are a long-lived species; they can live up to at least 30 years.
Food
Larvae and post-larvae feed on microscopic animals in riverine and estuarine areas; adults feed on a variety of invertebrates and fish species, particularly clupeids such as menhaden and river herring.
Reaches Reproductive Maturity
Males mature between the ages of 2 and 4; females mature between the ages of 4 and 8.
Reproduction
Striped bass are anadromous, meaning they live in the ocean but return to freshwater to spawn. Mature female striped bass (>age 4) produce large quantities of eggs, which are fertilized by mature males (>age 2) in riverine spawning areas. While developing, the fertilized eggs drift with the downstream currents and eventually hatch into larvae. The larvae and post-larvae begin feeding on microscopic animals during their downstream journey. After their arrival in the nursery areas, located in river
deltas and the inland portions of coastal sounds and estuaries, they mature into juveniles.
Spawning
Striped bass typically spawn from April to June, as they migrate into fresh or brackish water with temperatures between 50 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit (10-23°C). In general, the Chesapeake Bay spawning areas produce the majority of coastal migratory striped bass, with significant contributions from the Delaware River and Hudson River stocks.
Migrations
Generally migrate north and south seasonally and ascend to rivers to spawn in the spring. Males in the Chesapeake Bay may forego coastal migrations and remain within the Bay.
Predators
Predators of small striped bass include bluefish, weakfish, cod, and silver hake while adult striped bass have few predators, with the possible exception of seals and sharks.
Information courtesy of NOAA.
Striped Bass Tips
Winter Bass Fishing has Just Changed!
In this season of barren trees and overcast gray skies, cold air and cold water, some people think it is crazy to even think of going fishing. This does not discourage many anglers that know winter bass fishing in the months of December and January can be the best possible time to catch not only numbers of bass, but the biggest fish many lakes hold when the water is in the forty to
Can Fish Smell?
Really! Can Fish Smell? I still can't help but wonder why that fish followed my bait all the way up to two inches from it and then turned his nose up while swimming away. Was something wrong with my presentation? I spent $22.99 on that special lure. It should taste like steak and lobster for
What Are Stripers?
US Army Corps of EngineersThe term 'stripers' refers to the sport fish known as striped bass. As striper fishing has long been a popular pastime on the Atlantic coast of the United States, the striped bass actually represents the state saltwater fish of New Hampshire and New York, as well as the official state fish of Rhode Island, Maryland and South Carolina. Their native range extends all along the Atlantic coastline of the North American continent from the St. Lawrence River and Nova Scotia right down to the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Louisiana. A massive range to begin with, stripers travel even further as they head into freshwater territory to spawn, much like steelhead and salmon.
Beyond their native range, striped bass have been introduced as game fish into a variety of waters not only in the United States and Canada, but also other parts of the world. In some places, these fish are actually kept in landlocked bodies of water that are far different from what they would normally choose as a habitat. Beyond North America, due to their high levels of suitability as food fish, striped bass have been introduced into the waters of countries such as Mexico, Ecuador, South Africa, Latvia, Turkey, Russia and Iran. Here they are often fished for sport by local anglers or even raised as aquaculture exclusively for human consumption.
In terms of their appearance, stripers have a very streamlined body that is silver in color and marked with very distinctive dark stripes that run from their gills to the base of their tail. They can grow up to six-and-a-half feet in length and have been recorded weighing up to a whopping 125 pounds. This makes perfect sense when you consider that a striper is capable of living up to three decades, an amazing feat for any fish. Their size and typical bass fighting spirit makes for an enjoyable catch.
It should be noted that stripers have been hybridized with different species of fish, such as white bass. This produces a hybrid called a 'wiper' that is often stocked in the parts of the US as a purely game fish.
How Does The Striper Life Cycle Work?
The majority of any striper's life is going to be spent out in the Atlantic Ocean, which is where the vast bulk of striper fishing is done. However, they do return to freshwater to reproduce. Freshwater striper fishing is at its best when they are on their way out of spawning areas and heading back to saltwater.
The primary locations in which stripers are known to breed are the Cape Cod Bay in Massachusetts, the Hudson River , the Chesapeake Bay and the Delaware River. This is their current stronghold now, but many fish scientists believe that many of the tributary rivers that flow to the Atlantic used to serve as spawning grounds for stripers many years ago, before efforts to conserve the fish were taken up as a serious cause. Even former President George W. Bush signed legislation to make the striped bass a protected species under federal laws and encouraged states to do what they could to conserve this popular sport fishing species for anglers and to restore natural balance in the local ecology.
Aside from these top areas where striper fishing is done, some lesser known places where these bass are prominent in some form are Lake Marion in South Carolina, where a dam's construction landlocked the breeding population there, as well as the Arkansas River and nearby Lake Texoma. In addition, the California Delta near where the Sacramento flows into the Pacific Ocean also now hosts these incredible fish. These are places where striper fishing in freshwater environs is possible.
Striped Bass Photo Galleries
What Is Striper Fishing Like?
Utah DNRFor starters, fishing for stripers is going to depend largely on the location. Since these fish live in both freshwater and marine environments, taking into account the natural surroundings is essential. This way, you will be able to customize your approach to that particular population of fish. A number of different baits will work for these fish, including live or cut bait. The baits that many anglers prefer range from clams, sand worms, herring, and eels to, shad, menhaden, and squid. Once in a while these fish get picky so when fishing for stripers always be on the look out for a way to spice up your mix of baits and lures to try and entice the fish you really want. Most anglers suggest shad as the top bait for fishing for striper in freshwater conditions, especially as the primary diet for stripers are fish.
There are certain times of year when surf fishing for striped bass is going to work very well and those who want to know exactly when should ask a fishing guide in their area, since this will vary from one place to the next. With surf fishing, you'll need a 10-12 foot rod with 20-30 pound test line. The fish is often referred to as a 'lazy feeder,' often because it swims up current and waits for prey to come to it rather than trying to hunt for food on its own. So when you're out on the water, ensure you're trolling or reeling into the current for best results.
Very long battles are common with the smart and determined striper, some can even last over half-an-hour long. The largest striper ever caught with rod-and-reel was way back in 1982, a 78.5 pound monster just outside of Atlantic City, New Jersey way back in 1982.
Some Tips For Those Looking To Fish For Stripers
USFWSScientific research has shown that 90 percent of this species' diet consists of fish of one species or another. This means that making sure your lure at least looks like this will go along way towards landing that trophy striper.
When blood worms, clams and shad are not cutting it, try out sand fleas or even crustaceans that feed in the wash from the surf. You might be surprised at just how well they will work for you. Eel and squid work remarkably well as bait, especially when surf casting.
If you see stripers schooling then many expert striper fishing guides will tell you to use an artifical lure after they have begun feeding. The baitfish's size should determine the size of the lure you choose. Topwaters, spoons and very large plugs are all capable of working, as well as artificial eels, so be sure to try everything in your arsenal when angling for a striper. Don't be afraid to change it up for this finicky fish.
The best time to go out for stripers is at night. You may have success during the day, but the fish is primarily a nocturnal feeder.
