5. Spotted Bass

Scientific name:  Micropterus punctucatus

Background:  An exotic to South Africa.  The smallmouth bass is native to the fresh waters of eastern North America (the original distribution of the spotted bass is from southern Illinois, Missouri, and Ohio, southward to eastern Texas and the Gulf, covering major drainages of the Mississippi River).  It is the least common of of the black basses.

The spotted bass is perhaps best described as an "in-between" species. Its mouth is midway in size between that of the largemouth and smallmouth bass. They seem to be segregated from largemouth and smallmouth bass by habitat type. Spotted bass tend to be found in areas with more current than largemouth bass. However, they usually inhabit areas that are too warm, turbid, and sluggish for smallmouth bass.

Identification:  True to its name, the spotted bass has definite spots along its sides beneath the lateral band. The band itself has diamond-shaped blotches along its length. There are twelve rays in the soft dorsal fin and scales lap up onto the fin. Between the spinous and soft ray portions of the dorsal fin, the notch is not as deep as that of the largemouth.  Coloration is similar to the largemouth bass, but the spotted has rows of small, dark spots on its sides and belly.   It has a destinctive pad of course teeth on it's tongue.

Size: On average reach lengths of 15 - 55 cm  The average weight in Southern Africa is around 0.3 - 0.4 kg.  The SA record is 2 kg. 

Diet: Spotted bass are carnivorous and feed on all sorts of animal life. Young fish feed on plankton and insects. Adult fish mainly eat fish and crabs, but will also eat aquatic and terrestrial insects, frogs, etc.   Feeding very similar to its other two cousins.

Breeding: Rock or gravel are usually chosen as suitable spawning areas at water temperatures of 17-24°C. 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 they have hatched. . On average Spotted Bass mature on around three years.

Uses:  Makes very good eating.

Fishing for Smallmouth Bass:  Similar to Smallmouth Bass.