Caught this bass last week, amongst others. This one had broken stripes where as the others had continous stripes. I've read about the various types but I am still unsure -do they represent fish of different stocks? For example a northern stock vs one of a southern origin?

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That fish looks like a factory second.

Maybe it's just been hurt by a prop, or bitten by a seal.
I've seen that in Europe too, though the European bass has no stripes, but it definitely makes a break in the scale's pattern...

Overall, the fish looked very healthy if not perfect, its just that once in a while you get that irregular pattern.

I have read it is a genetic thing with some fish...nothing wrong with the fish itself....look at them as freckles.:D Although the specific pattern on that fish appears to be an old wound that healed....who knows?

I have a birth mark on my arm. Stripers sometimes don't come out perfect either.

Ive read a few bass books over the winter and I believe it was Nick Karas' Book The Complete Book of Striped Bass where it mentioned that there are two different stocks of bass which are distinguishable by the broken stripes. It wasnt very clear so I thought someone could shed light on this.

I have also heard that this is from coming from a different stock.... I have caught quite a few over the years like that

i've read somewhere that the bass with broken stripes come from the canadian maritimes.

Time to de-frag.

Afterhours. I heard the same thing years ago. Seemed like we caught more fish with broken lines back in the late 80's than lately, but it was always said that the broken lines fish were from Nova Scotia

That's nothing, you should see some of the fish I catch during the winter:).

I read that the broken stripes indicate that it is a Hybrid.
ie - a cross between a true striped bass and some other.

Well, it is a big ocean so maybe they just got a little frisky :)

Unbroken lines Ches / Broken lines Hudson

its inbred