The Virtual Aquarium of Virginia Tech--Striped Basses

Striped Bass, Morone saxatilis

 

Physical Description: 
ï¿½	Streamlined body
ï¿½	Slightly arched back
ï¿½	Terminal mouth, lower jaw slightly longer than upper jaw
ï¿½	Small teeth
ï¿½	Two dorsal fins, slightly separate, first dorsal fin with spines
ï¿½	Slightly forked tail fin
ï¿½	Concave anal fin
ï¿½	Dark, continuous stripes on body
ï¿½	Bluish back, white or silvery sides 

Similar species: 
ï¿½	White perch (Morone americana)
ï¿½	White bass (Morone chrysops)

Mean body size:
ï¿½	Adults are 300-900 mm standard length 

Habitat:
ï¿½	Schooling fish 
ï¿½	Large freshwater rivers, reservoirs, lakes, estuaries, and the ocean

Distribution in VA:
ï¿½	Stocked in nearly all of Virginia's reservoirs 
ï¿½	Native to the Atlantic slope drainages 
	
Food Habits:  
ï¿½	Fish, crabs, squid, insects, lobsters

Reproductive Habits: 
ï¿½	Mature at age 2
ï¿½	Anadromous, run upriver to spawn 
ï¿½	Spawning occurs April to early June in water around 10.5-23.6ï¿½C
ï¿½	Spawn near the surface in groups, broadcasting their gametes into current
ï¿½	Eggs are nonadhesive and buoyant
ï¿½	Larvae hatch, then float downstream to the Chesapeake Bay
ï¿½	Fecundity is 15,000-4,000,000 eggs per female
ï¿½	Hybridizes naturally with white bass (M. chrysops)

Population Status, Economic, or Ecological Importance: 
ï¿½	Great sport and food fish
ï¿½	Supports some commercial and major recreational fisheries
ï¿½	Population is of concern in Chesapeake Bay due to overexploitation, chemical contamination, and dams 
ï¿½	Moratorium 1988 to 1990 after the population increased

References:       

Jenkins, R.E and N.M. Burkhead. 1993. Freshwater Fishes of Virginia. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland.

If you are seeking more information for the above species click on the VAFWIS logo (The Virginia Fish and Wildlife Information Service):

Striped Bass

White Perch

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