| Striped bass, or "stripers," are among the most | | | | Atlantic coast, from Florida to Nova Scotia, and |
| sought after fish by bass anglers. Striped bass | | | | on the West coast around San Francisco Bay. |
| breed in fresh water, but spend their adult lives in | | | | Although striped bass suffered a decline in the |
| salt water. They are also able to live exclusively in | | | | 1970s and 1980s, their numbers in the wild are |
| fresh water in some inland water bodies. Four | | | | climbing, and they are regularly stocked in legal |
| important areas with breeding stocks of striped | | | | fishing areas for the pleasure of anglers. |
| bass are Chesapeake Bay, Cape Cod, the Hudson | | | | Surfcasting with rod and reel is a popular way to |
| River and the Delaware river. All these areas are | | | | catch striped bass for those anglers who don't |
| popular for bass fishing, especially the | | | | own a boat. These fisherman cast into the surf |
| Chesapeake, which is one of the largest breeding | | | | while standing in the ocean, hoping to catch the |
| areas. Striped bass have been introduced by | | | | elusive striper. Surfcasting gear usually involves |
| state game and fish commissions into many | | | | 8-12 foot rods using 15-30 pound test |
| reservoirs to the delight of anglers. These choice | | | | monofilament or braid line. Live bait can be very |
| fish have also been hybridized with other kinds of | | | | effective in catching striped bass from the surf, |
| bass to produce specialized sport fish such as the | | | | but plastic lures can also work. Anglers who are |
| sunshine bass and paradise bass. | | | | surfcasting often use lead shot to anchor their |
| Striped bass can be finicky about what baits they | | | | bait to the ocean floor. |
| will take. Many baits are used in bass fishing for | | | | Another method of catching striped bass often |
| stripers, including clams, eels, small fish, night | | | | employed by amateurs is trolling. A strong hand |
| crawlers, chicken livers, and other insects. These | | | | line, usually with artificial bait is drawn through the |
| fish can grow up to four feet long and weigh as | | | | water, often behind a boat. Since bass will try to |
| much as fifty pounds. A seventy-eight pound | | | | eat almost anything that moves, even |
| striper was caught in Atlantic City in 1982. and the | | | | inexperienced anglers can often easily catch a |
| largest striped bass on record was a 125 pound | | | | striper this way. Boats practicing this technique |
| female caught in 1891. Striped bass have been | | | | require a special trolling motor, to keep the bait |
| known to swim up rivers for more than one | | | | moving slowly enough through the water. |
| hundred miles. They can be found all along the | | | | |