Striped bass

Striped bass are another transplant introduced on the West Coast in 1878 when 132 fry were released in San Francisco Bay. Additional releases and the fish’s migratory urge brought “stripers” to Oregon’s Coos River system by the late 1800s. Today, most striped bass are found in the Coquille and Umpqua/Smith rivers.

Features: They are dark olive on the tops of their bodies, silver on the sides, and white underneath, with 6-9 black stripes running horizontally from behind their heads to their tails.

Habitat: Striped bass spend most of their time in fresh water, with occasional and unpredictable trips to the sea.

Technique: In the spring and fall stripers are likely to be closer to the surface. During this time bait, such as dead minnows or night crawlers, will entice the fish to bite. During summer, the bass go deeper to escape the heat. This is the time to use flashy bait.

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