Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
Also called Striper, Rockfish.
How to tell it
7–8 unbroken dark stripes on silver; two separated dorsal fins.
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16 in total length minimum | 2 per person | Open year-roundAL MRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Connecticut | 28" to <31" slot | 1 per angler | Open year-roundCT DEEP 2026 · checked | Open |
| Delaware | 28-31 in slot (20-24 in slot Jul 1-Aug 31 in DE Bay, River & tributaries) | 1 per day | Open year-round; catch-and-release only on spawning grounds Apr 1-May 31DE DNREC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Atlantic) | No size limit statewide (Suwannee system: 18 in min) | 20 combined striped/white/sunshine bass, max 6 of 24 in or longer | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | No size limit statewide (Suwannee system: 18 in min) | 20 combined striped/white/sunshine bass, max 6 of 24 in or longer | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| Georgia | 22 in total length | 2 per person per day | Open year-roundGA DNR CRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Maine | 28-31" TL slot | 1 per day | Open year-round statewide; Kennebec watershed (Kennebec/Sheepscot/Androscoggin & tributaries) open Jul 1-Nov 30, closed Dec 1-Jun 30 with catch-and-release single-hook artificial-lure season May 1-Jun 30ME DMR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Maryland | 19-24 in TL slot (Chesapeake); Atlantic Ocean: 28-31 in slot | 1 | Chesapeake harvest May 1-Jul 31 and Sep 1-Dec 5; catch-and-release Jan-Apr and Dec 6-31; ALL targeting closed Aug 1-31MD DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Massachusetts | 28" to less than 31" slot | 1 fish | Open year-roundMA DMF 2026 · checked | Open |
| New Hampshire | 28 to less than 31 in TL slot | 1 fish/day | Open year-roundNH F&G 2026 · checked | Open |
| New Jersey | 28 to less than 31 in slot | 1 | Most marine waters Mar 1-Dec 31; Atlantic Ocean 0-3 mi open year-round; federal waters (3-200 mi) closedNJ DEP 2026 · checked | Open |
| New York | 28-31" slot | 1 | Apr 15 - Dec 15NY DEC 2026 · checked | Open |
| North Carolina | 28-31 in TL slot (Atlantic Ocean) | 1/day (ocean) | Ocean open year-round; internal waters closedNC DMF 2026 · checked | Open |
| Rhode Island | 28" to <31" slot | 1/person/day | Open year-roundRI DEM 2026 · checked | Open |
| South Carolina | 26 in total length | 3 per person per day (lower Savannah River: 2 per day, 27 in) | Open Oct 1 – Jun 15; closed Jun 16 – Sep 30SC DNR 2026 · checked | Closed |
| Texas | 18 in total length | 5 (striped bass and hybrids in any combination) | Open year-roundTPWD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Virginia | 19-24 in slot (Chesapeake Bay) | 1 per person | Bay: May 16 - Jun 15 and Oct 4 - Dec 31VMRC 2026 · checked | Closed |
Not specifically regulated in Louisiana, Mississippi: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 55 lb | 1976 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Connecticut | 81 lb 15 oz | 2011 · Outer Southwest Reef | CT DEEP Saltwater State Record Fish (Harvested) · checked 2026-08-23 · Marked "World Record" by the state |
| Delaware | 52 lb | 2012 | DNREC Delaware Fishing Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Florida | 43.56 lb | 2004 · Indian River | FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Maine | 67 lb | 1978 · Sheepscot River | Maine DMR Saltwater Angler Records (Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Maryland | 67.5 lb | 1995 · Bloody Point | MD DNR Sport Fish State Records · checked 2026-08-23 · MD Chesapeake division record |
| Massachusetts | 73 lb | 1981 · Nauset Beach (three-way tie: Quick's Hole 1913, Sow & Pigs 1967) | MA DMF Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-09-04 |
| New Hampshire | 60 lb | 1980 · Great Bay, Dover | NH Fish & Game Verified Record Saltwater Fish · checked 2026-08-23 |
| New York | 76 lb | 1981 | NYSDEC Marine Recreational Angler Records · checked 2026-09-04 |
| North Carolina | 64 lb | 2011 · Off Oregon Inlet | NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22 |
| Rhode Island | 77 lb 6.4 oz | 2011 · Block Island | RI DEM Saltwater Sportfish Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| South Carolina | 46 lb 13 oz | 1993 · Combahee River | SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 28 lb | 1991 · Galveston Bay | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Virginia | 74 lb | 2012 · Off Virginia Beach | VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04 |
On the table
Excellent.
In the app
Point the camera at a striped bass and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about striped bass
What is the size limit for striped bass?
It depends on the state. Alabama: 16 in total length minimum; Connecticut: 28" to <31" slot; Delaware: 28-31 in slot (20-24 in slot Jul 1-Aug 31 in DE Bay, River & tributaries); Georgia: 22 in total length; Maine: 28-31" TL slot; Maryland: 19-24 in TL slot (Chesapeake); Atlantic Ocean: 28-31 in slot; Massachusetts: 28" to less than 31" slot; New Hampshire: 28 to less than 31 in TL slot; and more in the table above.
How many striped bass can you keep?
Alabama: 2 per person; Connecticut: 1 per angler; Delaware: 1 per day; Florida (Atlantic): 20 combined striped/white/sunshine bass, max 6 of 24 in or longer; Florida (Gulf): 20 combined striped/white/sunshine bass, max 6 of 24 in or longer; Georgia: 2 per person per day; Maine: 1 per day; Maryland: 1; and more in the table above.
When is striped bass season?
Maryland: Chesapeake harvest May 1-Jul 31 and Sep 1-Dec 5; catch-and-release Jan-Apr and Dec 6-31; ALL targeting closed Aug 1-31; New York: Apr 15 - Dec 15; South Carolina: Open Oct 1 – Jun 15; closed Jun 16 – Sep 30; Virginia: Bay: May 16 - Jun 15 and Oct 4 - Dec 31.
What is the record striped bass?
81 lb 15 oz in Connecticut (2011), Outer Southwest Reef. Other states’ records are in the table.