Summer/Fall 1999

Species Profile: Largemouth Bass

The Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) is one of the most sought after game fish in Mississippi. Each year thousands of anglers take to the water with hopes of catching that once-in-a-lifetime "lunker" bass.

Known as black bass, the largemouth bass is the largest of the basses. Black bass are members of the sunfish family but differ from other sunfishes because of their longer, more streamlined body. Other black basses which are native to Mississippi's waters include smallmouth bass and spotted bass. Largemouth bass get their name from their very large mouth in which the upper jaw reaches far beyond the rear margins of the eye.

Adult largemouth bass average between 10 to 20 inches in length and weigh between 0.50 and 4.50 pounds. Bass in excess of 8.0 pounds are not uncommon and the present Mississippi state record boasts an incredible weight of 18.15 pounds. It was caught in Natchez State Park Lake, which is managed by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Bass in deep southern waters may live to be 10 years of age and therefore have the ability to gain more weight.

Largemouth bass are a dark greenish color along their back and across the upper side of their body. The midside has a broad, blackish strip and below the lateral line the color is gradually lighter and turns to white along the belly and underside. The tail fin in young bass exhibits a bicolor arrangement with the rear part of the fin being much darker than the basal part.

The largemouth bass is tolerant to various conditions, but is more commonly suited to waters with no noticeable current. Studies have shown that largemouth bass prefer a temperature range of 77 to 86 degrees F.

Largemouth bass are commonly found around underwater structure (logs, brushpiles, artificial structures). Largemouth bass are predators and use this underwater structure as cover which enables them move quickly to feed on species of prey. Largemouth bass can often be found cruising the shallows and feeding during low light conditions. The major food source for adult largemouth bass consists of crayfish, large insects, frogs and gizzard shad. Young bass feed mainly on crustaceans and small insects.

Bass begin spawning when the water temperature reaches the mid 60's. Males will chose nest sites in 1 to 4 feet of water. The female will lay her eggs in one or several nest sites. A female will generally drop between 2,000 and 7,000 eggs. Exhausted from laying eggs the female will retreat to deeper water to recover for a period of 2 to 3 weeks while the male stays behind to guard the nest. The male will attack any intruder who ventures to close to the nest. The male will constantly fan the nest keeping the eggs free of silt and debris. The eggs generally hatch within 3 to 5 days dependant on the water temperature.

Hatchlings, called fry, will quickly form schools and move to the nearest cover available to search for food and hide from predators. Of the 2,000 to 7,000 eggs laid, only 5 to 10 of these fish will survive to reach a length of 10 inches.

This article was written by Rob Ballinger, Field Biologist with the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation.