The Fishing Report
Fishing seasons & conditions by region
Striped Bass Morone saxatilis
Striped Bass Size, Range & Diet
| Typical size | 20–36 in, 4–20 lb |
|---|---|
| Maximum | up to 5 ft and 81 lb |
| Lifespan | up to 30 years |
| Range | Atlantic coast from the Gulf of St. Lawrence south to northern Florida — the Chesapeake and Hudson are the big nurseries — plus an introduced West Coast population centered on San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. |
| Habitat | Surf, rips, rocky points and the current seams around inlets and bridges; pushes far up brackish rivers and estuaries to spawn in spring. |
| Diet | Menhaden, herring, sand eels, silversides and American eels, along with crabs and squid. |
Sizes are typical rod-and-reel and documented maximum figures, not size limits — see the regulations links below for the rules where you fish.
How to Identify a Striped Bass
- 7-8 dark, unbroken horizontal stripes on silvery flanks
- stripes run continuous from gill cover to tail base
- two clearly separate dorsal fins, front one spiny
- olive-green to blue-gray back, white belly
- stout, slightly arched body with a long head
Tell it apart: Clean, continuous, straight horizontal stripes (not broken, wavy, or staggered) over a silvery body confirm it, and the front spiny dorsal stands fully separate from the soft rear dorsal.
Side by side: Striped Bass vs Weakfish
How to Catch Striped Bass
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- Best in the spring run (Apr-May) and fall blitz (Oct-Nov) - cast swimming plugs and bucktails to migrating schools; livelining bunker or eels works through summer.GearSwimming plugsBucktail jigsSurf casting rod
- The marquee fish, best May through October - work swimming plugs, bucktails and soft plastics in the rips, or live-line eels and bunker at night.GearSwimming plugsSoft-plastic baitsSurf casting rod
- Best in the spring run, April and May, and again in fall — troll deep-diving plugs and cast swimbaits, switching to bait soaking in cold water.GearDiving trolling plugsBucktail swimbaitsSliding bait rig
When & Where Striped Bass Are in Season
Peak Good Fair Slow
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-Atlantic Inshore | ||||||||||||
| Northeast Inshore | ||||||||||||
| Northern California Inshore |
Striped Bass Regulations
VirginiaVirginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC)MarylandMaryland Department of Natural Resources, Fishing and Boating ServicesDelawareDelaware DNREC, Division of Fish & WildlifeNew JerseyNew Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish & Wildlife (NJDEP Fish & Wildlife)New YorkNew York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), Division of Marine ResourcesMid-Atlantic Fishery Management CouncilMAFMCAtlantic States Marine Fisheries CommissionASMFCConnecticutConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Marine FisheriesRhode IslandRhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), Division of Marine FisheriesMassachusettsMassachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF), Department of Fish and Game / Mass.govNew HampshireNew Hampshire Fish and Game Department (Marine Fisheries Division)MaineMaine Department of Marine Resources (DMR)NOAA Fisheries (Greater Atlantic Region / New England-Mid-Atlantic)NEFMCCaliforniaCalifornia Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Marine RegionNOAA Fisheries (West Coast Region)PFMC
Always check local regulations — seasons, size, and bag limits vary by state and species, and change year to year. When in doubt, release.