The black bass family of the sunfish species, its habitats, characteristics, fishing methods.
black bass family of the sunfish species (The black) is a fish species in the the family. Its native range includes North America only. It inhabits cool-flowing streams, while others prefer quiet, warm, mud-bottomed ponds and lakes. Its diet includes other fish, insects, crayfish and frogs.
black bass family of the sunfish species at a glance
Scientific name
The black
Family
the
Also known as
strong fighters, and their meat is eaten, being quite edible and firm, though catch-and-release fishing is becoming more popular in order to preserve fish populations
Native range
North America only
Habitat
cool-flowing streams, while others prefer quiet, warm, mud-bottomed ponds and lakes
Diet
other fish, insects, crayfish and frogs
The black bass family of the sunfish species includes the
Largemouth,
Smallmouth,
Guadalupe,
Roanoke,
Redeye,
Shoal,
Spotted,
Suwannee,
Rock and Bartram's. The black bass is native to North America only. The black basses are distributed
throughout a large area east of the Rocky Mountains in North America, from the Hudson Bay basin in Canada
to northeastern Mexico including California. Several species, notably the largemouth and smallmouth
basses, have been very widely introduced throughout the world, and are now considered cosmopolitan. Black
bass of all species are highly sought-after game fish and bass fishing is an extremely popular sport
throughout the bass's native range. These fish are well known as strong fighters, and their meat is eaten,
being quite edible and firm, though catch-and-release fishing is becoming more popular in order to
preserve fish populations.
All Black Bass family species have a single dorsal fin with spines in the forward section. Their
bodies are deeply compressed laterally, and the attachment of the pelvic fins is far forward, nearly
beneath the pectoral fins. They have 3 or more spines at the front of the anal fin, and their scales
have rough edges.
Black bass reproduce in the spring and early summer by building nests for egg laying. Some
construct saucer-like nests close to one another in colonies, while others seek more secluded habitats.
Black bass males will protect the nest during spawning. Several species of the family inhabit cool-flowing
streams, while others prefer quiet, warm, mud-bottomed ponds and lakes. Most are carnivorous and prey upon
small fishes, while others that live in the shelter of weed beds consume mostly aquatic insects and
larvae. They are opportunistic and always on the alert for a drifting, helpless fish or insects to devour.
Most are alert to food items falling on the water's surface and will instantly rush to the scene to engulf
the food.
The fish species from the black bass family is interesting in that the smallest at 12 inches
rarely grow to more then a pound while the Largemouth can grow to more then 20 pounds. The bass has a life
span of more then 10 years and even may reach 16 years or more.
The Largemouth Bass is by far the most popular fish species in this family. They grow to be
the biggest and are the most wide spread of all the bass in this family. They possess two, joined dorsal
fins the first being spiny-rayed and the second, soft-rayed. These joined fins tells us that the
largemouth bass is a member of the sunfish family. The head and back of this species is typically bright
green to olive in colour, with a white underside. A dark lateral band is present extending from behind the
gill cover to the caudal fin but often becomes broken or not as visible in adults. They have a whiter and
lighter color belly then their cousins. The horizontal band that runs the length of the fish is dark and
very distinctive. The jaw also tells this fish apart from the others by running to a point past the rear
of the eye.
Largemouth will often feed in schools in well-vegetated areas. They feed on other fish, insects, crayfish
and frogs.
The Largemouth has the same five senses as most other game fish. Sight, sound, smell, taste
and the lateral line. The Largemouth Bass uses each of these different senses to different degrees
depending mostly on the water clarity and environment that they live in. There are 4 main time periods
during the spawn that are important to know. Pre pre-spawn, pre-spawn, spawn and post spawn. If you take
stock of these 4 main time periods and determine what stage the fish are in, you can have very successful
days no matter what the water temp is or where the fish are at.
The Smallmouth Bass is also a very popular fish species in the black bass family. They grow
rather moderately large but not as large as the Largemouth and are not as widespread. The Smallmouth Bass
is characterized by its deep olive-green to bronze golden-brown coloring, with a white belly. The are
commonly known as bronze backs due to their coloring. It differs from the largemouth in that it has 8 to
15 vertical bars along the flank. One of the easiest ways to tell a largemouth bass from a smallmouth bass
is by the size of their mouths. The mouth of a small mouth bass is considerably smaller. This can be
easily seen in the field by looking at the fishes maxillary (corner of the mouth). In smallmouth bass,
their mouth ends at the center of their eye, while in largemouth bass, their mouth extends right past
their eye, hence the name largemouth and smallmouth.
The Spotted Bass is a bit more rare but still a highly sought after memeber of this fish
species family. They grow strong but not as large as the Largemouth Bass and are not as widespread. The
Spotted Bass has a light greenish color and a darker back. The have a dark lateral band that is mostly
irregular blotches. The scales below the lateral line each have a �spot� on them and thus their name the
Spotted Bass. The jaw is shorter then a Largemouth Bass but longer then a Smallmouth Bass and runs almost
to the rear of the eye.
The Redeye Bass is an even more rare member of this fish species family. They get their name
from the distinctive red eyes. The sides and back have a brownish tint to them and are covered with dark
blotches. There is no apparent lateral line and the rear fins appear to be a reddish color. The jaw
extends nearly to the rear of the eye.
The Guadalupe Bass is very rare. They are greenish in color and have a separate dark blotchy
lateral line. They look like the Spotted Bass with the spotted scales below the lateral line but the
greenish color extends lower onto the body. The jaw on this fish also runs to the rear of the eye.
The Suwannee Bass is even more rare. The Suwannee rarely grows to more then 12 inches in
length and is by far the smallest of the family. The fish has dark blotches for lateral lines. The cheeks,
breast and belly are a bright turquoise color. There is a very distinct black spot at the base of the tail
and the jaw runs to the rear of the eye.
Identification of Smallmouth, Guadalupe/Spotted and Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Vertical barring along the sides.
Jaw does not extend beyond the back margin of the eye when mouth is closed.
Brownish-green color; white belly area does not extend high on the sides.
Largemouth Bass
Definite lateral stripe.
Jaw extends well behind the back margin of the eye when mouth is closed.
Guadalupe and Spotted Bass
Irregular lateral stripe is similar to, but more broken than in largemouth bass.
Jaw does not extend beyond the back margin of the eye when mouth is closed.
Spots on scales form "rows" of strips on whitish belly area.
