Science Name: | Micropterus salmoides |
Other Names: | Black Bass, Florida bass, green bass, bigmouth, bucketmouth |
Ideal Temp: | 65 to 75 |
World Record: | 22 lbs. 4 ozs. Ga. |
Environment: | light tackle, casting, fl |
Techniques: | stream, river, lake |
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 Habits
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 Habits
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.
Sporting Qualities
The largemouth bass is Florida's most popular freshwater game fish. 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, and you can register a qualifying
catch as part of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's "Big
Catch" program.
Eating Quality
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.