Discover The Largest Striped Bass Ever Caught in Mississippi

Striped bass, also called Atlantic striped bass, are fish in the family Moronidae. You can easily find these beautiful and shimmering fish off the Atlantic coast of North America. However, because of the fish’s popularity, striped bass have been introduced all over the world. They are a popular choice for sport fishing. However, even if you aren’t a professional angler, you can still try your luck at catching a large striped bass in Mississippi.

Mississippi has seen some impressive records, including the largest striped bass ever caught in the state. There are 4 large striped bass records in Mississippi, read along to learn more.

The Largest Striped Bass Ever Caught in Mississippi

For the flying division, the largest striped bass caught in Mississippi weighed 13.2 pounds. Albert Wood from Byram, Mississippi caught this massive striped bass on November 11, 2006, in Pearl River (Jackson). In the same division, Albert Wood also caught a 13.2-pound hybrid striped bass on November 23, 2006. For the rod and reel records, the largest striped bass caught in Mississippi weighed 39.6 pounds. Rocky Rawls from Gautier Mississippi caught a large striped bass in the Pascagoula River in 2016.

About Striped Bass

Striped bass are part of the family Moronidae. They are native to the Atlantic coastline of North America. These large fish migrate between freshwater and saltwater. Although they are native to the Atlantic coastline, they’ve been introduced to the Pacific Ocean and many large reservoirs throughout the United States. Striped bass are popular sport fish. Interestingly, when dams were built, some of these traveling fish got stuck and became “landlocked”. There is a thriving landlocked striped bass population in Coosa River, Warrior River, and Lake Texoma.

Size and Appearance

Striped bass are large fish with white underbellies. They are typically silvery, with varying shades of olive green on their backs. Striped bass are best known for their seven or eight uninterrupted horizontal stripes on each side of their bodies. The stripe can be dark or nearly transparent. Most striped bass weigh between 20 to 40 pounds, however, the largest recorded striped bass was 124 pounds. The average size of striped bass is 20 to 35 inches long.

Diet

These large freshwater fish aren’t picky eaters, however, their diets change depending on their size and age. For example, mature adult striped bass mainly eat small fish and invertebrates like crabs. Juvenile striped bass eat insect larvae and other small insects, while larval striped bass regularly consume zooplankton.

Predators

Adult striped bass have few predators. They are fast swimmers and hide well. Adult striped bass, however, are sometimes hunted by sharks, seals, and fish-eating birds. Instead, it’s more common for young and small striped bass to fall prey to big fish and mammals. Common fish that consume striped bass are cod, bluefish, and weakfish.

Common Fish in Mississippi

Mississippi has many major lakes, rivers, ponds, and reservoirs to choose from. Fishing is a popular sport and hobby in the state, especially because of the large Mississippi River. In the Mississippi River alone, there are over 120 species of fish, including bull sharks. Listed below are some of the most common fish found in Mississippi.

Blue Catfish

Blue catfish are common in Mississippi waters. They are especially found in the Mississippi River. This migratory fish reaches impressive lengths and weights. For example, blue catfish can measure up to 65 inches long and weigh 150 pounds. However, most blue catfish are 25 to 46 inches long. In the wild, blue catfish can live up to 20 years. Some of the largest blue catfish have been caught in the Mississippi River. For example, in 2022, Eugene Cronley of Brandon, Mississippi reeled in a 131-pound blue catfish using skipjack herring bait.

Walleye

Gulf Coast Strain (GCS) walleye are fish native to the Mississippi River. Although they aren’t native to all of the United States, walleye fish are stocked in many lakes and reservoirs as popular game fish. Walleyes are usually green or gold, however, blue walleye can be found in southern Ontario and Quebec. While most walleyes grow up to 31 inches long, the maximum recorded size for a walleye is 42 inches. Walleyes are sometimes caught for food. Some anglers prefer to fish at night for walleye since the fish have nocturnal feeding habits.

Northern Pike

Last but not least, northern pike are also found throughout the Mississippi, specifically in the Mississippi River. They have torpedo-shaped bodies and jaws lined with sharp teeth. Northern pike fish are also popular with ice-fishing anglers. European pike are larger than northern pike. However, specimens as heavy as 46 pounds have been caught. Northern pike are also aggressive fish, especially when feeding. They have cannibalistic tendencies when food is scarce.

Where is Byram, Mississippi Located on a Map?

The city of Byram is located in Hinds County, Mississippi, United States, with a population of 11,489 recorded in the 2010 census. It was previously an unincorporated census-designated place with a population of 7,386 in the 2000 census but has grown over the years, and as of 2020, its population was recorded at 12,666. Byram is included in the Jackson metropolitan statistical area.

Here is Byram, Mississippi on a map:

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