Description
Two subspecies of largemouth bass exist
inTexas: the native Micropterus salmoides salmoides and the
Florida largemouth
bass, Micropterus salmoides floridanus.
The two subspecies are
visually indistinguishable, although they may be
distinguished by genetic testing procedures. Both are usually
green with dark blotches that form a horizontal stripe along
the middle of the fish on either side. The underside ranges in
color from light green to almost white. The dorsal fin is
almost divided, with the anterior portion containing 9 spines
and the posterior portion containing 12-13 soft rays.
Largemouth bass may be distinguished from other black basses
in that the upper jaw reaches far beyond the rear margin of
the eye. Micropterus is Greek,
meaning "small fin" [see Guadalupe bass for further
explanation]. Salmoides is from the
Greek salmo, meaning "trout", and
refers to the fact that largemouth bass have been called
"trout" in some southern states.
Angling
Importance
The
largemouth bass is by far the most sought-after fish in
Texas. When anglers were
asked to "name the fish you prefer to catch in freshwater in
Texas," they chose largemouth bass three to one over striped
bass, four to one over white bass, nearly five to one over
channel catfish, and nearly ten to one over flathead catfish
and white crappie. Because of the strong interest in
largemouth bass fishing, there are hundreds of bass angling
clubs in Texas devoted to fishing and
conservation. A 1995 survey indicated the rate at which
10-pound bass are caught in Texas is over 13 times the rate in
Florida, a state renowned
for its bass fishing. Over the last sixty years only one
state, California, has
reported the capture of bass larger than those reported from
Texas. The state record fish
was captured from Lake Fork in 1992 and weighed
18.18 pounds; length was 25.5 inches.
Biology
In
Texas spawning begins in the
spring when water temperatures reach about 60F. This could
occur as early as February or as late as May, depending one
where one is in the state. Largemouth bass prefer to nest in
quieter, more vegetated water than other black bass, but will
use any substrate besides soft mud, including submerged logs.
Nests are usually built in two to eight feet of water. As in
Guadalupe bass, once the female has laid eggs in the nest
(2,000 to 43,000) she is chased away by the male who then
guards the precious eggs. The young, called fry, hatch in five
to ten days and remain in a school. Male largemouth bass
continue to guard their fry for several days after hatching.
Fry feed primarily on zooplankton and insect larvae. At about
two inches in length they become active predators. Adults feed
almost exclusively on other fish and large invertebrates such
as crayfish.
Distribution
Largemouth
bass were originally distributed throughout most of what is
now the United
States east of the Rockies, with limited
populations in southeastern Canada and northeastern
Mexico. Because of
its importance as a game fish, the species has been introduced
into many other areas worldwide, including nearly all of
Mexico and
south into Central and South
America. This fish prefers clear quiet water with
aquatic vegetation, but survives quite well in a variety of
environments. It is usually common or abundant wherever
populations have been established. Micropterus
salmoides salmoides is native to all natural waters
in
Texas
, except in some parts
of the Panhandle. The
Florida
largemouth bass has
been extensively stocked in the state because of its
propensity to produce more trophy-sized
individuals.
