Sunshine Bass

	Scientific Name	Morone chrysops x Morone saxatilis
	Other Names	Striped bass hybrid, Wiper, Whiterock, Palmetto bass
	World Record	N/A

Description

The sunshine bass is a hybrid produced by crossing a female white bass with a male striped bass. Sunshine's closely resemble both striped bass and white bass, making identification difficult. When comparing adult fish, the sunshine has a deep body and an arched back similar to the white bass. Sunshine's can often be distinguished by broken or irregular stripes on the front half of their body and straight lines on the rear half of their body. A mid-body break in line pattern occasionally occurs.

Habitat

Sunshine's appear to prefer areas within lakes and rivers similar to striped bass and white bass. Older sunshine bass require cooler water during summer months. Again these fish are predators and like obstructions to hunt from. Often found near snags and weedy areas.

Feeding Habit

Like stripers, sunshine's are voracious feeders and consume any kind of small fish. Young fish also feed on mayflies and crustaceans. Sunshine's also travel and feed in schools with peak activity in the early morning or evening. They can often be spotted by bait fish jumping clear of the water as they are pursued by a shoe of Sunshine's.

Age and Growth

Sunshine's are probably best known for their rapid growth. They have attained weights of 6 to 7 pounds by 3 years of age. For this reason they are becoming more popular with commercial fisheries as they make great stocking for their growth rates and sporting qualities.

Tackle and Methods

For sport fishing, sunshine's are known for their good fighting ability. Live baiting with fish or shrimp are by far the most effective bait for sunshine bass. Artificial lures such as crank baits, buck tail or feathered jigs, fly rod poppers and streamers, spinners and spoons also do well. Top water lures also are effective when fish are schooling near the surface. Trolling with artificial lures often helps locate fish when surface feeding is slow. Working lures close to snags works very well and often produces the largest fish.

Related Species

Listed below are similar related species that customers have searched.

	Striped Bass		Suwannee Bass
	Warmouth Bass		Peacock Bass

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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