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Striped Bass

Striped Bass

Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) in Georgia are found in both coastal rivers and inland lakes/reservoirs. The species is native to Atlantic coastal waters from the St.

Lawrence River to Louisiana, with Georgia's coastal rivers supporting naturally occurring populations.

Georgia also has landlocked striped bass populations in lakes like Lanier, Allatoona, Clarks Hill, and West Point Lake, established through stocking programs.

Scientific Name: Morone saxatilis

Physical Characteristics:
  • Common mature size ranges from 20-40 pounds in coastal waters, while inland populations typically run smaller at 2-10 pounds.
  • The species can live up to 30 years and grow quite large - the largest recorded was 124 pounds.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • These anadromous fish naturally migrate between fresh and saltwater, but landlocked populations complete their entire lifecycle in freshwater.
  • Georgia's coastal rivers support river-run populations that spend winters in deep saltmarsh channels, then move upstream in spring to spawn in tidal freshwater reaches.

Key Locations

  • Georgia's coastal rivers like the Savannah, Ogeechee, Altamaha, and Satilla.
  • Key Georgia lakes include Lanier and Allatoona for large stripers, Clarks Hill for stripers and hybrids, and smaller waters like those in state parks for consistent action.

Specific Spots

  • Target windblown banks and creek mouths in afternoons.
  • In coastal rivers, focus on bridge pilings, creek mouths, and current breaks.
  • Summer requires deep water 30-120 feet.
  • After spawning, they move to cool-water summer refuges near dams and springs.

Striped Bass FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

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

Small artificials like 1/8-1/4 oz jigheads with 2-3 inch soft plastic tails, Zoom Super Flukes in white ice or albino, small bucktail jigs, topwater plugs like Lucky Craft Sammy in ghost color, 2-oz Rat-L-Traps, bucktail jigs (1/2-2 oz), large grubs, live herring, shrimp, and shad.

What flies work for Striped Bass in Georgia?

Small threadfin shad imitations work well during cold months, while larger baitfish patterns excel during warmer periods.

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

Spring (March-April) is prime time as fish move shallow after winter. May-June offers the best consistent action. Summer (July-August) requires fishing deep water 30-120 feet. Fall brings renewed shallow action, particularly November-December when fish become active again.

How do you catch Striped Bass in Georgia?

Trolling, jigging, live bait fishing with herring or shad, and topwater fishing during active periods. Summer requires using downriggers or Carolina rigs with herring, plus jigging spoons near marked fish on electronics.

What do Striped Bass eat?

Striped bass are opportunistic predators with an eclectic diet including over 65 fish species and 45 invertebrate species. In Georgia waters, they feed heavily on threadfin shad, blueback herring, gizzard shad, menhaden, crayfish, and various small baitfish.

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