Appearance

Appearance

The upper jaw reaches past the eye, and dark blotches often form a stripe along the side. Color and body shape alone cannot reliably separate it from the northern largemouth bass.

Look-alikes

Largemouth BassMicropterus nigricans

The Florida bass and northern largemouth bass cannot be reliably separated by a photo. Genetic testing is needed to confirm which one it is.

Why they get mixed up · They share the familiar big mouth and dark side stripe.

Where it lives

Typical habitats

• Lakes
• Reservoirs
• Slow river reaches

Range

It is native to Florida and Atlantic coastal rivers north through coastal North Carolina. People have also stocked it outside that native range.

Preferred conditions

In Florida, look near aquatic plants, logs, and other underwater cover.

When it’s recorded

Recorded year-round, every year · most records in Mar–Apr

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2,532 observations in the US · 10 years · for referenceChoose a stateAll of the USFlorida

Behavior

Diet

In Florida, adults eat other fish, including bluegill and lake chubsuckers.

Life cycle

Breeding season

In Florida, spawning is mostly in spring, with March and April the peak months.

Nest

A male clears a shallow nest and guards the eggs and young fish.

Connected species

Prey

• BluegillLepomis macrochirus

  Florida bass eat bluegill in Florida lakes.

• Lake ChubsuckerErimyzon sucetta

  This native Florida fish is an important food source for large Florida bass.

Name and classification

About the name

Florida bass was once called Micropterus floridanus or Micropterus salmoides floridanus. Older accounts under Micropterus salmoides may also include northern largemouth bass (Micropterus nigricans).

Conservation

IUCN Red List

LCLeast Concern·Low risk of extinction

Culture and stories

Culture and stories

• The state tracks its genetics when moving or stocking fish to protect local lineages.