Success of Juvenile Striped Bass in Two Bay Systems in Mississippi: 1980-1984

Success of a striped bass (Morone saxatilis, Walbaum) stocking program in the Biloxi Bay and St. Louis Bay systems in Mississippi was investigated by monitoring the occurrence of juveniles in bag seine collections in the Biloxi, Tchouticabouffa, Jourdan, and Wolf Rivers. A total of 554 juvenile striped bass were collected during the study. Hydrographic data and stomach analyses indicate that neither water conditions nor food was a limiting factor to juvenile striped bass survival. Appearance of juveniles subsequent to the stocking of Atlantic coast fry and fingerlings coupled with lateral line scale count data indicate that all juveniles collected were of Atlantic coast origin, originating from stocked fry and fingerlings