Freshwater

Striped bass

Lobina rayada

Morone saxatilis

FreshwaterBrackishSaltwater

At a glance

Typical size

5–15 lb.

Depth

5–30 ft.

Best time

Early morning and evening; night in summer heat.

Found in

10 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Silver bass with 7–8 bold, unbroken black stripes along the sides.
Typical size: 5–15 lb.
Maximum size: About 5 ft and 125 lb.
Diet: Small fish, crayfish, frogs and insects.
Behavior: Ambushes prey from cover — weeds, logs, docks and drop-offs.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Florida Atlantic Coast, Florida Gulf Coast, Northern Gulf (AL–TX), North Carolina, Virginia & Chesapeake Bay, Delaware & New Jersey, New York, Long Island & Connecticut, Rhode Island & Massachusetts, New Hampshire & Maine and Central & Northern California. In Florida: the St. Johns River and Panhandle rivers (Apalachicola, Ochlockonee), plus spillways and cool springs.
Habitat: In Florida: the St. Johns River and Panhandle rivers (Apalachicola, Ochlockonee), plus spillways and cool springs.
Depth: 5–30 ft.
Fishing depth: 2–15 ft near cover and the first drop-off.
Best season: Spring spawn and fall feeding periods are best; winter fishing is slower but steady in Florida.
Best time: Early morning and evening; night in summer heat.
Best tides: In tidal rivers, moving water is best; in lakes watch wind and water level.
Best weather / conditions: Overcast days and the period before a front are often best.

What to tie on and what to throw.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: In Florida: the St. Johns River and Panhandle rivers (Apalachicola, Ochlockonee), plus spillways and cool springs.
Rig up: Medium spinning or baitcasting rod, 6.5–7 ft. Usually none; add a short fluorocarbon leader with braid.
Pick your bait: Live shad and shiners. Lures: Bucktail jigs, swimbaits and topwater plugs.
Fish it: Fish below dams and in cool-water areas in summer; cast to schools busting shad.
Time it: Early morning and evening; night in summer heat. In tidal rivers, moving water is best; in lakes watch wind and water level.

Fishing techniques: Fish below dams and in cool-water areas in summer; cast to schools busting shad.
BigJoe's tip: Stripers in Florida look for cool water — find springs and shaded creek mouths in summer.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Most of the time BigJoe keeps it simple: butter and SPG: salt, pepper and garlic. That's all rockfish needs. Blackened is good too. Skip the lemon: people use it to take away a fishy taste, and fresh fish doesn't have one. Cook to 145°F (63°C), until the flesh turns opaque and flakes easily.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Sharp teeth or gill rakers on some species — use pliers.
Regulations: Florida has a daily bag and size limit for striped bass (and its hybrid, sunshine bass) — check FWC. A Florida fishing license is required unless you are exempt; Florida rules are set by FWC (myfwc.com). Federal waters fall under NOAA Fisheries. Other states and countries set their own limits — check before you keep fish.
Conservation: Keep only what you'll eat, release the rest quickly, and follow size and bag limits.

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Sources & photo credits