Spotted Bass, Micropterus punctulatus - efish
Physical Description:
· Moderately elongate, streamlined body
· Dark, olive-colored side that is often barred, speckled, and blotched
· Dorsal fin not deeply notched
· First dorsal fin low
· Somewhat compressed
· Large, terminal mouth
· Tail fin is slightly forked
· End of jaw even with back of eye
· Black opercular spot
· Three horizontal, dark green bars on cheek
· Tail fin olive with yellow tint
Similar species:
· Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
· Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu)
Mean body size:
· Adults are 250-380 mm standard length
Habitat:
· Warm streams and rivers
Distribution in VA:
· Tennessee and Big Sandy drainages
· Introduced to the New, Roanoke, James, and York drainages
Food Habits:
· Young eat microcrustaceans, insects
· Juveniles and adults eat crayfish, fish, insects
Reproductive Habits:
· Mature in 1-4 years
· Spawning occurs late April to mid-May in water that is 15-19°C
· In streams, nests at pool margins like smallmouth bass
· In reservoirs, nests on the bottom in somewhat shallow water
· Fecundity is 3,806-30,586 eggs per female
· Naturally hybridizes with smallmouth bass
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Micropterus punctulatus -
http://www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater/fish/bassblack/spotted/CHARACTERISTICS: Also known as Kentucky bass, the spotted bass is a slender fish with black blotches along the middle of the body; with age, these join to form an irregular band. Hubbs and Bailey (1940) recognize two subspecies in Alabama. Micropterus punctulatus punctulatus occurs in the Tennessee River and has 58 to 71 lateral line scales and 22 to 27 scales around the caudal peduncle. Micropterus p. henshalli is limited to the upper Mobile basin and has 68 to 77 lateral line scales and 26 to 29 caudal peduncle scales. Intergrades are distributed below the Fall Line in the Mobile basin. In 2008, Baker et al. elevated Micropterus p. henshalli to species status, M. henshalli, with the common name of Alabama bass. Both species and their intergrades have a large mouth, the upper jaw extending almost to the rear margin of the eye.
A rectangular tooth patch on the tongue distinguishes these species from largemouth bass. The dorsal fin has nine to 11 (usually 10) spines and 11 to 13 rays that are broadly joined. The anal fin has three spines and nine to 11 rays. The body is olive green on the back with scattered dark mottling. The sides below the lateral blotches are light gray; many scales have dark spots forming horizontal rows. The venter is white. Juveniles have a black spot in the middle of the caudal fin base bordered by bright orange areas. The eyes are usually reddish but not as bright as those of redeye bass.
ADULT SIZE: 12 to 17 in (300 to 432 mm). The state angling record (8 lb, 15 oz) was caught in Lake Lewis Smith in 1978.
DISTRIBUTION: Spotted bass are native throughout Alabama with the possible exception of the Apalachicola River Basin. The U.S. map on the facing page reflects the native and introduced range of the species, but excludes introductions of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
HABITAT AND BIOLOGY: Spotted bass usually occur around aquatic vegetation, submerged logs, and rock or riprap walls in small to large flowing streams, rivers, and reservoirs. Spawning occurs in April and May, often in the mouths of tributary streams. The male guards the nest until the fry have hatched. Food items include small fishes, crayfishes, and aquatic insects. Gilbert (1973) reports that M. henshalli grows faster than M. punctulatus. Life spans of southeastern populations vary from four to seven years.
ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION: Rafinesque described the spotted bass in 1819.
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