Home Page + Gyotaku Studio + Gyotaku T-Shirts + Gyotaku Gallery + Gyotaku Directory + F.A.Q. + Fishing Photos + Contact US + Site Map Striped Bass / Rockfish (Morone saxatilis) Striped Bass are one of the most popular sport fish in the United States. Found in freshwater lakes in many eastern US states, bays, rivers and even along the Atlantic coast - striper or rockfish fishing is found almost everywhere east of the Mississipi River from New England down to Florida. The Chesapeake Bay is one of the largest striped bass habitats and it's marshlands and tributaries are spawning grounds for fish that migrate up and down the eastern seaboard. The world record striped bass (78.5 lb) was caught in Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 21, 1982. 50 pound Chesapeake Bay Striped Bass ( left - Steve Kendall/guide ) Winter months bring huge rockfish into the lower Chesapeake Bay and James River. A good local guide and live bait make a difference. Charter boats and head boats take groups from Rudee Inlet in Va Beach for Atlantic inshore striper action. Night fishing along the light line of bridges is another popular method of striped bass fishing. Rockfish have become one of the most popular species of Atlantic inshore gamefish and freshwater fishing for huge Stripers is popular across many eastern and southern states. Stripers can be caught nearly year-round but warmer weather fish in the states from the Chesapeake Bay - south, tend to be smaller. Email the artist for more information - gyotakuartist@gmail.com Striped Bass can be caught nearly year round in many places although summer rockfish are usually smaller in the bays and rivers. Restrictions on fishing over the last 20 years have revitalized this popular gamefish on the Chesapeake Bay. In 1965 the Striper was named the Maryland state fish. Originally called Roccus saxatilis, scientists corrected the genus designation in the late 1960s. Maryland Rockfish - Severn River, Severna Park, April 2003. Photo by Jeffrey M. Seiss (the third fisherman). On the right some big Striped Bass caught near the mouth of the James River on live eels (2007).