Striped bass
Type: Temperate Bass
Appearance: Striped bass are quick powerful fish with silvery sides and white belly. They have seven or eight black stripes along the sides. Stripes are absent on young fish of less than six inches.
State record: 42.25 lbs.
BigCatch: To qualify your catch needs to exceed the listed weight OR length (not necessarily both).
Habitat: In Florida, striped bass are found primarily in the St. Johns River and its tributaries, and a few panhandle rivers. Striped bass need long stretches of flowing water to reproduce successfully. These conditions are rare in Florida.
Behavior: Stripers do not tolerate water temperatures over 75˚F for long. During Florida summers, striped bass become less active and must find cool water to survive. Striped bass populations depend on annual stockings from FWC and federal hatcheries.
Tips: Striper fishing is best from fall through spring. Live shad are very effective. Use heavy tackle with 3- to 4-oz. weights in high flow areas. Baitfish-like lures, such as heavy jigs, sinking or floating lures in white, chrome or chartreuse produce well.