The largemouth bass species is part of the sunfish family. This fish has several nick names such as black bass, bucketmouth and green bass.
The largemouth has a series of dark blotches forming a jagged horizontal stripe along each flank. Its upper jaw (maxilla) extends back beyond its eye socket (orbit). The largemouth is the largest of the basses. At the time of writing this, the maximum recorded length was 29.5 inches. The heaviest recorded weight was 25 pounds 1 once.Keep reading for more information on this fish. On average a largemouth will live 16 years.
Juvenile largemouths eat mostly small bait-fish, scuds, and insects. Adults consume smaller fish, crawfish(crayfish), frogs, snails, salamanders, bats, and even small water birds, mammal, and baby alligators. In large lakes adults usually occupy deeper water then younger fish, and eat a diet of small fish like, shad, trout, ciscoes, and sunfish.
A largemouth bass will prey on items 25 to 35% its body length. Some studies have shown that in weedy waters bass grow more slowly. This is due to the weeds making hunting for small fish more difficult. Largemouth bass can find and catch prey easier in open water. The largemouth will make use of overhead cover that is booth above and below water such as docks,banks, brush, weed beds, points, humps and drop-offs to attack and seize its prey. All of the largemouths sense hearing, sight, vibration, and smell are used when hunting.
Why fish for largemouth bass? As many of you already it’s for the fight they give. There is nothing better then seeing the fish becomes airborne as its tries to throw the hook. There relative the smallmouth bass fights just as hard. The most commonly used bait by anglers for catching largemouth are lures, such as plastic worms, jigs, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits.
When hunting for that trophy bass large swimbaits are better. These larger baits are used to imitate larger prey such as trout. Live baits will also be productive in catching largemouth bass. More commonly used live baits are nightcrawlers, minnows, frogs, and crawfish. In my neck of the woods the best live bait to use are golden shiners.
Remember when fishing for largemouth bass that there is not an unlimited supply of fish out there especially in parts of the country were fishing pressure is high. Take only what you will eat, and remember to practice catch and release. Largemouth bass respond well to catch and release and the same fish can be caught over and over ensuring that there is a large enough number of fish for all of us to enjoy.
The largest largemouth ever caught using a rod and real was by Mac Weakley in Escondido Califonia on
The current record stands at 22 and ¼ pounds. This Largemouth was caught by George Perry at
This fish was 32 and ½ inches long with a girth of 28 and ½ inches. Georges reward for this catch, $75- in merchandise as the 1st place prize in Field and Stream Magazines fishing contest. This is one of the longest standing records in fishing history. [Learn More]
There may be a new world record
Manabu Kurita a 32 year old Angler is the lucky man. The fish weighs 22 pounds and 5 ounces, and is nearly 29 inches long. Manabu caught the lunker on
