America's favorite gamefish — large mouth extending past the eye and a dark lateral stripe. The largemouth bass is the most-targeted sport fish in North America with an industry worth billions annually.

Also called: Bigmouth Bass, Bucketmouth, Black Bass

Native status: Native to eastern US; widely stocked across continent

§ Quick facts

SizeAverage 30–60 cm (12–24 in); record 73.7 cm (29 in)
WeightAverage 0.5–4.5 kg (1–10 lb); world record 10.1 kg (22 lb 4 oz)
LifespanWild typically 6–10 years; oldest recorded 23 years
OrderCentrarchiformes
FamilyCentrarchidae

§ Encyclopedia

The largemouth bass is a carnivorous, freshwater, ray-finned fish in the Centrarchidae (sunfish) family, native to the eastern and central United States, southeastern Canada and northern Mexico. It is known by a variety of regional names, such as the widemouth bass, bigmouth bass, black bass, largie, potter's fish, Florida bass or Florida largemouth, green bass, bucketmouth bass, green trout, growler, Gilsdorf bass, Oswego bass, southern largemouth, northern largemouth, Alabama bass or Alabama largemouth, marsh bass, and swamp bass.

Source: Wikipedia — Largemouth bass Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Olive-green back, white belly, dark lateral stripe. Mouth extends past the eye (vs. smallmouth, where it doesn't). Dorsal fin deeply notched.

Similar species. Smallmouth Bass (bronze, mouth shorter, deeper-bodied). Spotted Bass (lateral spots below stripe).

Voice. Silent; produces some sound during feeding strikes.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Carnivorous: fish, crayfish, frogs, salamanders, snakes, baby ducks. Inhales prey through suction created by sudden mouth opening.

Behavior. Ambush predator using vegetation cover. Males build saucer-shaped nests in spring, guarding eggs and fry for weeks. Most active at dawn and dusk in clear water.

§ Range

Native to eastern US; widely stocked across the continent

§ Habitat

Warm lakes, ponds, slow rivers with vegetation and cover

§ Threats

Aquatic vegetation loss, agricultural runoff, lakeshore development, oxygen-deprived "dead zones" in nutrient-loaded waters.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the largemouth bass is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Practice catch-and-release of large breeders. Support aquatic vegetation restoration. Reduce lawn fertilizer runoff.

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§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • Bass Anglers Sportsman Society
  • American Fisheries Society
  • B.A.S.S. records
  • IUCN Red List 2013