Largemouth Bass Physical Description || Largemouth Bass Reproduction || Largemouth Bass Interaction with humans
The Largemouth Bass is marked by a series of dark blotches forming a ragged horizontal stripe along the length of each side. It can also be totally black. The upper jaw of a largemouth bass extends beyond the back of the eye. The average largemouth bass weighs 1 to 2 pounds and between 8 and 18 inches long. The largest of the black basses, it has reached a maximum recorded overall length of 97 cm (38 in), and a maximum recorded weight of 22 lb, 4 oz (10 kg, 113 g). It can live as long as 23 years, and, along with the black crappie, is also known as the Oswego bass.
Largemouth Bass Reproduction
Largemouth usually spawn in shallow bays in the spring when the water temperatures reach about 60° F. Females can lay up to a million eggs during each spawn in a shallow depression in the ground formed by the male. The male will then guard the eggs and, after they hatch in five to ten days, the fry, driving away any predators that come too close to the nest site. The fry remain in a group for several days after hatching. When the fry reach about two inches in length, they disperse and begin to feed on plankton and insect larvae.
Largemouth Bass Interaction with humans
A large specimen of M. salmoides caught by an angler in Connecticut.Largemouth put up a very respectable fight for the sport fisherman, though many say their cousin species the smallmouth bass can best them pound for pound. Largemouth, though preyed upon by larger animals or other fishes when young, usually occupy the apex predator niche when older, which dignifies them with a level of sporting prestige as quarry. Largemouth are usually fished for with lures, and it is common amongst anglers to release them alive. Largemouth respond well to catch and release because of their hardiness, and the ability of their large mouth to withstand repeated hook injuries without compromising their ability to feed or damaging their gills.