Striped Bass

fish · anadromous · Atlantic coast · game fish

Bold Black Stripes. Striped bass get their name from the dark stripes running along their silver sides, which makes them easy to spot in the water. These stripes help them blend in among rocks and plants where they hunt.

Ocean to River Travelers. Striped bass are anadromous, which means they live in the ocean but swim up rivers to lay their eggs. This incredible journey happens every year, and these fish can live for many decades making the trip.

Prized Game Fish. Anglers love catching striped bass because they put up an amazing fight and can grow quite large. They're found all along the Atlantic coast and have been introduced into lakes and rivers across the United States.

Gulf Coast Cousins. Striped bass in the Gulf of Mexico are actually a different strain from the Atlantic ones and have adapted to warmer waters. Scientists track them separately to protect each population.