Striped Bass Fishing: A Fun Sport for the Whole Family!

fishing bass kayak

Striped bass fishing is very popular in the eastern part of the USA. During the summer months, many anglers enjoy this sport while adding a tasty, protein-packed meal to their families’ menu.

What Is Striped Bass Fishing?

This kind of fishing refers to a special sea dweller. The striped bass is a fish of many names. The zoological term is Morone saxatilis, but called striped sea bass, striper, or linesider. When anglers talk about hunting Atlantic striped bass, rockfish, or rock, they mean striped bass fishing.

There are many reasons why the striped bass is so popular with anglers. It’s a strong fighter, which makes this type of fishing a special challenge for sport anglers. Rockfish can grow up to two meters long and weigh 57 kilograms. On average, the fish are about two to three feet long and weigh 11 to 22 pounds.

The striper has an elongated and robust body. They have a silver coloring, although their head and back are usually somewhat darker and appear greenish. Notice the pattern on its flanks- usually, you’ll find seven or eight brown stripes from head to tail. Those stripes are the reason for the “striped bass” fish name.

Young rockfish mainly eat small crustaceans or shrimps as well as worms and insects. Full-grown specimens mostly feed on smaller fish, cephalopods, or crabs. No wonder that the striped bass is considered a voracious predator! It’s also not too difficult to find quality striper lures since they have such a robust diet.

What Is a Hybrid Striper?

A hybrid striper, also known as a Whiterock bass or a wiper, is created by cross-breeding a white bass and striped bass. Hybrids live in slow-moving streams, lakes, ponds, and large reservoirs. The combination of white bass genes allows hybrids to have a greater tolerance for warm water temperatures up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Bass fishing for hybrids is most popular in large southeast reservoirs and lakes.

What’s the Best Equipment for Striped Bass Fishing?

Here’s what you should consider when choosing bait. Wobblers or rubber jigs with a heavy lead head and strong action (action shad) are perfect for catching rockfish. But crankbaits that emulate strong movement in the water also work great for striped bass fishing. Spinners or cicadas promise a high catch quota as well.

There’s a general rule with bass: Bait should be a treat for the eyes. This predatory fish looks closely at its prey before pouncing. That’s why bass anglers with experience pay attention to detail when choosing bait. They’ve found that lures with glued-on fake eyes can be highly effective.

To successfully fish striped bass, you should cast your lure as fast and aggressively as possible. If a fish has taken the bait, however, you need to concentrate! Since fish have a soft mouth, they are often lost at this point. That’s why you have to reel them in quickly, but with finesse. To do that, you should choose a fishing rod that’s not too stiff. Also, don’t adjust the brake too hard!

Where Can You Catch Striped Bass?

Striped bass mostly live in the western Atlantic. They live everywhere from the St. Lorenz River in Canada to St. John’s River in the state of Florida and even in the Gulf of Mexico. Coastlines and bays are its habitats, which makes trolling for bass easier there. You’ll often find popular fishing spots in these places. During the spawning season in spring, rockfish even swim into freshwater rivers to lay eggs on sandbanks. As a result, although there are large populations in freshwater, rockfish mostly live in saltwater.

Since rockfish fishing is possible in shallow waters, you can do it with the whole family. Children love picking out fun lures and jig when they’re getting ready to fish for rockfish or striped bass. Your family can try it on the banks of smaller rivers. Rockfish fishing from a boat is also very popular. You don’t even need a large boat- you could fish from a sea kayak if that’s your preference! Just remember to follow these safety rules  – especially with children.

Popular locations you can find striped bass include Lake Texoma, New Jersey, North Carolina, the Santee-Cooper lake system, and the Chesapeake Bay. However, check local websites for rules and info about seasonal restrictions, including bag limits.

How Do You Cook Striped Bass?

Whether grilled, cooked, smoked, steamed, or fried – striped bass brings variety to the table. In a fish restaurant, it’s often on the menu alongside other local specialties such as lobster. You can prepare this delicious fish in all kinds of ways. Here are a few of our favorite striper recipes.

Grilled Striper: Marinate your fish in about 1/4 cup olive oil, 3 Tbsp freshly-squeezed lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper for about 30 minutes. Heat in a grill pan skin-side down until the skin is browned and crispy on medium-high heat. Delicately flip the bass fillets and cook for about 5-6 minutes more until the center is opaque and cooked through. Enjoy!

Striped Bass Sashimi: If you’re doing some saltwater fishing, you can enjoy your striper without cooking at all. Slice the thickest portion finely against the grain and serve it with soy sauce, wasabi, and ginger. Or, enjoy it ceviche-style sprinkled with salt and lemon.

Fried Striper: If you’re more in the mood for something crispy on the outside, but light on the inside, this might be the fish for you! This crisp, crunchy fish has just a fraction of the fat – and none of the mess – of deep-fat frying. You’ll want three dishes for your coating– the first has flour, salt, and pepper. The second bag has water and egg white, and the third has breadcrumbs and cornmeal. Working with 1 fillet at a time, dredge and coat the fish in each mixture in this order: flour mixture, egg white mixture, and breadcrumb mixture. Repeat the procedure with remaining fillets, pan-fry in butter and vegetable oil, and serve with your favorite sides.

Oven-Roasted Striped Bass: Try this delicious recipe, chock full of delicious herbs and seasonings.

lemon herb striped bass

Herb and Lemon Oven-Roasted Striped Bass

If you just got back from a fishing trip, this recipe is perfect for your wild-caught bass. Pair with a green salad and a side of rice.
4.80 from 6 votes
Prep Time 4 minutes
Cook Time 13 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people
Calories 42 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 4 filets striped bass
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme
  • 1 tsp chopped fresh oregano
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp freshly-ground pepper

Instructions
 

Herb and Lemon Oven-Roasted Striped Bass

  • Preheat oven to 425°. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
  • Arrange the fish on a pan. Grate 1 tsp of lemon rind. Juice lemon to measure 1 Tablespoon. Combine lemon rind, lemon juice, oil, thyme, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Drizzle the herb mixture over fish.
  • Bake at 425° F for 13 minutes or until it’s reached the desired doneness.

Nutrition

Calories: 42kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 147mgPotassium: 51mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 40IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 1mg
Keyword healthy, main course
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Why Is Striped Bass Fishing so Popular?

There are many reasons why the striped bass is so popular with anglers. It’s a strong fighter, which makes this type of fishing a special challenge for sport anglers. Rockfish can grow up to two meters long and weigh 57 kilograms. On average, the fish are about two to three feet long and weigh 11 to 22 pounds. A catch like this is of course very rewarding.

What Is the Best Baitfish for Striper Fishing?

Live bait is always a good idea because striped bass is opportunistic feeders. Eels, bunker, herring, soft crabs, squids, clams, bloodworms, and sandworms are all live bait to consider. Stripers will tend to focus on prey that’s plentiful– so the best kind of live bait will change based on time and place. Research what kinds of bait are common for the area and conditions in which your fishing before you make a decision.

It’s important to note that effective January 1, 2021, non-offset (inline) circle hooks must be used when fishing for striped bass with natural baits. Using inline circle hooks significantly increases the survival of caught and released striped bass by reducing gut hooking.

What Is the Best Lure for Striper Fishing?

Diamond jig— this is about as basic it gets when it comes to bait, but you can’t go wrong with this classic. They’re remarkably effective, especially when big bass are in deep water with a strong current. Their streamlined shape and weight allow them to reach the bottom quickly in strong currents.

Feathered bucktail jig— Bucktail jigs are time-tested lures that are one of the most effective fish catchers you can snap or tie onto your line. They can be fished in a number of ways in varying locations from shore and boat, and they will catch just about anything that swims in the ocean. Fall is prime time to fish the bucktail jig. If you want to be prepared, it pays to have a few versatile bucktail jigs as part of your arsenal of artificials.

Best Tips for Striped Bass Fishing With Kids

  • Buy good equipment: Avoid cheap rods and reels designed for children. While they’re convenient, the line is usually cheap and will snag easily. Spool the reel with a fresh line and attach the float for dock and boat fishing.
  • Find a good location: Avoid crowded areas. Beginners are often over-excited and more likely to cast into the crowd than catch a fish on their first attempts. Smaller lakes and ponds also offer smaller fish perfect for beginner anglers.
  • Practice: Practice casting in an empty fishing lot or park area before taking them to a pond or lake. It’ll get them excited and help build their confidence. Once they’ve had success with the float, encourage them to practice feeling for nibbles from the line.
  • Safety: Kids should wear life jackets even if they’re fishing from shore, especially if they’re very young. On the first few outings, they’re often very excited and we don’t want any mishaps.
  • License: Many states and provinces require licenses for children. Check with your local tackle shop before heading out.
  • Bait: For older children, catching their own bait is a great experience. For younger children, take them to the woods, having them look under logs and rocks for their own bait.
  • Snacks: Snacks and drinks are essential when fishing with young children, especially on hot days.
  • Conservation: Share concepts such as catch and release and the importance of conservation in order to make sure that future generations have the opportunity to fish.
  • Children have short attention spans. While there is no age limit for fishing, keep in mind the duration and scope of the outing. A weekend camping trip might be too much for a 3-year-old unless the camping trip has more activities other than a long fishing expedition. Start off with fishing by the shore.

All About That Bass

Have you gone striped bass fishing before?  Maybe you have a go-to recipe for your fresh catches! Be sure to share photos of your biggest catch with your family on FamilyApp!

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