If you are wanting to add diversity to your pond or lake, Hybrid Striped Bass (AKA Palmetto Bass, Sunshine Bass, or Hybrid Stripers) can be a great option.
What are Hybrid Striped Bass?
They are a fast growing and hard fighting, open water predator that are a lot of fun for all ages to catch on a rod and reel. They have an aggressive nature and will eat many varieties of lures such as topwaters, spinners, and soft plastics.
What are Hybrid Striped Bass Stocking Recommendations for Lakes and Ponds?
Typically, the Pond King fisheries biologists recommend stocking hybrid stripers at a rate of approximately 200 per acre.
With an established feeding regime, utilizing a 45% protein pelleted fish food, individuals can grow upwards of 12 inches in their first year of life and can easily reach 5 pounds once they get older.
Habitat Requirements for Hybrid Striped Bass
Hybrid Stripers are very strong and fast fish that are most effective in open water situations. These fish are predators that love to travel in large schools to help chase down their prey.
If you have a pond with little structure, hybrid stripers are a great stocking choice for you!
Harvesting and Restocking Hybrid Striped Bass
Hybrid stripers, unlike many hybrids, do remain fertile and have the capacity to reproduce. With that being said, however, any reproduction would be very limited and often will not reproduce successfully in your pond.
This is important to keep that in mind when stocking and harvesting them.
Because hybrid striped bass do not reproduce, restocking will be required periodically to replenish those taken out of the lake in order to maintain a sufficient and healthy fish population.
What is the Optimal Harvest Size for a Hybrid Striped Bass?
The optimal size for harvest varies based on personal preference. If a pond owner is harvesting for the purpose of consumption, harvesting fish of at least 2 lbs allows for a decent size filet. On the other hand, harvesting to further reduce the likelihood of successful reproduction, targeting fish around the 5 pound range (assuming supplemental feed) is recommended.
Breeding and Mortality Age for Hybrid Striped Bass
It takes females 2-3 years to reach maturity and removing females of this size greatly reduces reproductive potential within the pond. Hybrid striped bass have a lifespan of typically 5-6 years and can grow upwards of 12-15lbs.
Many pond owners opt to begin harvesting these larger individuals when they are nearing the end of their lifespan so that they don’t just die in your pond. The filets from these larger individuals are a great way to feed family or church fish frys or other events.
Food Requirements for a Private Lake Hybrid Striped Bass Population
As mentioned before, these fish have excellent growth rates when they are fed a 45% protein floating fish feed.
Although this is the best way to get them to grow faster they are much like any other predatory fish and will eat anything that they can fit into their mouth.
But if they are fed a 45% protein feed along with the minnows and bluegill present in your pond, this will help to alleviate predation pressure off of your baitfish in the pond, thus leaving more food for your bass to eat.
Trust Pond King to Improve the Biodiversity of Your Private Lake
If you are a private pond or lake owner, looking for a great way to add diversity to your pond and fishing experience, you should consider stocking some hybrid stripers.They are fast growing and hard fighting fish that can add great experiences for you and all who fish your pond!
Contact our biologists or call now for questions about stocking hybrid striped bass or any other fish species
Thank you and we will see y’all down at the pond!
