Flatfishes, sunfishes, and perchlike fishes
Description
To 6' (1.8 m); 125 lbs (56.7 kg). Elongate, moderately compressed; back olive-green to dark blue, sides silvery, belly white; upper sides with 6-9 dark, uninterrupted stripes; median fins dusky. Mouth large, lower jaw slightly projecting. Teeth small, in bands on jaws, vomer, and palatine bones, and in 2 parallel patches on tongue. Opercle has 2 flat spines near posterior edge. First dorsal fin with 8-10 strong spines, separated from second dorsal by deep notch. Scales extend onto all fin bases except spinous dorsal.
Habitat
Inshore over various bottoms; some permanently in fresh water.
Range
Atlantic Ocean and associated rivers from St. Lawrence River to St. Johns River, Florida; Appalachicola River, W. Florida, to Lake Ponchartrain, Louisiana. Most abundant from Hudson River to Chesapeake Bay. Widely introduced into rivers and lakes in much of Mississippi River system, Colorado River, and coastal streams in Washington, Oregon, and California.
Discussion
The Striped Bass is a very important sport and commercial fish throughout its range, and large individuals are caught by surf fishing, especially on the Atlantic Coast. It is a delicious food fish. It is anadromous, and spawns prolifically in fresh water.
