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Striped Bass

Striped Bass

Striped Bass are anadromous fish that spawn in freshwater but spend most of their adult lives in saltwater.

In New Jersey, they're the state saltwater fish and are found both along the Atlantic shore and in freshwater bodies like the Delaware River, Lake Hopatcong, and Manasquan Reservoir.

New Jersey's population is part of a remarkable recovery story - less than 40 years ago, stripers nearly disappeared from the Atlantic Coast, but strict catch limits and commercial fishing bans have transformed them into one of the most abundant recreational species, with some estimates suggesting nearly 100 million striped bass in the Hudson River alone.

Scientific Name: Morone saxatilis

Also known as Atlantic striped bass, striper, linesider, rock, rockfish

Physical Characteristics:
  • Silvery fish marked with longitudinal dark stripes running from behind the gills to the base of the tail, with common mature sizes ranging 20-40 pounds and lengths of 20-35 inches, though they can reach much larger sizes.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Found both along the Atlantic shore and in freshwater bodies in New Jersey.
  • In New Jersey's estuarine systems they feed in bays and larger waters.

Key Locations

  • Delaware River, Lake Hopatcong, Manasquan Reservoir, Barnegat Bay, Great Bay, Great Egg Harbor, Raritan Bay, Delaware Bay, Hudson River.

Specific Spots

  • Target structure like ledges, reefs, bars, sodbanks, piers, bridge pilings, structure edges, marsh edges, drop-offs, and points where current funnels baitfish, and around baitfish schools.

Striped Bass FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

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

Cotton Cordell 7-inch Pencil Popper, Rebel Pop-R P71, Creek Chub Knuckle-Head, Bomber Jointed Long A, solid-body Long A, 4.5-inch YUM Scottsboro Swimbait, YUM Money Minnow and Break-N-Shad on 1/2-ounce jigheads. Live bait: live eels, herring, bunker, bloodworms, clams, and crabs.

What flies work for Striped Bass in New Jersey?

Early season: epoxy shrimp flies, clousers, and crab flies. Later season: deceivers, spearing imitations, and surface poppers/gurglers.

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

March through December, with peak action during the spring migration (May-June) and fall run (September-November).

How do you catch Striped Bass in New Jersey?

For New Jersey's big bay systems (Raritan Bay and Delaware Bay), target feeding fish with topwater lures during surface activity. When fish won't come to the top, switch to subsurface plugs. For deeper water (15-30 feet), use large soft plastics, dropping to bottom and retrieving with 1-2 foot jigging motions.

What do Striped Bass eat?

Opportunistic predators with an eclectic diet including menhaden (their primary food source), bay anchovies, silversides, herring, eels, crabs, shrimp, squid, marine worms, and over 65 fish species plus 45 invertebrate species.

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