The spotted bass (Lewis Smith Lake) is a North American freshwater fish species in the sunfish family. The spotted bass is known for the rows of dark spots below the lateral line, which gives it its common name.
Despite being smaller and less numerous than the largemouth bass, the spotted bass is an excellent fighter.
Several spotted bass and smallmouth bass hybrids have been collected recently in reservoirs, suggesting there is occasionally competition for spawning habitat between the two species.
Subspecies: Three are recognized: the northern spotted bass (M. p. punctulatus) has 60 to 68 scales along the lateral line, and the Alabama spotted bass (M. p. henshalli) has 68 to 75 scales along the lateral line. Spotted bass can be found from Texas to the Florida panhandle, including Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky. The Wichita spotted bass (thought by some to be extinct) is limited to West Cache Creek, Oklahoma. Alabama spotted bass has been introduced into California.
Appearance
Spotted bass are similar in appearance to the largemouth bass. It has a green to olive-green hue, a white, mottled belly, and a broad stripe of broken blotches, typically diamond-shaped, along the midline of the body. However, unlike the largemouth, the spotted bass has scales on the base portion of the second dorsal fin; its first and second dorsal fins are clearly connected, and its upper jaw does not extend past the eye. In general, spotted bass resemble largemouth bass in appearance but have a more petite mouth.
The cheek scales are usually much more minor on a spotted bass than those on the rest of its body.
There are dark markings above the lateral line, and below the lateral line, the scales have dark bases that give rise to the linear rows of small spots responsible for the name spotted bass.
Range
While widely distributed outside Florida, the spotted bass is restricted to streams of the panhandle from the Perdido River to the Apalachicola River. Abundance is limited in this area, but the fish primarily occurs in and west of the Choctawhatchee River. Both spotted and largemouth bass are native to the central and eastern United States but have become widely introduced throughout the nation.
Habitat
Spotted bass prefer small to medium streams and rivers with clear, slow-moving water, gravel or rock bottoms, or clear lakes. Spotted bass may occupy reservoirs, but are seldom found in natural lakes. They do not enter brackish water and typically inhabit areas that separate them from closely related species like their largemouth bass and smallmouth bass cousins.
Spotted bass are usually found in areas with more current than largemouth bass and typically inhabit areas too warm, sluggish, and turbid for smallmouth bass.
Similar to other black basses, spotted bass tend to stay near cover in the forms of stumps, logs, and other submerged structures.
Age and Growth
Spotted bass tend to grow more slowly than largemouth bass and do not attain as large a size as other species. The young grow to 1-1/2 to 4 inches the first summer. Maturity is reached at about seven inches.
Behavior and Spawning Habits
Spotted bass spawn very much like the largemouth. Spawning occurs in the spring when water temperatures reach 60 to 65 degrees. Sexually mature mates build saucer-shaped nests on soft gravel or rock bottom, generally near brush, logs, or other heavy covers. The eggs hatch in four or five days, yielding up to 3,000 fry per nest.
Although a large proportion reach maturity within a year, spotted bass found in spawning areas are usually three to four years old. Rock and gravel are typically chosen as suitable spawning areas at water temperatures of 57-74°F. However, nest depths may vary widely. Females may lay between 1,150 and 47,000 eggs. Males guard the eggs during incubation and for up to four weeks after hatching.
Feeding Habits
The primary food sources for spotted bass include crayfish, small fish, and aquatic insects. The species is less piscivorous than other black basses and seems to be more selective in its feeding habits.
As young fish grow, their diet shifts from zooplankton to insects, and finally to fish and crayfish.
Sporting Quality
Spotted bass are an important game fish and strong fighters when caught on light tackle. Popular lures and baits include jigs, crankbaits, spinners, small plastic worms, and crayfish.
Spotted bass are typically caught much deeper than largemouth bass and tend to school more frequently. As a result, spotted bass are often caught in streams, sharing stringers with smallmouth bass and green sunfish.
Fishing Tips
Rocky banks are crucial for locating spotted bass in most areas. Spotted bass often congregate along bluff ends, cedars, and timber on main lake points during winter. A practical method is to drag a heavy jig and craw trailer about 15 to 30 feet deep to land bottom-hugging fish. Another option is to jerk a suspending jerk bait in shad hues to catch suspended fish. For more about how to do it during the summer months, read this.
The best bait for largemouth bass includes topwater poppers, walking plugs, and prop baits. These baits are most effective for catching spotted bass and stripers during the post-spawn or early summer. In late summer, fishing deeper water by drop-shotting finesse worms, using long, tapering points or bluff ends, is best.
Edibility
They are known for having white, flaky meat with good flavor and are generally considered better eating than largemouth.
Records
World Record – 11 pounds, 4 ounces, caught in New Bullards Bar Reservoir in North Carolina.
State Record – 3.75 pounds caught in the Apalachicola River. (Please check the link for updates)
If this guide on Spotted bass was enjoyable, you might also like this one on largemouth bass spawn or Bullhead Catfish.
