Performance of Domesticated Striped Bass Morone saxatilis, Palmetto Bass and Backcross Hybrid Striped Bass (Sunshine Bass ♀× Striped Bass ♂) Raised in a Tank Culture System

Abstract— Grow‐out performance of striped bass Morone saxatilis, palmetto bass (M. saxatilis ♀×M. chrysops ♂) and backcross hybrids [sunshine bass ♀(M. chtysops ♀×M. saxatilis ♂) × M. saxatilis♂] was examined in a two‐part study. During part I fish (mean weight = 20.1 g) were stocked at a density of 56 fish/m3 in 1.8‐m3 cylindrical fiberglass tanks connected to a central biological filter. Fish were fed a 38% protein trout ration daily and the study duration was 273 d. At harvest, no differences (P > 0.05) in mean weight or feed conversion were detected among the fish types. However, there were differences in specific growth, with the striped bass having a significantly higher growth rate than the palmetto bass and the backcross hybrids being intermediate. The condition factor (K) for striped bass was also significantly lower (1.2) than that recorded for either of the other two groups. In addition, survival of striped bass (91%) was significantly higher than that of backcross hybrids (74%), while survival of palmetto bass (87%) was intermediate. The survival of backcross hybrids was adversely impacted by an infestation of the dinoflagellate Amyloodinium sp. During part II stocking density in each tank was reduced to 19 fish/m3. The study lasted 104 d. At harvest, no differences were detected in weight, survival, or feed conversion. However, there were significant differences in specific growth, length and K. Striped bass and backcross hybrids gained weight faster than palmetto bass. Length and K were inversely related with all groups being significantly different. Striped bass had the largest TL and the lowest K while, palmetto bass were the shortest with the highest K.