Bony fish · Perciformes · Moronidae

Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The Atlantic striped bass is an anadromous fish found along the Atlantic coast of North America, from northern Florida to the estuary of the St Lawrence river. It has been successfully introduced into several lakes and reservoirs of the continent and onto the Pacific coast, where it can now be found from Mexico to British Columbia. The Atlantic coast stocks originate in Chesapeake Bay, the Delaware river and the Hudson river. It makes seasonal migrations from the coast of North Carolina to Nova Scotia.

Weight

31.4 kg on average

Size

up to 2 m

Lifespan

30 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Social structure

School

Gathers in coordinated schools, typical of fish.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

OceanCarnivore In schools Fish Ocean

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Fun facts

It is anadromous: it spawns in fresh water, rears in the estuary and spends its adult life at sea, but it can complete the whole cycle in fresh water, which is why it has been stocked into reservoirs across half the United States.
At spawning, seven or eight males surround a larger female and push her towards the surface, a commotion anglers call a rock fight.
Unlike salmon, it spawns several times over its lifetime.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bony fish)
Habitat & environment: Estuaries and coastal waters of the North American Atlantic; it runs up tidal rivers to spawn and the juveniles grow in the estuary before moving out to sea
Sexual maturity: Males at around 3 years old and over 30 cm; females between 4 and 6 years old and over 40 cm

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morone_saxatilis