CONSERVATION CORNER
The Largemouth Bass
by James L. Cummins

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 bass.

The largemouth bass is the largest of the basses, known as black bass. 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 largemouths' average 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 state record boasts a weight of 18.15 pounds. It was caught in Natchez State Park, not too far from the Mississippi River. 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 mid-side 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 current. Studies show that largemouths' prefer a temperature range of 77 to 86 degrees F.

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

Bass begin spawning when the water temperature reaches the mid 60s. Males will choose 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 and 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.

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi. Their web site is www.wildlifemiss.org.