Group Members: Breyer Burford, Chase Matokovich, Connor Klingensmith, Devin

Murray, Rachael Johnson

Bortz Period 2
Marine Science
13 January 2015
Organism Fact Sheet
Description

Elongated body varies in color from light or olive green to blue, brown or
black

Metallic sides are striped with seven or eight dark, continuous lines

White belly

Dark, forked tail fin

Deep notch in dorsal fin. First part of dorsal fin has several spines

Adults grow 20 inches long and weigh about 30 pounds. Can reach a length of
6 feet and weigh as much as 125 pounds
Habitat

Lives in various habitats throughout the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries

Moves upstream in spring to spawn in fresh water

Spends summer and winter in deep channels

Ideal temperature= 55F to 68F Squeeze Zone

Ideal Salinity= 0-30ppt, low salinity's enhance the survival of striped bass
eggs specifically ranging from 2-10ppt

As far as hiding places go stripe bass mostly swim in open water but will
occasionally take cover in thick marsh grass of around and near boulders and
rocks
Distribution

Outside of its native habitat the striped bass has also been introduced around
United States

On the Atlantic coast, striped bass range from Canada to Florida, but are
most prevalent from Maine to North Carolina

The stripe bass migration consists of two parts, the first being the spring
migration and the second being the fall migration

In the spring stripers head north, first going into the bays and up rivers to
spawn, and to chase herring and shad

But as the water warms, they migrate north seeking cooler water. They end
up throughout New England waters, and even further north into rivers of
Maine.

In the fall, as the water cools, the stripers head south again.
Behavior

Active in areas with tidal and current flows and also in washing and breaking
waves.

First two years or of their life they tend to travel in small groups or schools
Reproduction

Striped bass are anadromous, meaning they live in the ocean but return to
freshwater to spawn

Mature female striped bass produce large quantities of eggs, which are
fertilized by mature males in spawning areas.

Striped bass typically spawn from April to June, as they migrate into fresh or
brackish water.

Currently not overfished based on the latest stock assessment of 2014 and
are steadily inclining
Conservation and threats

On October 20, 2007, with the vast expanse of the Chesapeake Bay as his
backdrop, President George W. Bush signed an Executive Order establishing
game fish status for striped bass and red drum in federal waters, taking
another step forward in conserving two of the most popular game fish in the
United States.

A major threat to the stripe bass population is over fishing