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During the spawning season (from April to June), there are four important breeding grounds - Chesapeake Bay, Massachusetts Bay/Cape Cod, the Hudson River and the Delaware River. Lawrence River down to the Gulf of Mexico (from Florida to Louisiana). It’s been proven that an alarming number of fish die after being caught and released, and circle hooks cause less damage and therefore could cut that ratio down.ĭepending on the time of the year, Stripers can be found from the St. Another worthwhile note when fishing for Stripers is to use circle hooks. Bucktails, silver spoons and shad baits are also used effectively. I’ve had multiple people tell me that every Striped Bass they’ve ever caught has come on live eels, but bunker, clam, sandworms, herring, bloodworms, mackerel, shad, bluegills, worms and crayfish are also commonly used depending on where you’re fishing (always match the hatch!). A lot of fishermen also rely on live and dead bait. When surfcasting, topwater lures are usually an effective move. Montauk in particular is considered one of the best surfcasting spots in the world!ĭepending on who you ask and whether you’re fishing from a boat or the surf, you’ll hear a million different “best approaches”. Striper fishing has remained important to communities throughout the Atlantic region carried on today on Long Island by legends such as Bill Wetzel, John Skinner and Zeno Hromin.
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This led to the eventual passage of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 which would later evolve into the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other legislation to protect regional fisheries. The excess was used as fertilizer up until 1639 when the state of Massachusetts observed that the fishery was significantly depleted. The colonies would salt the bass and store them as an important food source during the winter months. In 1634, William Wood’s “New England Project” used seine nets to capture thousands of bass per catch. In 1607, Captain John Smith wrote about the quality of the waters in the Chesapeake Bay, a pivotal Striper breeding ground. Striped Bass fishing along the Atlantic coast dates back to the Colonial period. They grow larger than males and can lay up to three million eggs. Striped Bass don’t have eyelids, so when the sun comes up, they retreat to deeper water to avoid the bright light of the sun. The fact that all of these states hold the species in such high esteem shows the importance of the species to the Atlantic ecosystem. They’re also the state saltwater fish of New York, New Jersey, Virginia and New Hampshire. The Striped Bass is the state fish of Maryland, Rhode Island and South Carolina. Here are a few more fun Striper facts to round out this section: Conservation information can be found later in this blog. That being said, there are concerns recently about the health of the fishery that should be kept in mind. wild-caught Atlantic Striped Bass is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. They’re a seafood favorite throughout their range as they can be pan-seared, grilled, steamed, poached, roasted, broiled, sautéed or deep fried. On the other side of the coin (meaning Stripers as food), they have a firm white meat with a mild flavor. When they reach maturity, Menhaden (commonly known as Bunker) become the top item on the Striper’s menu, but they’ll also feed on alewives, herring, smelt, eels, flounders, mummichogs and silversides. The larvae will feed on zooplankton, switching to small shrimps and other crustaceans as well as worms and insects when they’re juvenile. Their diet consists mostly of plankton, insects, crustaceans and small fish depending on where they are in their life cycle. Striped Bass are anadromous, meaning they start their lives in fresh water but spend most of their lives at sea with the exception of when it is time to spawn. More commonly, mature Striped Bass will be in the 20-40 pound range and 20-35 inches long. How large a specimen will grow can depend on where they live and how old it is, which can be up to thirty years old.
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Size-wise, Stripers are the largest of the temperate basses and can grow up to five feet and get close to eighty pounds.