Not all fish called bass are in the same family, and the largemouth bass is in the sunfish family, Centrarchidae. Originally the largemouth bass were localized to the Eastern United States, but because of their popularity as a sport fish and their ability to thrive in a variety of environments, they have been successfully exported and populated, making them one of the most widely distributed fish in the world. Common names in the English language are largemouth bass , bass, American black bass, bayou bass, bigmouth bass, black bass, bucket mouth, chub, green bass, green trout, lake bass, large-mouth bass, largemouth, largemouth black bass, line side, marsh bass, northern largemouth bass, Oswego bass, slough bass, southern largemouth, trout, and welchman. Some surveys list bass fishing as the number one participation sport, while others place it in the upper five.
Largemouth Bass
Appearance
Recreational sport fishing for largemouth bass has become extremely popular in the United States. This sport is now a multi-billion dollar industry. Largemouth Bass fishing has significantly expanded from its humble beginnings in the late 19th century. Some countries have reported negative impacts resulting from the introduction of largemouth bass in non-native waters. The maximum reported age for largemouth bass is 23 years. The heaviest reported weight for was SIZE: Common length for largemouth bass is 40 cm Largemouth bass are also found in Atlantic drainages from North Carolina to Florida and into northern Mexico. Adult largemouth bass utilize submerged aquatic vegetation as cover to ambush prey and juvenile or young largemouth use aquatic weeds, tree limbs or submerged log or stumps as cover to escape predation.
FEEDING PATTERNS + HABITAT:
The largemouth bass is one of the most popular sport fishes in the United States. Fresh and low-brackish waters; prefer lakes with extensive shallow areas that support submerged aquatic vegetation, but can also be found in large, slow-moving rivers or streams with soft bottoms, clear water and aquatic vegetation. Native to the central and eastern United States, excluding the northeastern and central Atlantic states.
Key characteristic of this species is that they are generally light to dark green in color. Dark blotches formulate in a horizontal line on both sides of the fish. The underbelly generally is light green to white. Largemouth bass has a divided dorsal fin with the anterior containing nine spines and the posterior containing soft rays. Their upper jaw also reaches far beyond the rear margin of the eye. Most juvenile largemouth bass consumes mainly small insects, scuds, baitfish, and shrimp. As the bass becomes an adult, they will begin to consume larger prey.
