General
Facts
The striped bass hybrid is a cross between a white bass and a striped
bass. The combined traits of these two species make for a voracious fish.
They are well adapted to large warm water lakes and reservoirs. They are a pelagic
species that prefer open water where they search for and feed on herring. They
are a hard hitting and strong fighting fish: so hold on tight to the fishing rod.
Where
Good
numbers of striped bass hybrids weighing up to 10 pounds can be found in the following
stocked waters: Lake
Hopatcong, Spruce
Run Reservoir and Manasquan
Reservoir. Being an open water species, the hybrid can be found throughout
the deeper areas of these lakes. During summer, when lakes are stratified by water
temperature, they can be found suspended just above the thermocline in depths
from 12 to 18 feet. Near sunset and after dark they may be found chasing herring
on the surface. In fall and spring they will be located at more varied depth ranges
and typically in winter near the bottom.
When
Summer
is probably the most productive period for striped bass hybrids. The fishing begins
to heat up in mid-spring and extends into early fall. August seems to be the most
productive month according to anglers at Spruce Run Reservoir.
Hybrid
striped bass can be caught any time of the day, but early morning and a couple
of hours before sunset are prime. Night fishing can also be very good, especially
if you are lucky enough to be within hearing distance of hybrids on a feeding
frenzy of surfacing alewife herring that makes the water boil. Although hybrids
have not been considered very susceptible through the ice, recent reports indicate
that ice fishermen are having more consistent success jigging the deepest areas
of the lakes and tipping the jig with a small piece of venison meat.
How
Some of the most popular techniques are: drifting or anchored in a boat using
herring or shiners with an egg sinker, slip bobber or live-lived: flatline or
down rigger trolling minnow-style crank baits, herring or shiners. These baits
or lures are generally fished just above the thermocline during the summer. Casting
crank baits to areas of feeding fish at night can produce fast and furious action.
Shoreline anglers have had good luck using night crawlers or chicken liver fished
on the bottom.
Striped Bass Hybrid Stocking Distribution Map
Striped Bass Hybrid Stocking Summary, 2020 (pdf, 100kb)
Striped Bass Hybrid Stocking Summary, 2019 (pdf, 80kb)
Striped Bass Hybrid Stocking Summary, 2018 (pdf, 80kb)
Striped Bass Hybrid Stocking Summary, 2017 (pdf, 80kb)
Striped Bass Hybrid Stocking Summary, 2016 (pdf, 24kb)
Striped Bass Hybrid Stocking Summary, 2015 (pdf, 24kb)
Striped Bass Hybrid Stocking Summary, 2014 (pdf, 21kb)
Striped Bass Hybrid Stocking Summary, 2013 (pdf, 12kb)
Striped Bass Hybrid Stocking Summary, 2012 (pdf, 11kb)
Striped Bass Hybrid Stocking Summary, 2011 (pdf, 11kb)
Striped Bass Hybrid Stocking Summary, 2010 (pdf, 11kb)
Striped Bass Hybrid Stocking Summary, 2009 (pdf, 8kb)
Striped Bass Hybrid Stocking Summary, 2008 (pdf, 8kb)
Striped Bass Hybrid Fact Sheet (pdf, 20kb)
Related
Sportsmen's Organization
Lake
Hopatcong: Knee
Deep Club
back to Fabulous Fishing in New Jersey
Back to Warmwater Fish
|