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Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis

Fish · family Moronidae · order Perciformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G3: vulnerable[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G3 Vulnerable[2]
Native in
19 states[3]
Longest recorded life
30 years[4]

Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) is a fish in the family Moronidae[5]. It is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[1], and it is native to 19 US states and territories along the East Coast and nearby areas[3].

Conservation status

Striped Bass is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1]. NatureServe ranks it G3 (Vulnerable) worldwide[2] and N4 (Apparently Secure) in the United States[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. NatureServe estimates more than 1,000,000 adults worldwide[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G3 (Vulnerable)
NatureServe US rank[6] N4 (Apparently Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[8] >1,000,000 individuals

Where Striped Bass lives

NatureServe lists Striped Bass as native in Alabama, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia, plus one more state[3]. It is introduced, meaning not native, in many other states, including California, Texas, Arizona, Colorado and Washington[9]. NatureServe also gives each state its own conservation rank[10].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S5MEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S4NHWashington: introduced, state rank SNAWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: introduced, state rank SNANDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: introduced, state rank SNAILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: native, state rank S3NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5MAOregon: introduced, state rank SNAORNevada: introduced, state rank SNANVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: introduced, state rank SNAINOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S4PANew Jersey: native, state rank S4NJConnecticut: native, state rank S3CTRhode Island: native, state rank SNRRICalifornia: introduced, state rank SNACAUtah: introduced, state rank SNAUTColorado: introduced, state rank SNACONebraska: introduced, state rank SNANEMissouri: introduced, state rank SNAMOKentucky: introduced, state rank SNAKYWest Virginia: introduced, state rank SNAWVVirginia: native, state rank S4VAMaryland: native, state rank S5MDDelaware: native, state rank S5DEArizona: introduced, state rank SNAAZNew Mexico: introduced, state rank SNANMKansas: introduced, state rank SNAKSArkansas: introduced, state rank SNAARTennessee: introduced, state rank SNATNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S4NCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S1SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S4DCOklahoma: introduced, state rank SNAOKLouisiana: native, state rank S1LAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: introduced, state rank SNATXFlorida: native, state rank SNRFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[10].
Show state ranks (39 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArizonaSNANot Applicable
ArkansasSNANot Applicable
CaliforniaSNANot Applicable
ColoradoSNANot Applicable
ConnecticutS3Vulnerable
DelawareS5Secure
District of ColumbiaS4Apparently Secure
FloridaSNRNot Ranked
GeorgiaS5Secure
IllinoisSNANot Applicable
IndianaSNANot Applicable
KansasSNANot Applicable
KentuckySNANot Applicable
LouisianaS1Critically Imperiled
MaineS5Secure
MarylandS5Secure
MassachusettsS5Secure
MissouriSNANot Applicable
NebraskaSNANot Applicable
NevadaSNANot Applicable
New HampshireS4Apparently Secure
New JerseyS4Apparently Secure
New MexicoSNANot Applicable
New YorkS3Vulnerable
North CarolinaS4Apparently Secure
North DakotaSNANot Applicable
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaSNANot Applicable
OregonSNANot Applicable
PennsylvaniaS4Apparently Secure
Rhode IslandSNRNot Ranked
South CarolinaS1Critically Imperiled
TennesseeSNANot Applicable
TexasSNANot Applicable
UtahSNANot Applicable
VirginiaS4Apparently Secure
WashingtonSNANot Applicable
West VirginiaSNANot Applicable

Habitat

NatureServe records large and medium waterways, deep water, bays and sounds, tidal mouths, and near shore waters as habitat[11]. It is mainly a coastal fish that also swims far upstream in larger waterways[12]. It has been widely introduced into lakes and reservoirs, and some populations live their whole lives in fresh water[12]. In colder months it tends to look for the warmest water it can find in deeper areas[12].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[11]

Size, diet and lifespan

Young fish eat tiny floating animals and other small invertebrates[13]. Adults eat fish and larger crustaceans, and NatureServe lists them as fish eaters and invertebrate eaters[13][14]. They are opportunistic feeders, meaning they take what is available[13]. NatureServe records a typical length of 200 cm (79 in)[15]. The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 30 years, which is a record and not a typical lifespan[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[15] 200 cm (79 in)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 30 years (wild)
Food habits[14] Piscivore, Invertivore
Migration[16] non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant

When to look for it

NatureServe describes Striped Bass migration as varying, from non-migrant to local migrant to long-distance migrant, depending on the population[16]. On GBIF, most observation records fall in May, September and October[17]. These records show when people look and report, not how many fish there are[17].

January: 1,975 recordsJanFebruary: 2,761 recordsFebMarch: 7,944 recordsMarApril: 12,085 recordsAprMay: 16,141 recordsMayJune: 9,027 recordsJunJuly: 10,001 recordsJulAugust: 12,605 recordsAugSeptember: 15,232 recordsSepOctober: 20,479 recordsOctNovember: 5,416 recordsNovDecember: 3,825 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[17].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January1,975
February2,761
March7,944
April12,085
May16,141
June9,027
July10,001
August12,605
September15,232
October20,479
November5,416
December3,825

Where to see it

This species is protected or at risk, so we show its range only at the state level. We do not publish parks, nesting, spawning or wintering sites.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Georgia, Texas, Pennsylvania, California, Maryland[18]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the striped bass endangered?
It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G3 (Vulnerable) globally and N4 (Apparently Secure) in the United States[2][6].
Where does the striped bass live?
It is native in 19 US states and territories along the East Coast and nearby areas[3]. It has also been introduced in many other states[9].
What does the striped bass eat?
Adults eat fish and larger crustaceans, and they are opportunistic feeders[13]. Young fish eat small invertebrates[13].
How big is a striped bass?
NatureServe records a typical length of 200 cm (79 in)[15].
How long does a striped bass live?
The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 30 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Striped Bass is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Striped Bass: G3 (Vulnerable). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Striped Bass as native in 19 US states and territories: Alabama, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 30 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) is a fish in the family Moronidae, order Perciformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N4 (Apparently Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe lists Striped Bass as introduced (not native) in: Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, West... NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe state ranks for Striped Bass (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  11. Habitat types NatureServe records for Striped Bass: Big river, Medium river, Moderate gradient, Low gradient, Deep water, Bay/sound, River mouth/tidal river, Near shore. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on habitat for Striped Bass. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on food for Striped Bass. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Piscivore, Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 200 cm (79 in). NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe migration category for Striped Bass: non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  17. GBIF observation records of Striped Bass in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  18. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Striped Bass: Georgia, Texas, Pennsylvania, California, Maryland. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.