Did you know that the striped bass is an anadromous fish? If you haven’t heard the term, it is not something strange. The word “anadromous” means they were born in freshwater, but they spend more of their lives in saltwater.
The sea bass and striped bass are both saltwater fishes, but they are two different species. The seven horizontal lines on its body characterize the striped bass.
Striped bass is very popular along the West Coast, and it goes by other names like striper or rockfish. They can grow up to 70 pounds, and they have a lifespan of up to 20 years. Striped bass is famous in culinary circles because you can hardly find a cooking method that isn’t suitable for this fish.
What does striped bass taste like? Striped Bass has a mild flavor profile; it is somewhat similar to cod or halibut. It doesn’t taste fishy, so people who do not fancy fish can give it a try. Striped bass has a slightly sweet taste and a flavor that is best described as buttery. Its texture is firm but flaky.
There is a minor difference between the tastes of farm-raised striped bass and wild striped bass. But the difference would only be noticed by people who have had experience tasting different kinds of fish. Overfishing almost sent the striped bass into extinction, so conservation activists are helping the species repopulate by cultivating farm-raised fish.
Nutritional Benefits of Striped Bass
Striped bass is one of the finest sources of Omega fatty acids. It is a good source of fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A, D, and E. The most plentiful nutrient in striped bass is protein.
A 3.5-ounce serving of striped bass contains 17.7 grams of protein, which constitutes 36 percent of the recommended daily intake (RDI) for protein. The protein in striped bass is of good quality, it is easy to digest, and it contains all the essential amino acids in healthy amounts.
The Omega-3 fatty acids found in striped bass are essential for developing the nervous system, especially in infants and toddlers. These fatty acids can help reduce the risk of arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats), which can cause people to drop dead without any warning symptoms.
Fish like striped bass that contain omega-3 fatty acids can help curb cognitive decline and reduce the risk of diseases like Dementia or Alzheimer’s. It can also help prevent inflammatory disorders, depression, asthma, and neuropsychiatric disorders.
Striped bass has vitamin A in its flesh, which helps to promote a healthy vision. It is a good source of other vitamins like niacin, thiamine, vitamin B6, B12, E, and riboflavin. You can also find trace amounts of minerals like selenium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and iodine. Iodine is essential to human nutrition as it produces thyroid hormones.
Striped bass doesn’t contain carbohydrates or dietary fiber; it has low cholesterol and fat level, so it is a well lean fish that can supply the body with nutrients without taking anything away.
Culinary Uses of Striped Bass
Striped bass is a versatile fish; you can never go wrong with it. It has a meaty texture that makes it an everyday favorite for the grill. When thick fillets of striped bass are grilled, the sweetness of the fish blends with the charred smokiness of the grilling action to create a balance. If you do not want to cook your fish on an open fire, striped bass can be pan-seared, sautéed, broiled, steamed, or roasted in the oven.
The most common way of cooking striped bass is to cut it into fillets before cooking it. If you feel adventurous, you can consider cooking your fish whole after being properly gutted. The whole fish can also be grilled or baked in a salt crust. Most people claim that cooking striped bass without stripping the flesh away from the bones is the best way to get the best taste and texture.
You can also fry striped bass after dusting it with salt and flour. The result is crispy exterior and soft innards. The salty skin complements the crispiness of the skin. A squeeze of fresh lemon works wonders to bring out the taste and flavor of striped bass. You can try recipes like Bass with Lemon Herb Butter if you have some free time and fresh striped bass to spare.
What is the Origin of Bass? Where to Procure it?
Striped bass is native to the East Coast. After being born, they migrate to saltwater, only swimming back to freshwater every spring to spawn. Striped bass is a hunting fish that feeds on smaller fish. It feeds on lobsters, squid, clams, rock eels, mullet, crabs, croakers, anchovy, and a wide variety of smaller fish.
Striped bass fish have a weird habit; they only eat one type of food per day. If the striped bass starts its day off by eating crabs, it will eat crabs for the entire day.
You can find striped bass in Virginia, Cape Cod Bay, Chesapeake Bay, and Massachusetts. All these locations are important fisheries for stripers. This hunting fish isn’t limited to the waters of the east coast; it has been introduced to the waters of the west coast and inland lakes in different parts of the country.
Why Should You Not Eat Striped Bass?
Pregnant and nursing women are advised not to eat striped bass. Children under the age of 8 should not be permitted to eat striped bass. This is due to concerns about the mercury levels in the body of this fish. Striped bass is exposed to methyl-mercury as they forage every day, and it is advised that no one should eat more than four meals containing striped bass in a year.
Facts You Don’t Know About Striped Bass
- The scientific name for striped bass is Morone saxatilis.
- There are three basic types of striped bass: the native Wild Striped Bass, Freshwater Striped Bass, and Farmed Striped Bass.