hybrid-striped-bass
Species Facts

Science Name: Morone saxatilis x Morone chrysops
Other Names: Sunshine Bass, Wiper, Whiterock Bass
Ideal Temp: 70 to 75
World Record: 27 lbs. 5 oz. Ar.
Environment: river and lakes
Techniques: light tackle, casting, fly
Range: east of Mississippi
Description

A silver, deep-bodied fish, similar to white bass. Stripes along sides and back are distinct, usually broken, with several extending to the tail. Teeth on the base of the tongue are arranged in 2 parallel patches. Hybrid striped bass have become one of the most popular introduced fish in freshwater. Hybrid stripers are the progeny of one pure-strain striped bass parent and one pure-strain white bass parent. When the cross is between the female striper and the male white bass, the result is primarily known as a whiterock bass; in some places it is referred to as a wiper, and in some simply as a hybrid striped bass. When the cross is between the male striper and the female white bass, it is called a sunshine bass (primarily in Florida), or simply a hybrid striped bass.

Where to Find
Hybrid striped bass distribution is limited to freshwater and to places with a good population of baitfish, principally members of the herring family. Nevertheless, stocking programs have resulted in plantings of these fish in lakes and reservoirs in more than 30 states, from California to New York and from Nebraska to Florida. The greatest concentration is throughout the southern half of the country, and the most fishing opportunity is in the southeast.

Habitat
Whiterock and sunshine bass inhabit the same freshwater habitats as their parents, primarily large lakes and reservoirs, but they also thrive in midsize to large rivers and occasionally in small lakes or ponds. They are largely nomadic in those environments and are found in the same places as their parents, sometimes commingling with them, mostly in open-water environs or in the tailrace below dams. They are seldom found near shore or docks or piers, except when chasing schools of baitfish.

Feeding Habits
Like stripers, sunshines are voracious feeders and consume any kind of small fish including threadfin and gizzard shad. Young fish also feed on mayflies and crustaceans. Sunshines also travel and feed in schools with peak activity in the early morning or evening.

Tips for Fishing

Effective baits include live shad, nightcrawlers, and soft crayfish. Jigs, jigging spoons, and crankbaits are good lures for casting. Trolling with large deep-diving crankbaits can be productive. Fish live baits near the bottom.