Largemouth Bass

https://www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/Species/Fish/Largemouth-Bass 

Scientific Name: Micropterus salmoides

Classification:  Game Fish

Abundance: Common throughout NC.

Photos:
 

Largemouth bass (Photo: Melissa McGaw/NCWRC)

Largemouth bass fingerlings (Photo: NCWRC)

State Record Largemouth Bass (15 lbs, 14 oz; from a farm pond in Union Cty; by William H. Wofford; 3/29/1991

Videos:
 

N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Biologists Working with Largemouth Bass

Electrofishing for Largemouth Bass on Lake Gaston (2:45)

Electrofishing for Largemouth Bass on Lake Tillery (2:34)

Overview

Largemouth bass belong to a group of fish collectively called black bass. Other black bass found in North Carolina include the smallmouth and spotted bass. All black bass belong to the sunfish family, but are distinguished from other sun fish by their elongated bodies. Largemouth bass are distinguished from other black bass by means of the lower jaw, which is longer than those of other bass. The largemouth bass is also a bigger species than the smallmouth or spotted bass. There are two subspecies of largemouth bass: the Florida largemouth bass and the northern largemouth bass.

The largemouth bass is a native species of North Carolina. Largemouth bass are found statewide in lakes, ponds and sluggish streams and rivers. They prefer locations with lots of structure, such as submerged vegetation, brush piles, stumps, boat docks and standing timber. Underwater points, humps, drop-offs, bridge pilings and old road beds are also favored haunts, particularly in reservoirs.

Regulations