California
Striped Bass
The Lower Sac
Updated
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Morone saxatilis
A big, hard-pulling sea-run bass that pushes up valley rivers and deltas each spring and chases baitfish into the fall.
Size range
16–50 in
Size range
Typical adult length in the waters we cover.
Water temperature
Coolwater
Water temperature
Preferred thermal regime for this species.
Active season
Spring run April through June; fall feeding September through November
Active season
When anglers most often encounter this species.
Origin
Introduced
Origin
Stocking and native history where this species is found.
Habitat
Rivers & Large Rivers, Lowland & Warmwater, Anadromous & Migratory
Habitat
Primary water types where this species is found.
Striped bass are an Atlantic fish brought to the Pacific coast in the 1870s, where they took hold in the big valley rivers, deltas and bays and became one of the region's most popular sport fish. They live in brackish and salt water much of the year and run upriver in spring to spawn, then scatter through the lower rivers and delta to feed. Fish over twenty pounds are caught every year, and some rivers also hold landlocked populations in reservoirs.
Also known as: striper, stripers, rockfish
Episode 125 · Nov 22, 2019
Baitfish, juvenile shad and salmon, crayfish and shrimp.
Striped bass have minimum sizes and daily limits that vary by state and water, and some reaches close during salmon or sturgeon seasons. Check the current rules for the specific reach before fishing.
Regulations vary by state and water. Check the current rules for the water you are fishing.
Status: Native to the Atlantic coast; introduced to the Pacific coast in 1879 and established in large valley rivers, deltas and bays
G5 (Secure) · ESA: Not listedRuns between freshwater and the ocean.
Browse species profiles with habitat, diet, tactics, and linked waters across the state.