Scott & Nix: The Mighty Striped Bass

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The Mighty Striped Bass

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Right now along the Mid-Atlantic Coast, large migratory populations of striped bass have made the last leg in their journey to the south. Schools of adult stripers have traveled throughout the fall from summer feeding areas along coastal Maine and Massachusetts to spend the winter in warmer waters off the coast of the Carolinas. In vast numbers, they followed schools of alewives, shiners, menhaden, herring, and silversides, and other prey species to fatten up for the push south.

When they are on the feed, the blitzes of striped bass are one of the most spectacular events in nature. Huge balls of baitfish pool together near the surface with striped bass and bluefish stalking close by. In sorties from below, the bluefish and the bass swim through the baitfish taking their fill. The baitfish explode out of the water to escape the predators and the water boils with hungry bass and bluefish amid the prey. (Baitfish illustrations © Flick Ford and Greenwich Workshop Press). Almost always, terns, gulls, gannets, cormorants, and loons join the banquet pointing the way out for anglers on the hunt.

Writer Peter Kaminsky in his excellent book The Moon Pulled Up An Acre of Bass (Hyperion) writes that the movement of striped bass and other fish from coastal Maine and Massachusetts to the Hudson and Chesapeake Bay may be the largest migration on Earth. Wrap your mind around that possibility, and it’s not difficult to understand why so many anglers become obsessed with striped bass. They are plentiful and can be amazing fish to catch on a fly rod. Some anglers land 40–50 pound fish and they fight like a truck.

One of the obsessed is artist Flick Ford (and for the record, we’re obsessed here at Scott & Nix, too). In 2008, Flick went out for stripers with Capt. Jeff Walther of Striped Tease Charters. Using a 10-weight fly rod and a popper pattern, he brought thirty-eight stripers to the boat in just a few hours. One of the fish was carefully measured, photographed, and released back into the waves. Returning to his studio, Flick set about to create one of the most accurate and beautiful illustrations of a striped bass ever made. We’re proud to offer Flick’s homage to the striped bass as a high-quality wall poster. We look at it every day here on the wall at Scott & Nix’s offices, waiting for the spring, when the stripers start moving back to our homewaters of the New York Bight.

The Striped Bass Poster

Illustrated by Flick Ford

The most accurate and detailed illustration of a striped bass ever made—a hefty 39-inch striper caught by illustrator Flick Ford in June 2008 off the coast of Massachusetts. 24 × 36", full-color on 80-lb paper.

Framed Posters

Choose from two styles of custom high quality black matte or matte silver anodized aluminum frames. Sturdy, lightweight, and elegant. (Final frame size is 36.5 × 24.25 in).



$175.00	$175.00

Each framed poster has a special Framers Brand™ uv-filtering protective lens cover. This archival-quality cover is better than glass and prevents sunlight from damaging your poster. It’s also scratch-resistant and will not show fingerprints. It’s the perfect cover to preserve and protect your poster for over 100 years. Each framed poster is backed with acid-free foamcore for maximum archival protection.

The poster is shipped fully framed with wire hanging hardware, bumper stickers to protect your wall, and nails.

All shipments are sent via Federal Express Ground in a specially designed shipping container to arrive in perfect condition.

Price: $175.00 (plus shipping and handling)

Orders take 2–3 business days to process and arrive to most destinations within 2–3 days.

If you’re not satisfied with the poster frame for any reason, we want to make it right! Please contact us within 30 days of your purchase at 212-627-5909 (m–f, 9 am–5 pm) or via e-mail at contact@scottandnix.com.