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FRESHWATER FISHING
White Bass
Striper |
White Bass |
Sunshine
White Bass
(Morone chrysops)
Common Names -
stripe, silver bass, striper, sand bass, barfish.
Description -
The white bass looks similar to a shortened version of
its larger relative, the striped bass. It is
silvery-white overall with five to eight horizontal
dusky black stripes along the sides. Stripes below the
lateral line are faint and often broken in an irregular
pattern. It differs most noticeably in being shorter and
stockier with a smaller head, and the dorsal fins are
set closer together. The white bass has a deep body,
strongly arched behind head; deepest between dorsal
fins.
Subspecies -
There are no recognized subspecies.
Range -
General boundaries are the St. Lawrence River in the
east; Lake Winnipeg in the north; the Rio Grande in the
west; and northwest Florida and Louisiana in the south.
It has been stocked within and outside its natural
range. In Florida, white bass are found primarily in the
Apalachicola and Ochlockonee river systems; however,
rare specimens have been located in the Escambia and
Yellow rivers.
Habitat -
White bass are found in large lakes and streams
connected to major river systems and in rivers with
moderate current. They prefer clear water with a
temperature range of 65 to 75 degrees. Man-made
impoundments have greatly favored the white bass, but
the species is one that can become overabundant and
stunt.
Spawning Habits -
Male white bass migrate upstream in large schools to a
dam or other barrier in early spring, followed shortly
by schools of females. Spawning occurs in moving water
over gravel shoals or a hard bottom. Large females may
lay as many as half a million adhesive eggs that stick
to rocks and gravel. If no water current is present
white bass have been known to spawn on wind-swept sandy
beaches. After spawning, they abandon their eggs and
provide no parental care. Fry hatch in only two to three
days.
Feeding Habits -
White bass are primarily piscivorous. Fry feed on
zooplankton first and within a few weeks larger
crustaceans and insects are eaten. Larger fish prefer to
feed on minnows and thrive on open- water baitfish like
gizzard and threadfin shad. Like the striper, white bass
move in schools and feed most heavily around dawn or
dusk.
Age and Growth -
Although white bass may live up to 10 years, few live
beyond three to four years. Females grow slightly faster
and probably live longer than males. The average size is
one pound with fish over two pounds considered large.
Sporting Quality -
White bass are hard hitting, fierce fighting fish. Their
aggressive nature combined with their schooling tendency
make them one of the easiest fish to catch. Several tips
to white bass anglers should include: use light tackle
for maximum enjoyment; use flies, spinners, small plugs
or minnows for bait; and locate feeding schools which
usually occur toward evening in shallow areas. As a
sport fish, specific bag and size limit
regulations apply,
and you can register a qualifying catch as part of the
Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission's
"Big Catch"
program.
Eating Quality -
The flesh is similar to that of the striped bass and may
be prepared by frying, baking, broiling, or stewing.
World Record -
6 pounds, 13 ounces, caught in Lake Orange, in Orange,
Virginia, in 1989.
State Record
- 4 pounds, 11 ounces, caught in Apalachicola River, in
1982. (Please check link for updates)
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