The term “wiper fish” is a common name used by anglers for the Hybrid Striped Bass, a fast-growing and popular sport fish. It is not a naturally occurring species but a cultivated hybrid created by crossing two types of temperate bass. This unique fish combines desirable traits from both parents, resulting in a hardy and aggressive predator often found in inland waterways.
The Hybrid Origin
The Hybrid Striped Bass is a man-made fish, typically produced in controlled hatchery environments rather than occurring widely in the wild. It is a cross between the White Bass and the Striped Bass. Scientists first began producing this hybrid in the 1960s to create a sport fish that could thrive in freshwater reservoirs where pure striped bass often struggled to reproduce.
Two specific crosses are recognized, named for the parent species providing the eggs. The “Palmetto Bass” results from crossing a female Striped Bass with a male White Bass. Conversely, the “Sunshine Bass” is produced from a female White Bass and a male Striped Bass. The common name “wiper” is often applied universally to both types, which look very similar. This deliberate crossbreeding imparts hybrid vigor, allowing the offspring to grow rapidly and tolerate a wider range of environmental conditions than either parent.
Identifying Characteristics
Distinguishing a wiper from its parent species is often accomplished by examining its physical traits, particularly the horizontal stripes along its body. The most reliable visual characteristic is the pattern of these dark lateral lines, which are typically broken, irregular, or disjointed below the fish’s lateral midline. This contrasts sharply with the pure Striped Bass, which has distinct, solid lines that run continuously from head to tail.
The wiper’s body shape is also intermediate, being deeper or more “stocky” than the slender, elongated body of the pure Striped Bass. While the hybrid can grow larger than the White Bass, its maximum size is generally smaller than the massive Striped Bass. A more technical, though less practical, identification feature is the presence of two distinct patches of teeth on the tongue, a trait shared with the Striped Bass but not the White Bass, which has only one patch.
Distribution and Management
Hybrid Striped Bass are stocked extensively across the United States, particularly in large freshwater lakes and reservoirs throughout the Southeast and Midwest. They are prized for their hard-fighting nature, making them a popular target for recreational anglers. This species is better suited for inland waters than the anadromous Striped Bass, as the hybrids tolerate higher water temperatures and lower dissolved oxygen levels.
Stocking wipers serves two main purposes: enhancing sport fishing and acting as a biological management tool. They are effective predators that help control populations of smaller forage fish, such as gizzard or threadfin shad, maintaining a balanced aquatic ecosystem. Because these hybrids are generally sterile, they cannot naturally sustain their populations. Fishery managers must continually restock waterbodies with hatchery-raised fingerlings to ensure a consistent supply of fish for anglers.