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Striped Bass

Striped Bass

Striped Bass are Massachusetts' most iconic saltwater gamefish and are the signature fishery of the Bay State.

Massachusetts supports one of the largest striped bass fisheries in the country with populations generally healthy, though coast-wide numbers have shown some decline in recent years.

Physical Characteristics:
  • Featuring distinctive dark horizontal stripes running from gills to tail on a silver body with olive-blue coloring above.
  • Massachusetts striped bass can live up to 40 years, with females growing much larger than males and most fish over 30 pounds being female.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • These anadromous fish are native to the Atlantic coast from the St.
  • Lawrence River to Northern Florida.
  • They inhabit estuaries, bays, surf zones, rocky shorelines, sandy beaches, river mouths, and shallow coastal waters, rarely venturing more than several miles from shore.
  • They're found throughout Massachusetts coastal waters from April through November, with some remaining during winter months.

Key Locations

  • Top fishing locations include Cape Cod Canal with its strong currents and deep channels, Wasque Point on Martha's Vineyard, Monomoy Island for fly fishing the flats, Great Point on Nantucket, Parker River Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island, Boston Harbor, and numerous North Shore and South Shore beaches.

Specific Spots

  • Fish structure like jetties, rocky outcrops, drop-offs, and areas with moving water where baitfish concentrate.

Striped Bass FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

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

Plugs like Bomber Long A, Cotton Cordell Red Fins, Yo-Zuri Mag Darters, Gibbs Polaris Poppers, Super Strike Little Neck Poppers, and Tsunami Swim Shads. Metal jigs, bucktail jigs, soft plastic swimbaits, and topwater plugs.

What flies work for Striped Bass in Massachusetts?

Effective patterns include Clouser Minnows in white/chartreuse or olive/white, Deceiver patterns, surf candies for imitating bay anchovies and silversides, Ray's Fly (yellow and olive bucktail with peacock herl), Mickey Finn patterns, Glass Minnows, and squid patterns like Red Can Squid and Mud Dog Squid Flies during...

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

Prime striped bass fishing in Massachusetts runs from April through November, with spring (April-June) and fall (September-November) offering the best action when water temperatures range 50-70°F.

How do you catch Striped Bass in Massachusetts?

For conventional tackle, use plugs, metal jigs, bucktail jigs, soft plastic swimbaits, and topwater plugs.

What do Striped Bass eat?

These opportunistic predators feed on diverse prey including Atlantic menhaden (bunker), Atlantic mackerel, herring, alewives, sand eels, silversides, squid, lobsters, crabs, sea worms, and various baitfish.

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