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Striped Bass

Striped Bass

The state is home to both Atlantic coast strain and Gulf coast strain stripers, with the Gulf strain being native to Alabama's historical range.

Today's Alabama striped bass populations consist primarily of stocked fish, with some limited natural reproduction occurring in areas like the Tennessee River system below Guntersville Dam and the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River system.

Scientific Name: Morone saxatilis

Also known as stripers

Physical Characteristics:
  • Striped Bass in Alabama are distinguished by their elongated bodies and continuous black horizontal stripes running from nose to tail.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Historically, striped bass were found from the Suwannee River, Florida, westward to Louisiana's Lake Pontchartrain basin, including Alabama's river systems.
  • In Alabama waters, they inhabit both large reservoirs and tailwater areas below dams, preferring areas with adequate forage and thermal refugia during hot summer months.

Key Locations

  • Key Alabama striped bass waters include Lake Guntersville, Wheeler Lake, Weiss Lake, Smith Lake, Lake Martin, the Tennessee River system, the Coosa River, parts of the Alabama River system, and the Chattahoochee River along the Georgia-Alabama border.
  • Focus on tailwater areas below dams like Guntersville Dam, Wheeler Dam, Lewis Smith Dam, and West Point Dam on the Chattahoochee River.

Specific Spots

  • Always fish areas with current breaks, structure, and baitfish concentrations for best results.
  • Where stripers concentrate during spawning runs.
  • Troll for suspended fish over deep main lake points and channel edges.

Striped Bass FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Striped Bass in Alabama?

Popular lures include Sassy Shad swimbaits, white and yellow jigs, spoons, live gizzard shad on Santee rigs, and various shad-imitating baits.

What flies work for Striped Bass in Alabama?

Large saltwater streamers, Clouser Minnows, large baitfish patterns like Deceivers and streamers in white, chartreuse, and shad colors.

When is the best time to fish for Striped Bass in Alabama?

The best fishing for Alabama striped bass occurs during cooler months, particularly March through May during their spring runs, and again in fall when temperatures drop.

How do you catch Striped Bass in Alabama?

Focus on tailwater areas below dams and fish these areas by motoring to the dam and drifting back while fishing with the current. In summer, target deep thermal refuges and spring-fed areas where water stays cooler. Troll for suspended fish over deep main lake points and channel edges.

What do Striped Bass eat?

Striped bass are primarily piscivorous, feeding overwhelmingly on shad species (Dorosoma spp.), which comprise about 93% of their diet according to studies from Weiss Lake. They also consume other baitfish, crustaceans, and occasionally other fish species.

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