WHITEROCK BASS

The Whiterock Bass has also been called a Bodie bass, sunshine bass, hybrid striped bass, hybrid white, wiper bass, hybrid bass, and palmetto bass. The typical hybrid bass is a cross of a female white bass with a male striped bass although some states have produced a hybrid between a female striped and a male white bass. Whiterock's closely resemble both striped and white bass making their identification difficult when they are young. Adult Whiterock bass have a deep body and arched back similar to whites yet can be distinguished from them by the irregular stripes on the front half of their body and the straight lines on the rear half of body.

The world record Whiterock bass was caught in Greers Ferry Lake, Arkansas, USA, in 1997 and weighted in at 27 pounds, 5 ounces.

Whiterock bass are known good fighters and the action can get fast and furious when getting into a school of them. Some good artificial lure choices consist of crankbaits, bucktail or feathered jigs, spinners and spoons. Hybrids also like to travel and feed in schools with peak activity in the early morning or evening. Topwater lures can be effective if you catch Whiterocks schooling near the surface. If you can’t catch Whiterock bass near the surface, tolling can be a good way to locate them. Whiterock bass, like stripers, are voracious feeders and feed any kind of small fish including threadfin and gizzard shad. Young fish also feed on mayflies and crustaceans. Minnows and small shad are good live bait choices for Whiterock bass. Shrimp is also excellent bait for Whiterocks.

Whiterock bass production began in the southeastern United States in the late 1980s. Today almost every state in the southeastern U. S. has a Whiterock bass population with the majority being produced in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas.

Whiterock bass prefer areas in lakes and rivers similar to striped bass and white bass. Older Whiterock bass tend to seek cooler water during the summer months.

For the most part Whiterocks have not displayed a tendency to reproduce naturally although some have shown limited spawning activities in Arkansas, South Carolina and Texas. Whiterock basss are probably best known for their rapid growth. They have attained weights of six to seven pounds by the time they have reached three years of age.