How do true anadromous Striped Bass differ environmentally from their landlocked counterparts?

True anadromous Striped Bass live in saltwater but migrate to freshwater to spawn, whereas landlocked populations exist entirely in freshwater reservoirs.

The habitat segregation defines a critical difference between the two types of Striped Bass. True anadromous Striped Bass, often called sea-run, complete their life cycle primarily in saltwater environments, such as oceans or estuaries, but they undertake necessary migrations into freshwater systems specifically for the purpose of reproduction or spawning. In contrast, landlocked Striped Bass populations are established entirely within freshwater reservoirs, meaning they never interact with saltwater environments throughout their entire existence. This difference in environment—saltwater migration versus permanent reservoir dwelling—is fundamental to understanding variations in their diet, muscle structure, and resulting table fare quality, as freshwater populations are more susceptible to localized water quality issues.