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Striped Bass Hybrid

Striped Bass Hybrid

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 fishing the deepest areas of the lakes using tip-ups baited with shiners.

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, top-water spooks, and poppers 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 Fact Sheet 

Stocking Summaries

Related Sportsmen’s Organization
Lake Hopatcong: Knee Deep Club

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Last Update: March 9th, 2025