Other Common Names:

Black Bass, Green Bass, Bigmouth, Linesides, Bucketmouth

State Record:

16 pounds 8 ounces

Identifying Features:

Largemouth bass have a black to green back with lighter sides and a pale belly. They have a dark wavy band running the length of their sides. Their mouth extends beyond their eyes.

Typical Adult:

Length: Up to 21 inches
Weight: Up to 10 pounds
Life span: Up to 15 years

Habitat:

Largemouth bass inhabit weedy lakes and ponds and slow-moving rivers and streams throughout U.S. They prefer areas with lots of cover (brush, sunken logs, and rocks). The preferred temperature is 68-78 °F.

Feeding Behavior:

Largemouth bass feed on whatever is available, including small fish, leeches, salamanders, frogs, snakes, and turtles. They also feed more heavily as the water temperature rises.

Reproductive Behavior (Spawning):

When: Spring
Preferred Water Temperature: 63-68 °F
How: The male constructs a 2-3 foot long nest by sweeping away debris from the bottom with its head and tail. It will usually nest usually near heavy cover such as brush and logs. The male guards the eggs and fry (young) for about a month.

Did You Know:

Largemouth bass have a sensor along their lateral line that picks up underwater vibrations as subtle as small fish swimming nearby.

In shallow waters, largemouth bass can detect colors, especially red.

The eyes of largemouth bass absorb more light than human eyes.

Other Common Names:

Silver King, Silverfish, Tarpum

State Record:

203 pounds

Identifying Features:

Tarpon have a narrow band of dark blue-green on their back and a single dorsal fin with an elongated ray. They also have a prominent upturned lower jaw and silver sides with large scales.

Typical Adult:

Length: Up to 96 inches
Weight: Up to 80 pounds
Life span: Up to 16 years

Habitat:

Tarpon inhabit shallow, warm Atlantic and Gulf coastal waters and estuaries (water where a river meets the sea), including lagoons, mangrove swamps, and rivers.

Feeding Behavior:

Tarpon feed on sardines, anchovies, and crustaceans.

Reproductive Behavior (Spawning):

When: Spring or summer
How: Along the ocean floor, the female tarpon lays more than 12 million eggs.

Did You Know:

Adult tarpon swallow their food whole.

Tarpon need to swallow air and are often seen "rolling" on the surface gulping for air.