By: Jennings Earnest

The striped bass is also called Atlantic striped bass, striper, linesider, rock, pimpfish, or rockfish, is the state fish of Maryland, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and the state saltwater (marine) fish of New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and New Hampshire.

Taxonomy Striped bass Morone saxatilis Scientific classification Kingdom:Animalia Phylum:Chordata Class: Actinopteryg ii Order:Perciformes Family:Moronidae Genus:Morone Species:M. saxatilis Binomial name Morone saxatilis Hybrid striped bass hybrid striped bass Scientific classification Kingdom:Animalia Phylum:Chordata Class:Actinopterygii Order:Perciformes Family:Moronidae Genus:Morone Species: M. chrysops x M. saxatilis Binomial name M. chrysops x M. saxatilis

Economic Importance Grow in U.S.A “Merica” The price is different all over the world but from what I have found the filets are going anywhere from 4.99 a pound all the way to a pound!! The was in Maryland at the Hunt Valley Wegmans. It is pretty much sold all over the world

Info on Striped bass Less acres to grow them Stable production intensity Lower production than other species Higher-farm gate pricing. (Farm-gate value) The farm gate value of a cultivated product in agriculture or aquaculture is the net value of the product when it... And has a Stable farm gate value!

Reproduction Hybrid striped bass are not capable of reproducing with one another. Because The hybrid striped bass, or “wiper,” is an artificial cross between a striped bass and a white bass. But it can back track and reproduce with a white bass or with s striped bass! And the striped bass is very low!

Life cycle Production Currently, production of hybrid striped bass usually begins with “in-house” brood stock or with fingerlings purchased from other producer’s rearing facilities. Fingerlings are reared at 79°F in hard water at a pH maintained at between 6.5 and 8.5 with a dissolved oxygen level above 6.0 ppm. Most hybrids are tank reared, although there is some interest in rearing them in ponds in the southern states. Hybrid striped bass “wipers” are cultured in private facilities mainly for supply to the restaurant and supermarket trade as a food fish or a fresh or frozen, filleted product. Much is sold as a “whole-fresh” product to high-end restaurants and some is exported by air-freight to European markets. Properly frozen fish have a shelf life of up to four months. Hybrid striped bass production is rapidly expanding in the United States. Annual production has really increased. This is just from a 12 tank system

Operation Cost For Twelve (12) Tank System Electric: $1,800. per month with an electric rate of $0.10 per KWH or $21,600 per year. Fingerlings: 144,000 fish at $0.50 each = $72,000 per year. Food: 180,000 pounds of fish x 1.3 FCR x $0.32 per pound of food = $74,880 per year. Heat: 10,000 SQFT building heated with waste motor oil at $0.50 per gallon using 3,000 gallons per year = $1,500 per year Property Tax: $2,500 per year. Sewer Tax: $5,800 per year. Insurance: Building and Fish Mortality = $8,000 per year. Miscellaneous: Soda Ash, Salt, Testing Chemicals = $15,000 per year. Labor: Part time 20 hours per week (grading and harvest) $10.00 per hour or $10,400 per year. Total Annual Cost: $211,730 Average Selling Price: $3.50 per pound x 180,000 pounds per year = $630,000 per year. Net Profit: $630,000 – $211,730 = $418,270

Inside to outside

Striped Bass Advantages Disadvantages Sell for big money Easy to get Easy to feed Parasites Low/no reproduction rates Hard to keep alive Huge money to start