The Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) commands attention across the Atlantic coast of North America. This species is anadromous, meaning it spends its adult life in saltwater but returns to freshwater rivers to spawn. The striper’s reputation as a powerful predator is well-earned, driven by opportunistic and aggressive feeding behavior.
The Generalist Predator: Core Prey Categories
Striped Bass are highly adaptable carnivores. The majority of their diet falls into two broad categories: finfish and invertebrates. This generalized approach to foraging means the adult striper consumes a diverse range of prey.
Baitfish form the largest portion of the adult diet by weight, particularly during migratory periods. Key forage fish include schooling species such as Atlantic menhaden (bunker), sea herring, and bay anchovies. Other frequent fish prey are elongated species like eels and sand lance (sand eels).
Invertebrates also represent a substantial part of their consumed biomass. Stripers routinely forage on crustaceans, including various species of crabs, shrimp, and smaller lobsters. Mollusks and worms are also taken, with prey items ranging from squid and clams to marine worms.
Dietary Shifts Based on Size and Habitat
The composition of a striper’s diet changes significantly throughout its life. Newly hatched juveniles begin by consuming zooplankton in their natal freshwater rivers and estuaries. As they grow, they transition to bottom-oriented feeding, primarily targeting small crustaceans like amphipods, isopods, and mysid shrimp, along with marine worms.
Once Striped Bass mature, they generally shift to a diet dominated by fish. However, the largest adult stripers (over 675 mm in length) sometimes shift back toward consuming large benthic invertebrates. This focus on larger prey like crabs and American lobster may offer an energetic advantage, potentially reducing the foraging cost associated with chasing fast-moving schools of baitfish.
Habitat availability further influences prey selection, as the fish exploits whatever is locally abundant. Stripers in marine coastal environments rely heavily on migratory baitfish schools like mackerel and menhaden. In contrast, those inhabiting landlocked lakes and reservoirs must adapt to freshwater forage, focusing on species like shad, shiners, or trout, and freshwater crayfish.
Estuaries present a mixed environment where the diet can include both marine and freshwater species. Stripers consume a variety of crustaceans and small fish like bay anchovies and juvenile croaker in these areas. Physical structures, such as oyster reefs, can also affect the diet by attracting larger prey fish, which stripers then consume while using the structure for cover.
Feeding Patterns and Hunting Behavior
Striped Bass utilize coordinated hunting strategies to maximize their feeding efficiency, especially when targeting schooling prey. They often work together to corral masses of baitfish, driving them into tight formations known as “bait balls.” The stripers then push these dense schools toward the surface or against a shoreline, trapping the prey and allowing for easier consumption.
The movement of water is a significant factor in their daily foraging, with stripers frequently using tides and currents to their advantage. They position themselves near underwater structure, such as rock piles, ledges, and bridge abutments, which serve as ambush points. Moving water pushes small baitfish toward these structures, making them vulnerable to attack.
Feeding activity is often concentrated during low-light hours, with the periods around dawn and dusk being particularly productive for foraging. The reduced light penetration makes it easier for the predator to approach its prey undetected from below. Overcast skies or heavy cloud cover can extend these active feeding windows throughout the day.
Stripers also exhibit seasonal periods of intense feeding, known as gorging, most notably during their fall migration. This helps them build up the substantial fat reserves required for the winter months. While they are capable of fast pursuit, the primary method of attack involves using burst speed to ambush and engulf their prey whole.