How do the lower lateral stripes of Morone mississippiensis differ from White Bass stripes?

They are distinctly broken or offset before reaching the anal fin origin

The pattern of the dark horizontal stripes along the sides is perhaps the most critical visual key for separating the Yellow Bass from its close relative, the White Bass. While both species exhibit dark striping, the Yellow Bass is characterized by the lower three or four stripes showing a marked discontinuity. Specifically, these stripes are distinctly broken or offset at some point prior to where the anal fin begins its origin. In contrast, the stripes on the White Bass typically maintain their continuity, running unbroken all the way back toward the caudal peduncle and tail. This specific break in pattern is a reliable field mark for positive identification of *Morone mississippiensis*.