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Bass spotted is largely found in the region of Mississippi. It starts off from the Lake Itasca and drains into the Mississippi River Delta. The two Canadian provinces and 32 US states falling between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains are drained by this system. The Lower Mississippi and its tributaries including the Ohio River confluence at the Gulf of Mexico to form the world’s fourth-largest watershed. The basin is a huge house of diverse flora and fauna in a rich habitat.
The natural bounties have led to the sprouting of numerous activities, among which fishing has economic and social significance. The basin is a healthy breeding ground for juvenile fish, introductions and home to hundreds of native fish species. The freshwater fish species are popular for food and sports. The most common ones are redfish, catfish, shrimp, bass, speckled trout, flounders etc.
Spotted Bass is a type of freshwater sports fish having the scientific name of Micropterus punctulatus and a black fish belonging to the family of sunfish. Micropterus stands for small fin and punctulatus means spotted. It is also known as spotty for the presence of dark spots in layers below the lateral line. These spots differentiate the species from the smallmouth bass species that have vertical bars on the sides of the body. Spotted bass has a life expectancy of almost six years and is often fished as a sport. It is also a popular type of food.
These fishes can be caught with the help of plastic worms and tube baits. Casting method or fly fishing method would reap better results for professional catchers. Winter is the best time to get hold of big spotted bass fish.
A mature spotted bass can reach up to a length of 64 cm and weigh up to 62 kg. Its appearance closely resembles that of the largemouth bass, but is distinguished by a smaller mouth. The growth rate of bass is faster in the initial one year and reaches almost 9.5cm in one year and about 18 inches by the end of the second year. It slows down the growth rate thereafter. The upper jaw is limited within the rear edge of the eyes.
It belongs to the region of Mississippi river basin extending from the central part of Texas, through the state of Florida and into the Gulf. The main native rivers of bass are Sabine, Cypress and Neches of Eastern Texas. It is also found in the western parts of Mid-Atlantic States, Virginia and North Carolina.
Spotted bass prefers water streams and rivers from mountains and reservoirs that have a cool or warm temperature and rocky bottoms. They dwell in waters with sufficient current and that have a sluggish or turbid nature. Spotted bass thrives in underwater areas where rocks, vegetation, or logs are present. They live in deeper zones up to a depth of around 100 feet.
The fish feeds on insects, annelid worms, crustaceans and even other fish that are smaller in size. Juvenile spotted bass feeds on small crustaceans and copepods. As a game fish, catch bass by hand nets and gills in stock. Employ baits like the common baitfish, crawfish, minnows, etc for fishing. . To catch a single fish, use seine nets, tackles, spearguns and back‐pack electrofishing.