Name
Striped bass
Morone saxatilis
Type
Pelagic fish
Other names
"ji’gaw" (in Mi’gmaq), "nokahkehke" (in Maliseet)
Kitchen name
Striped bass
Resource status
Cause for concern
Endangered
Consumption season
Fresh, May to September.
SIZE:
90 cm, up to 200 cm.
LIFE EXPECTANCY:
Up to 30 years.
CLIFE CYCLE:
Sexual maturity around 3 years for males and 4 to 5 years for females.
Spawning takes place in rivers in late May and early June. Fertilized eggs incubate for two or three days before releasing the young striped bass. Larvae evolve in fresh and brackish waters. The juveniles then move to salt waters close to the coast.
Near the bottom, up to 30 m in depth.
Its habitat varies throughout its life. The striped bass lives in salt water and migrates to fresh water to reproduce. It is an anadromous fish.
PREYS:
Squid
Crabs
Eels
Herring
Floun-der
PREDATORS:
Atlantic cod
Seals
Sharks
No commercial type of fishing.
REGULATIONS:
In Quebec, only sports fishing is authorized under certain conditions.
The striped bass is a popular fish among recreational anglers. It is known for its relentless fighting and acrobatic jumps.
Commercial fishing ceased in 1996, and recreational and aboriginal fishing ceased in 2000. Recovery efforts made it possible to reopen the latter two types of fishing in 2013.
A striped bass, which is not striped
In October 2020, a fisherman caught a striped bass without stripes in the Miramichi River. This would be the first striped bass without stripes ever observed.
BENEFITS:
Striped bass is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, protein and vitamin B12.
LET’S COOK:
Delicate, slightly sweet flavour. Creamy flesh.
Raw, the flesh is translucent white and slightly pinkish. Cooked, it becomes opaque, tender and flaky.
OUR CULINARY ADVICE:
This project was made possible through funding from Digital Museums Canada and the participation and collaboration of Université Laval.
© 2025 A Wave of Flavours
