Other bass with stripes

The striped bass is among four temperate bass species finning around in Texas waters. Others include the white bass, hybrid striper and yellow bass. All are members of the Moronidae family with distinctive lines down their sides, varied tooth patches and colorations that range from silvery to yellow. Bass with stripes spend the majority of their lives roaming in open water.

White Bass: Like other temperate bass, white bass feed predominantly in schools. During the summer months they develop dining schedules you can sometimes set your watch by as they herd pods of shad to the surface or gather around bait balls near underwater humps, points, road beds or other offshore structure. Find a pack of whites in a feeding frenzy and they’ll hit just about anything you throw at them, live or artificial.

The fish are extremely prolific and reproduce naturally, so there is no need for restocking. TPWD says white bass are the fifth most preferred species among licensed Texas anglers. Statewide limits are liberal, 25 fish, 10 inches daily.

Hybrid Stripers: The hybrid is a genetic cross between the striped bass and the white bass. The fish run in gangs, hit like a heavyweight boxer and run like freight train. It has played a major role in improving recreational angling on many reservoirs, especially those where fishing quality for other species has waned.

Hybrids do not reproduce in the wild. TPWD produces two different hybrids in state fish hatcheries — “Sunshine” hybrids and “Palmetto” hybrids. The Sunshine hybrid is a genetic cross between a female white bass and male striper; Palmetto hybrids are a cross between a female striper and a male white bass.

TPWD district fisheries biologists request about 2.7 million hybrids for stocking in about 20 reservoirs each year. The statewide limit is five fish, 18 inches daily.

Yellow Bass: So named because of its belly color, the yellow bass doesn’t get much play in Texas because it doesn’t grow very large. A really big one might weigh close to a pound. The upside is the fish are great in the skillet.

Like other temperate bass, yellow bass gather in large schools around main lake structure. They can caught in number using spoons, spinners and live bait. Daily limits are liberal with no size or daily bag limit restrictions.

— Matt Williams