| Market Names |
Striped Bass, Bass, Striper, Rockfish, Suzuki |
| Where Caught |
Atlantic Coast, especially Chesapeake Bay |
| How Caught |
Wild captured Striped bass are caught in recreational fisheries with hook-and-line gear and in commercial fisheries with some limited hook and line gear but the vast majority is captured using net gear (pound nets, gillnets, haul seines, trawls). These gear types have little impact on fish habitat. |
Striped Bass - Wild
The largest member of the sea bass family, Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) is naturally found along the Atlantic coast of North America and has been introduced to the Pacific Coast. Striped Bass is anadromous, spending most of its life in the ocean and returning to freshwater to spawn. It is wild captured and a popular sport fish. In fact, a majority of landings of the fish are by recreational fishermen.
It was the most prolific fish along the Atlantic sea coast prior to European colonization and its abundance was noted by Captain John Smith upon entering Chesapeake Bay. Striped Bass was used as fertilizer until 1649 when the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony banned such use because of its value to settlers. However, overfishing and habitat degradation destroyed the population. Fishing restrictions and efforts to improve the environmental conditions starting in the 1980s restored the population by 1995 and continue to keep the population at healthy levels. It is illegal to commercially fish for Striped Bass in federal waters but still available from state waters. Striped Bass are no longer overfished.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood WATCH® rates wild Striped Bass as a “Best Choice” because “Atlantic striped bass are at record levels as a result of effective fishery management and strong conservation actions.”
| Sources | |
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Species NameMorone saxatilis |
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SourceStriped Bass are found along the Atlantic coast from Canada to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. The vast majority of the commercial harvest comes from the Chesapeake Bay and landed in both Maryland and Virginia. |
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SeasonalityFresh Striped Bass are available year round. Peak production is from November thru March, with limited supply in April and May and moderate production from June thru October. |
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Fishing MethodStriped Bass are wild captured recreationally with hook and line gear and in commercial fisheries mostly by pound nets, gillnets, haul seines and trawls but with some limited hook and line gear. These gear types have little impact on fish habitat. |
| Features | |
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FlavorStriped Bass have a mild, sweet flavor and is moist and meaty. It has a large flake and tender flesh. Its taste is more pronounced and its texture is coarser than Hybrid Striped Bass. |
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Dietary InformationStriped Bass is low in fat and a good source of protein, omega 3 fatty acids, and selenium. Per 100g raw edible portion: Source: USDA |
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AppearanceWith bluish-black or dark green coloring on the back fading to silver on the sides and white on the belly, the Striped Bass has a long body and long head with a large mouth and protruding lower jaw. It has 7 to 8 black stripes on its sides. Its meat is flaky and white. |
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FormFresh Striped Bass are most typically head-on round. Primary processors and distributor / processors fillet into Skin-on fillets and skin-on portions. |
| Uses | |
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PreparationMany chefs regard Striped Bass as a high quality seafood. It can be baked, broiled, grilled, poached, sautéed, or steamed. It may also be used in sushi. |
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SubstitutionHybrid Striped Bass can substitute for Striped Bass. |
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HandlingStriped Bass should be refrigerated at 30-34 degrees F. Whole fish should be surrounded with fresh ice in a perforated pan which allows any water to drain away from the product for maximum shelf life. Never directly ice a Striped Bass fillet. Filleted product should be stored in a sealed plastic container and surrounded with ice. |
| Market | |
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Sizes and CutsFresh wild-capture Striped Bass are graded and sold as: 2-4 pounds, 4-8 pounds and 8 pounds and up. Some can be as large as 25 pounds. Frozen wild-capture Striped Bass is seldom available as strong demand absorbs all fresh production. |
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Pricing ScaleStriped Bass prices have increased over the last few years as demand has exceeded the sustainable supply. The exceptional eating quality of this fish commands a strong price. Due to market and currency fluctuations, please contact your Seattle Fish Company of New Mexico associate for up-to-date market information, availability and current pricing information. |
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Shelf LifeFresh whole Striped Bass which has been handled and stored properly should retain optimum quality for 5-7 days. Once the fish is filleted or portioned product should be used within 2-3 days. Frozen can be commercially stored for up to one year. |