This is a tale of the application of two basic genetic improvement strategies to the striped bass (Morone saxatilis): hybridisation and selection. Historically esteemed and economically important, the species makes a visual impression rivalled only by its flavour and reputation as a sportfish. With a natural range along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America, striped bass are anadromous by nature, favouring saltwater habitats as adults, migrating to freshwater to spawn in the spring and returning to the sea after spawning. The young spend their first 6 to 12 months in freshwater and brackish habitats before moving downstream to saltwater. Notably, some self-sustaining populations can also be found in inland freshwater environments.