The fishes in this family were historically referred to as the sea basses, since most of the members were saltwater inhabitants, except for a few species that were found in freshwater environments. Most ichthyologists acknowledge that all of the temperate basses originated in the sea and that some became landlocked during geological land-mass changes. For that reason it was proposed and adopted by fish taxonomists that the Percichthyidae family be expanded to include all temperate freshwater basses along with the giant sea basses and the ocean striped bass.

Four species in the temperate bass family have inhabited Iowa waters at one time or another. Two members, white bass and yellow bass, are native to our waters. Two exotics, ocean striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and the striped bass x white bass hybrid, have been introduced as trophy-sized sport fish in recent years.

Ocean striped bass were stocked into Rathbun Reservoir in 1971 and into Saylorville Reservoir in 1977. Few surviving stripers were caught by fishermen or sampled in netting operations, and stocking of this species was discontinued in 1980. This species is probably not found in the state at this time. More recently the Morone hybrid (female striped bass x male white bass) was introduced into Saylorville Reservoir and Pool 14 of the Mississippi River. This fish, which does not occur in natural populations, was originally hybridized in southern United States as a rapid growing fish and was more adaptable to freshwater environments than the striped bass. Currently, it appears to be well established in both locations.

*Mayhew, J. (editor). 1987. Iowa Fish and Fishing. Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, Iowa. 323 pp.