BASS LARGEMOUTH | KENTUCKY | REDEYE | WHITE BASS | HYBRID | STRIPED
(Micropterus salmoides floridanus)
COMMON NAMES - black bass, Florida bass, Florida (or southern) largemouth, green bass, bigmouth, bucketmouth, linesides, Oswego bass and green trout.
DESCRIPTION - The largemouth is the largest member of the sunfish family. It generally has light greenish to brownish sides with a dark lateral line which tends to break into blotches towards the tail. Often confused with smallmouth and spotted bass, it is easily distinguishable because the upper jaw extends beyond the rear edge of the eye. Also, its first and second dorsal fins are almost separated by an obvious deep dip, and there are no scales on the soft-rayed second dorsal fin or on the anal fin.
SUBSPIECES - Two are recognized: the northern largemouth (M. s. salmoides) and the Florida largemouth (M. s. floridanus). The two look much the same, but the Florida largemouth has 69-73 scales along the lateral line compared to the northern largemouth's 59-65 scales. Florida bass grow to trophy size more readily than northern largemouth in warm waters.
HABITAT - Prefers clear, nonflowing waters with aquatic vegetation where food and cover are available. They occupy brackish to freshwater habitats, including upper estuaries, rivers, lakes, reservoirs and ponds. Also, they can tolerate a wide range of water clarities and bottom types, prefer water temperatures from 65 to 85 degrees, and are usually found at depths less than 20 feet.
SPAWNING HABITATS - Spawning occurs from December through May, but usually begins in February and March in most of Florida when water temperatures reach 58 to 65 degrees and continues as temperatures rise into the 70s. The male builds saucer-shaped nests 20 to 30 inches in diameter by placing its lower jaw near the bottom and rotating around this central location. Bass prefer to build nests in hard-bottom areas along shallow shorelines or in protected areas such as canals and coves. Depending on her size, the female can lay up to 100,000 eggs, which are fertilized as they settle into the nest. After spawning is completed, usually five to 10 days, the male guards the nest and eggs and later the young (sometimes called fry) attacking anything that approaches the nest. The female bass stays near the nest or may swim a short distance and remain listless for up to a day. After hatching, the fry swim in tight schools, disbanding when the small fish reach a length of about one inch.
FEEDING HABITATS - The diet of bass changes with its size. Young fish feed on microscopic animals (zooplankton) and small crustaceans such as grass shrimp and crayfish. Fingerling bass feed on insects, crayfish, and small fishes. Adult bass will eat whatever is available, including fish, crayfish, crabs, frogs, salamanders, snakes, mice, turtles and even birds.
AGE AND GROWTH - Growth rates are highly variable with differences attributed mainly to their food supply and length of growing season. Female bass live longer than males and are much more likely to reach trophy size. By age two or three, females grow much faster than male bass. Males seldom exceed 16 inches, while females frequently surpass 22 inches. At five years of age females may be twice the weight of males. One-year old bass average about seven inches in length and grow to an adult size of 10 inches in about 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 years. The oldest bass from Florida whose age has been determined by fisheries biologists was 16 year of age. Generally, trophy bass (10 pounds and larger) are about 10 years old. The formula used by Florida scientists to estimate weight based on length and girth is: log(weight, in grams) = -4.83 + 1.923 x log(total length, in mm) + 1.157 x log(girth, in mm). Click here for an automated formula, and here to determine how to properly measure your fish.
SPORTING QUALITIES - Much of its popularity is due to its aggressive attitude and willingness to strike a lure or bait with explosive force. They will strike almost any kind of artificial lure or live bait, but most are taken on plastic worms, surface plugs, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, bass bugs and shiner minnows. The value of the largemouth as a sport fish has prompted a movement toward catch-and-release fishing. As a sport fish, specific bag and size limit regulations apply.
EATING QUALITIES - The meat is white, flaky and low in oil content. The flavor depends upon the way the fish are cleaned and prepared. The strong weedy taste of bass caught in some waters may be eliminated by skinning the fish and salting and peppering the fillets before battering. Fillets usually are fried, while larger ones may be baked.
WORLD RECORD - 22 pounds, 4 ounces, caught in Montgomery Lake, Georgia in 1932. See the Big Bass Record Club (BBRC) for a history of this historic fish. BBRC offers a discount membership, fishing DVD and free hat to Florida fishing license holders.
(Micropterus punctulatus)
DESCRIPTION - Is similar in appearance to the largemouth bass. Has green to olive-green hue; white, mottled belly; and a broad stripe of broken blotches, usually diamond-shaped, along the midline of the body. Unlike the largemouth, the spotted bass has scales on the base portion of the second dorsal fin; its first and second dorsal fin are clearly connected, and its upper jaw does not extend past the eye. Above the lateral line there are dark markings, and below the lateral line the scales have dark bases that give rise to the linear rows of small spots which are responsible for the common name.
SUBSPIECES - Three are recognized: the northern spotted bass (M. p. punctulatus) has 60 to 68 scales along the lateral line, the Alabama spotted bass (M. p. henshalli) has 68 to 75 scales along the lateral line. Spotted bass can be found from Texas to the Florida panhandle including Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky. The Wichita spotted bass (thought by some to be extinct) is limited to the West Cache Creek, Oklahoma. The Alabama spotted bass has been introduced into California.
HABITAT - Prefers small to medium streams and rivers with clear, slow-moving water, gravel or rock bottoms. Spotted bass may occupy reservoirs, but are seldom found in natural lakes. They do not enter brackish water.
SPAWNING HABITATS- Spawns very much like the largemouth. Spawning occurs in the spring when water temperatures reach 60 to 65 degrees. Sexually mature mates build saucer-shaped nests on a soft, clay bottom or on gravel bars generally near brush, logs or other heavy cover. The eggs hatch in four or five days, yielding up to 3,000 fry per nest.
FEEDING HABITATS - The principal food items are crayfish, fish and aquatic insects. The species is less piscivorous than other black basses and seems to be more selective in its feeding habits.
AGE GROWTH - Tends to grow slower than largemouth bass and does not attain as large a size as other species. The young grow to 1-1/2 to 4 inches the first summer. Maturity is reached at about seven inches. Average lengths for fish aged 1 to 8 years are 4, 8, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 inches.
SPORTING QUALITIES - Strong fighters when caught on light tackle. Popular lures and baits include jigs, crankbaits, spinners, small plastic worms and crayfish. As a sport fish, specific bag and size limit regulations apply.
EATING QUALITIES - White, flaky meat with good flavor. Generally considered better eating than largemouth.
WORLD RECORD- 9 pounds, 4 ounces, caught in Lake Perris, California in 1987.
(Micropterus coosae)
DESCRIPTION - The red color of eyes and fins easily separates this species from other bass. Suwannee and shoal bass also have red eyes but generally have less red on fins. Redeye bass generally are brownish to greenish in color with vertical bars with light centers along their sides and are bronze-olive above, dark olive mottling, yellow-white to blue below. Has a prominent dark spot on the gill cover. Has scales on the base portion of the soft-rayed dorsal fins, clearly connected first and second dorsal fins, and an upper jaw bone that does not extend beyond the eyes.
SUBSPIECES - No known subspecies. There were two widely recognized forms: the Apalachicola form, now separately described as the species--shoal bass, and the Alabama form which remains classified as a redeye bass.
HABITAT - Likely to be found in rocky runs, pools of creeks and small to medium rivers close to main-channel habitat. They are seldom found in natural lakes, pond or impoundments. Prefers a water temperature of about 65 degrees. Shoal bass in the Chipola River are closely associated with rock shoals and is uncommon in other habitats.
SPAWNING HABITATS - Redeye bass spawn in coarse gravel at the heads of creek pools in late May to early July. Will not spawn in ponds or lakes. Prefers spawning temperature of 62 to 69 degrees. Like the largemouth the male prepares the nest and guards the eggs and fry.
FEEDING HABITATS - Redeye bass feed mainly on aquatic insects on the surface. They also feed on larval insects, crayfish and fish.
AGE AND GROWTH - The growth rate of redeye bass is slow when compared to other species of black bass. Growth is fast the first year but decreases as the fish becomes older. Shoal bass grow much faster than redeye bass.
SPORTING QUALITIES - Is a good game fish and a scrappy fighter that is often difficult to catch. They can be caught on worms, minnows, or crayfish as well as small spinners and a wide variety of small surface lures. Some have been known to reach more than eight pounds. As a sport fish, specific bag and size limit regulations apply.
EATING QUALITIES - Good. Has white, flaky meat and tends to be drier than that of a largemouth.
WORLD RECORDS - 8 pounds, 3 ounces, caught in the Flint River, Georgia in 1977. This fish was actually a shoal bass.
(Morone chrysops)
COMMON NAMES - stripe, silver bass, striper, sand bass, barfish.
DESCRIPTION - The white bass looks similar to a shortened version of its larger relative, the striped bass. It is silvery-white overall with five to eight horizontal dusky black stripes along the sides. Stripes below the lateral line are faint and often broken in an irregular pattern. It differs most noticeably in being shorter and stockier with a smaller head, and the dorsal fins are set closer together. The white bass has a deep body, strongly arched behind head; deepest between dorsal fins.
SUBSPIECES - There are no recognized subspecies
HABITAT - White bass are found in large lakes and streams connected to major river systems and in rivers with moderate current. They prefer clear water with a temperature range of 65 to 75 degrees. Man-made impoundments have greatly favored the white bass, but the species is one that can become overabundant and stunt.
SPAWNING HABITATS - Male white bass migrate upstream in large schools to a dam or other barrier in early spring, followed shortly by schools of females. Spawning occurs in moving water over gravel shoals or a hard bottom. Large females may lay as many as half a million adhesive eggs that stick to rocks and gravel. If no water current is present white bass have been known to spawn on wind-swept sandy beaches. After spawning, they abandon their eggs and provide no parental care. Fry hatch in only two to three days.
FEEDING HABITATS - White bass are primarily piscivorous. Fry feed on zooplankton first and within a few weeks larger crustaceans and insects are eaten. Larger fish prefer to feed on minnows and thrive on open- water baitfish like gizzard and threadfin shad. Like the striper, white bass move in schools and feed most heavily around dawn or dusk.
AGE AND GROWTH - Although white bass may live up to 10 years, few live beyond three to four years. Females grow slightly faster and probably live longer than males. The average size is one pound with fish over two pounds considered large.
SPORTING QUALITY - White bass are hard hitting, fierce fighting fish. Their aggressive nature combined with their schooling tendency make them one of the easiest fish to catch. Several tips to white bass anglers should include: use light tackle for maximum enjoyment; use flies, spinners, small plugs or minnows for bait; and locate feeding schools which usually occur toward evening in shallow areas. As a sport fish, specific bag and size limit regulations apply.
EATING QUALITY - The flesh is similar to that of the striped bass and may be prepared by frying, baking, broiling, or stewing.
WORLD RECORD - 6 pounds, 13 ounces, caught in Lake Orange, in Orange, Virginia, in 1989.
(M. chrysops x M. saxatilis)
COMMON NAMES - Sunshine, wiper, whiterock, palmetto bass
DESCRIPTION - The Striped bass hybrid is a hybrid produced by crossing a female white bass with a male striped bass. Striped bass hybrid closely resemble both striped bass and white bass making identification difficult, particularly for young fish. When comparing adult fish, the sunshine has a deep body and an arched back similar to the white bass. Striped bass hybrid can often be distinguished by broken or irregular stripes on the front half of body and straight lines on the rear half of body. A mid-body break in line pattern occasionally occurs.
SUBSPIECES - There are no recognized subspecies since the Striped Bass Hybrid is an artificial hybrid. Some states produce a hybrid called palmetto bass which is a cross between a female striped bass with a male white bass.
HABITAT - Striped Bass Hybrids appear to prefer areas within lakes and rivers similar to striped bass and white bass. Older sunshine bass require cooler water during summer months.
FEEDING HABITS - Like Stripers, Striped Bass Hybrids are voracious feeders and consume any kind of small fish including threadfin and gizzard shad. Young fish also feed on mayflies and crustaceans. Striped Bass Hybrids also travel and feed in schools with peak activity in the early morning or evening.
AGE AND GROWTH - Striped Bass Hybrids are probably best known for their rapid growth. They have attained weights of six to seven pounds by three years of age.
SPORTING QUALITIES - As a sport fish, sunshines are known for their good fighting ability. Live threadfin or other small shad and shrimp are by far the most effective bait for sunshine bass. Artificial lures such as crankbaits, bucktail or feathered jigs, spinners and spoons also do well. Topwater lures also are effective when fish are schooling near the surface. Trolling with artificial lures often helps locate fish when surface feeding is slow. As a sport fish, specific bag and size limit regulations apply.
EATING QUALITIES - Similar to striped and white bass.
WORLD RECORD - 24 pounds, 3 ounces, caught in Leesville Lake, Virginia, in 1989.
(Morone saxatilis)
DESCRIPTIONS - The striper is the largest member of the temperate bass family. Body coloration is olive-green to blue-gray on the back with silvery to brassy sides and white on the belly. It is easily recognized by the seven or eight prominent black uninterrupted horizontal stripes along the sides. The stripes are often interrupted or broken and are usually absent on young fish of less than six inches. The striper is longer and sleeker and has a larger head than its close and similar looking relative, the white bass, which rarely exceeds three pounds.
SUBSPIECES - There are no recognized subspecies.
HABITAT - The species has been widely introduced in numerous lakes, rivers and impoundments throughout the world. Stripers prefer relatively clear water with a good supply of open-water baitfish. Their preferred water temperature range is 65 to 70 degrees.
SPAWNING HABITATS - Spawns in March, April and May when water temperatures reach 60 to 68 degrees. Stripers are river spawners that broadcast millions of eggs in the water currents without affording any protection or parental care. During spawning, seven or eight smaller males surround a single, large, female and bump her to swifter currents at the water surface. At ovulation, ripe eggs are discharged and scattered in the water as males release sperm. Fertilized eggs must be carried by river currents until hatching (about 48 hours) to avoid suffocation. Fry and fingerlings spend most of their time in lower rivers and estuaries. Because striped bass eggs must remain suspended in a current until hatching, impoundments are unsuitable for natural reproduction. Freshwater populations have been maintained by stocking fingerlings, and, despite initial difficulties in hatchery procedures for obtaining females with freely flowing eggs, a modern technique of inducing ovulation with the use of a hormone has been successful.
FEEDING HABITATS - Stripers are voracious feeders and consume any kind of small fish and a variety of invertebrates. Preferred foods for adults mainly consist of gizzard and threadfin shad, golden shiners and minnows. Younger fish prefer to feed on amphipods and mayflies. Very small stripers feed on zooplankton. Like other temperate bass, they move in schools, and all members of the school tend to feed at the same time. Heaviest feeding is in early morning and in evening, but they feed sporadically throughout the day, especially when skies are overcast. Feeding slows when water temperatures drop below 50 degrees but does not stop completely.
AGE AND GROWTH - Stripers are fast-growing and long-lived. Sexual maturity occurs at about two years of age for male stripers and at four years of age for females. They can reach a size of 10 to 12 inches the first year.
Sporting Quality - The striper tends to be an underrated trophy sport fish among many Florida anglers. However, for fishermen who have caught this species there is no disputing the striper is a superstar among freshwater fishes. Live shad and eels are excellent baits for catching big stripers. Other popular baits include white or yellow bucktail jigs, spoons, deep running crankbaits and a spinner with plastic worm rig. Popping plugs are best when stripers are schooling at the surface. As a sport fish, specific bag and size limit regulations apply.
EATING QUALITY - Stripers are excellent eating fish and may be prepared in may ways. Smaller fish are usually fried and larger ones are baked.
WORLD RECORD (LANDLOCKED) - 66 pounds, caught in O'Neill Forebay, California, in 1988.
WORLD RECORD - 78 pounds, 8 ounces, caught in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1982.