Bass - Largemouth

Dispatch Method:

Beware of the sharp dorsal spines of Largemouth bass when handling them. The safest way to handle these fish is to control them using a thumbgrip on the lower jaw. Their eating qualities can be improved if they are killed humanely by iki jime, or a firm knock to the head before placing them in an ice slurry after bleeding.

Fish Description:

• Green to olive dorsally, milk-white to yellow ventrally, with a series of dark blotches forming a horizontal band running from the operculum to the base of the caudal fin. Caudal fin rounded.

Fish Distribution:

• Native to North America, this species occurs naturally in St. Lawrence - Great Lakes, Hudson Bay (Red River), and Mississippi River basins, as well as Atlantic drainages from North Carolina to Florida west to northern Mexico.
  
• This species has been introduced widely as a game fish throughout North America as well as into over 65 countries including parts of Central and South America, Africa and Europe, Japan, China, Malaysia and New Caledonia.
  
• Adult Largemouth bass prefer to inhabit lakes, ponds, and pools as well as creeks and rivers. They prefer quiet, clear water and over-grown banks.
  
• Adult fish mainly feed on fishes, crustaceans and amphibians, but can also eat large prey including small birds. Juveniles feed on crustaceans, insects and smaller fishes.

Fish Size Common Length:

20-50 cm, maximum size around 75 cm and 10 kg. World record is 10.12 kg from Lake Biwa, Japan.