The Largemouth Bass is
one of Virginia's largest fishes, and probably the most
popular sport fish.
They can grow over two
feet long and weigh up to 20 pounds, although this is rare.
A five pound Largemouth is considered very big.
Largemouth Bass are
usually olive to dark-green in color with greenish-yellow
sides. They have a dark stripe down the side of the body.
The dorsal (back) fin
has two parts, and the front part has spines.
Largemouth Bass get their
name from their large mouths, which extend past their
eyes.
Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission
Copyright, Texas Parks
& Wildlife
Largemouth Bass live in
lakes, ponds, resevoirs, large rivers, and slow-moving
streams. They like a lot of vegetation,
both in the water and along its edges. Largemouths will
often school
(group together) and can be found in groups around
underwater structures, such as trees, stumps, large rocks,
drop offs, and dock pilings.
Largemouth Bass will
usually come into the shallows to feed in the early morning
and in evenings. They will then patrol weed beds, lily pads,
and other vegetation looking for food.
Adult largemouths eat
mostly smaller fish. They will also eat frogs, crayfish,
aquatic
insects, and surface insects.
The male will prepare the
nest, usually in one to four feet of water. He will use his
fins to expose gravel, shells, or plant roots on the bottom,
making a circle two to three feet wide.
Once the nest is built,
the female will arrive and lay between 2,000 and 40,000
eggs, depending on her size.
The male will stay and
guard the eggs, which will hatch in about a week.
When the fry
(group of baby fish) hatch, they will stay in the nest for
another week.
Konrad Schmidt
The fish fry (also called
"larvae")
will begin eating small creatures, such as copepods and
waterfleas.
The largemouth larvae will stay in
the school, called a "brood swarm," under the guard of their father.
They will leave, to be on their own, after three to four
weeks.
Because, of the large
size of adult Largemouth Bass, they have few
predators.
When young, largemouths are preyed upon by birds, such as
Great Blue Herons and raptors,
and larger fish.
In Virginia, many people
fish for, and eat, Largemouth Bass. It is important to know
size restrictions at different bodies of water. It is often
illegal to take Largemouth Bass of a certain size. When
handling a Largemouth Bass, hold it by its lips or body,
never by its gills.
To release it, gently place it in the water and move the
fish carefully back and forth to allow water to pass through
its gills.
Laremouth Bass are one of the main
targets of freshwater sport fishermen. Most are released back into
their habitat, but many are eaten. Largemouths also control fish
populations of smaller fish, such as Bluegill and Yellow
Perch.
