Do striped bass feed much on Atlantic herring?
**Yes, striped bass (Morone saxatilis) do feed on Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), but it is not typically their dominant or “much” primary prey compared to other forage like menhaden—though it can be locally and seasonally important, especially in northern waters like New England.** (LINK)
### Key Findings from Diet Studies
Striped bass are generalist/opportunistic piscivores (fish-eaters) whose diet varies by region, season, fish size, and prey availability. Clupeids (the herring family, including menhaden, river herrings like alewife/blueback, anchovies, and Atlantic herring) often dominate their diet for fish >1 year old. (LINK)
– **Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) is usually the top prey**: Across much of the coast (especially Mid-Atlantic/Chesapeake), it forms a large share of biomass consumed (e.g., ~15-30% or more in some studies, up to dominant in others). Atlantic herring ranks lower overall. (LINK)
– **Atlantic herring contribution**: In one Massachusetts coastal study (2000 data for ages 3–8 striped bass), it accounted for about **3% of total biomass consumed** seasonally (vs. 29% for menhaden). Consumption was higher in June–July (up to 0–30% of cumulative for some ages) but lower later.
– **Regional/seasonal importance**: In Gulf of Maine/New England waters, stripers often feed heavily on Atlantic herring during late spring/early summer migrations when herring are abundant. Studies and angler reports note various herring species (including Atlantic herring) as common targets alongside eels, smelt, sand eels, mackerel, etc.
### Other Context
– **River herrings (Alosa spp.)**: These are frequently consumed, especially during spring spawning runs (e.g., one Connecticut River study estimated striped bass consuming ~400,000 blueback herring annually in a specific area).
– **Overall diet breadth**: Over 65 fish species and 45+ invertebrates appear in records. Other common items include crabs, lobsters, squid, silversides, and mackerel. Diets shift with ontogeny (size/age)—larger bass may take more benthic prey.
– **Relevance to fisheries**: This predation is factored into ecosystem-based management (e.g., for menhaden ecological reference points and herring assessments), as striped bass exert top-down pressure on forage populations.
In short, Atlantic herring is a regular but secondary part of the striped bass diet in many areas—more opportunistic or seasonal “much” feeding occurs where/when herring schools are dense (e.g., New England in spring/summer). For Pt. Judith, RI-area fishing, herring can be excellent live or chunk bait when present.