How do striped bass reproduce?
Striped bass are considered “halfway anadromous,” since most do not travel all the way from the ocean to their spawning grounds in the Chesapeake Bay’s tidal tributaries. They spawn from March through early May, when water temperatures warm to 55 to 68 degrees. • Several male striped bass will court a single female, who lays her eggs in fresh to brackish waters near the shore. • After spawning, adult striped bass swim back downstream to the Bay. Some of the fish will continue on to the ocean. • After hatching, striped bass larvae move slowly downstream as they grow. Juveniles live in the shallows throughout the summer, feeding on small planktonic crustaceans. • Most juvenile striped bass remain in their natal tributaries for the first two years of life. Other facts about striped bass: • Striped bass are more commonly known as “rockfish” or “stripers.” • The striped bass is Maryland’s state fish. • Striped bass can live from 10 to 30 years. • The Chesapeake Bay record striped bass was c
