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 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.
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