Striped Bass

Striped bass—also known as rockfish or stripers—has been one of the most sought-after commercial and recreational finfish in the Bay since colonial times. After a steep population decline in the 1980s, Chesapeake striped bass are now at their highest numbers in decades.

Striped bass is a key predator species

Striped bass are one of the top predators in the Bay food web. They rely on menhaden and bay anchovies as their primary food sources. Striped bass must have enough prey available to them for their population to remain healthy and to keep the Bay food web in balance. Strong fluctuations in striped bass numbers could cause cascading changes throughout the rest of the food web.

Striped bass form valuable Bay fisheries

Striped bass is the most important commercial and recreational fish species in the Chesapeake. Its size, fighting ability and delicious taste makes it one of the top sport fish in Bay waters and on local restaurant menus. Striped bass is so acclaimed in the Chesapeake region that the Maryland General Assembly designated it the Maryland state fish in 1965, writing:

“Whereas, The people of Maryland as long time and appreciative residents of the productive Chesapeake Bay area know of it first hand the recreational and gastronomic delights of this wonderful land, and

Whereas, Not the least among the good reasons for living in Maryland is the abundant and unexcelled delicacy of the Chesapeake Bay striped bass or rockfish, and

Whereas, In the judgment of the members of the General Assembly of Maryland, it is a simple act of justice and of equity that this fine old Maryland fish should be honored by being designated as the official fish of the State of Maryland...”