Whatever you call them, they are strong fish that have excited and challenged thousands of Vineyard anglers over the years. Stripers arrive in our waters in spring, often by mid-April. Early summer brings larger fish to our waters. Stripers are the last fish to leave our waters in the fall, often staying around until the end of November. Striped bass can be identified by their beautiful and dramatic stripes, in addition to a generally silvery coloration.
Fish taken on the outer beaches often show a faintly purplish sheen.
Stripers frequent many types of habitats, from open beaches, estuaries, and reefs, to rips and points of land. Wherever you find them, you will find fishermen eager to do battle with their favorite gamefish. The striper can grow to quite a large size - 40 pound fish are not uncommon, but not as prevalent as they once were in our waters. Fish up to 50 pounds are taken each year, both from shore and by boat by a handful of lucky anglers. Fish of 60 and 70 pounds have been taken in years past by anglers fishing the Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands, just a few short miles to the north of Martha's Vineyard.