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Striped Bass

Striped Bass

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

In Virginia, they're native to tributaries of the Albemarle Sound, Chesapeake Bay, and Atlantic Ocean, and have been successfully introduced into numerous freshwater reservoirs throughout the state.

Scientific Name: Morone saxatilis

Also known as rockfish, stripers

Physical Characteristics:
  • These highly predatory fish can grow beyond 5 feet in length within tidal rivers and reach 36-40 inches under ideal conditions in other waters.
  • They're distinguished by 7-8 dark horizontal stripes along their silvery bodies.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Native to tributaries of the Albemarle Sound, Chesapeake Bay, and Atlantic Ocean, and have been successfully introduced into numerous freshwater reservoirs throughout the state.

Key Locations

  • Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT), Little Creek Jetties, James River Bridge, Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel, Highway 301 Bridge on the Potomac, artificial reefs at Northern Neck, Windmill Point, and Poquoson Flats, Smith Mountain Lake, Lake Anna, and Kerr Lake.

Specific Spots

  • Often found in schools along channel gradients, sandy flats, underwater grass beds, and around hard structures like oyster reefs, rocky shorelines, and jetties.

Striped Bass FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

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

Live spot, menhaden, eels, chuggers, poppers, surface plugs, Storm lures, bucktails, spoons, umbrella rigs, bucktails tipped with squid or soft plastics, soft jerkbaits, plugs, live shad.

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

Virginia offers excellent striped bass fishing from January through December, with peak seasons varying by location. In Chesapeake Bay and tidal waters, the best fishing occurs during spring migration (mid-May through mid-June after spawning concludes) and fall/winter (October through December) when large fish return...

How do you catch Striped Bass in Virginia?

Live-lining spot, menhaden, or eels around bridge pilings and rock islands. Topwater fishing using chuggers, poppers, and surface plugs around bridges and when fish are visibly feeding. Trolling along shipping channels and bridge spans at 2.5-3 mph.

What do Striped Bass eat?

Juveniles feed on larval fish, insect larvae, and small crustaceans, while adults become increasingly piscivorous, feeding heavily on menhaden, blueback herring, alewife, and American eel in Chesapeake Bay waters.

Where do Striped Bass live in Virginia?

Native to tributaries of the Albemarle Sound, Chesapeake Bay, and Atlantic Ocean, and have been successfully introduced into numerous freshwater reservoirs throughout the state.

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