Growing as long as six feet, the Striped Bass is the largest fish in the temperate bass family. It lives mostly in coastal marine waters, but swims into fresh water to spawn. It is such a popular sport fish that freshwater populations have been introduced into many reservoirs in North America. The temperate basses are a family of silvery, spiny-rayed fishes with two separate dorsal fins and moderately forked tails. Their bodies are generally compressed and deep. They have three spines in the anal fin, and their lateral line stops at the base of the tail fin.

Look For: A large, silvery-white bass with dark lines along the sides. Juveniles also have indistinct vertical bands.


Length: 6'.

Habitat: Ocean. Spawns in freshwater estuaries.

Range: Atlantic Ocean and associated rivers from St. Lawrence River to Florida; Lake Ponchartrain, Louisiana. Widely introduced in Mississippi River system, Colorado River, and coastal streams from Washington to California.