How to Identify a Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis)

• Body stripes: Striped bass have stout bodies with seven to eight continuous horizontal stripes on each side, from the gills to the tail.
• Stripe continuity to the tail: The sides show distinct stripes, including one below the lateral line that runs unbroken all the way to the tail.
• Teeth on the tongue: The tongue has two tooth patches.
• Dorsal fin: Two separate dorsal fins.
• Coloration: A white or silver, iridescent underside.

The striped bass has two tooth patches on the tongue while the white bass has only one; the striped bass's stripes run unbroken to the tail, while the white bass's stripes are often broken and do not reach the tail. See the White Bass page for its full mark list.

The hybrid's horizontal stripes along the sides are broken, while the pure striped bass has unbroken, continuous stripes. See the Striped Bass page for its full mark list.

An anadromous fish that lives in the ocean but returns to freshwater to spawn. Native along the Atlantic coast from the St. Lawrence River in Canada to the St. Johns River in Florida; later introduced to inland reservoirs and the West Coast (now found from Mexico to British Columbia).

Lay the fish flat on its side in even light and photograph the whole body first, then the details below. Spread the tail fin so its shape (forked, rounded or square) is clear. Get a close, sharp frame of the head: mouth, jaw length and any barbels. Raise the dorsal and anal fins fully; ray counts and fin edges only read when the fin is spread. Shoot the side of the body before the fish dries; spots and stripes fade fast out of water. The app reads the photo and names the likely species; use the marks on this page to confirm it.

Size and daily limits for this species differ by state and by water, and some waters are catch-and-release only. Check the current regulations for where you are fishing before keeping any fish; if you are unsure of the species, release it.