Inshore

Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis

Avg. Weight

15.0 lbs

Avg. Length

28+ inches

World Record

81.9 lbs

Found In

38 Destinations

About Striped Bass

Striped Bass — called "stripers" or "rockfish" in the Chesapeake — are the most iconic gamefish of the Atlantic coast. Their silver body with bold black horizontal stripes, powerful build, and aggressive feeding make them a favorite from Virginia to Massachusetts. The spring and fall migrations create legendary fishing runs as massive schools move along the coast. Stripers are found in both salt and fresh water, and the Chesapeake Bay serves as the primary nursery for the Atlantic population. They are excellent eating, with firm, white, mildly flavored flesh.

Identification & Appearance

Silver body with 7-8 bold, continuous black horizontal stripes running from behind the gill plate to the tail. Dark olive-green to blue-black on the back, bright silver on the sides, white belly. Large mouth with the lower jaw slightly protruding. Powerful, forked tail.

Male vs. Female

Females grow much larger than males. Virtually all stripers over 30 lbs are female ("cow bass"). Males rarely exceed 20 lbs. Females are the primary spawners in the Chesapeake Bay in spring.

Size, Weight & Records

Average catch is 18-28 inches (3-10 lbs). Quality "keepers" run 28-36 inches (10-20 lbs). Trophy "cow" stripers exceed 40 inches and 30+ lbs. The world record is 81 lbs 14 oz, caught in Long Island Sound, Connecticut in 2011.

Seasonal Availability

Peak Season Good Fair Off Season

Jan

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Dec

Popular Bait & Fishing Methods

Best Techniques

Live bait (bunker/menhaden, eels, mackerel) fished on a fishfinder rig or chunk rig near structure, rip currents, and drop-offs is the most consistent technique. Trolling umbrella rigs and tube-and-worm behind planer boards covers water during migrations. Casting topwater plugs (Pencil Poppers, Atom Poppers) into blitzing schools on the surface at dawn/dusk is the most exciting striper fishing. Fly fishing with Deceiver, Clouser, and Grocery Fly patterns during the fall run is world-class. Live eels drifted at night around rocky structure is the go-to for trophy fish.

Recommended Tackle

Medium to medium-heavy spinning rod (7-9 ft), 4000-6000 reel, 20-40 lb braid, 30-40 lb fluorocarbon leader. For surf casting: 10-11 ft surf rod, 6000+ reel, 50 lb braid. Fly: 9-10 weight rod with intermediate line.

Regulations & Bag Limits

Regulations vary significantly by state. Common slot limits of 28-35 inches with 1-2 fish bag limits. Some states have seasonal closures. Catch-and-release practices are increasingly encouraged to protect breeding stock. Circle hooks are required in some states.

Regulations change frequently. Always verify current rules with your charter captain or state wildlife agency before fishing.