Black Bass and True Bass. Some Kinds of bass

Bass, bas, is a type of game fish known for its fighting ability when hooked. It is also a popular food fish. Many scientists recognize two chief groups of bass: (1) black bass and (2) true bass.

Black bass are members of the sunfish family. They live in lakes, rivers, and other bodies of fresh water. They are prized as food and sport fish and are protected from commercial use. There are six species of black bass: (1) largemouth, (2) smallmouth, (3) spotted, (4) redeye, (5) Guadalupe, and (6) Suwannee. All six species have a long, yellowish or greenish body with two connected fins on the top of the back. All except the small-mouth have a dark band along the side of the body.

Largemouth bass are found in lakes, ponds, and rivers throughout the United States and in Canada and Mexico. The tremendous strength of these fish makes them a favorite among fishing enthusiasts. Most adult largemouth weigh from 1 to 4 pounds (0.5 to 1 .8 kilograms). Some grow to more than 20 pounds (9 kilograms). The longest largemouth measure more than 2 feet (0.6 meter).

Smallmouth bass are especially strong fighters for their size. Most adult smallmouth bass weigh from ½ to 4 pounds (0.2 to 1.8 kilograms). Smallmouth live in streams and large lakes throughout most of the United States and in parts of Canada, Europe, and South America.

Spotted bass, also known as Kentucky bass, live chiefly in southern regions of the United States. These fish are usually found in deep, clear reservoirs. They are generally smaller than smallmouth bass.

The other three species of black bass are found in parts of the southern United States. Redeye bass live in streams in the Southeast. Guadalupe bass inhabit streams in south-central Texas. Suwannee bass are found in rivers of northern Florida.

True bass can be divided into two categories: (1) temperate bass and (2) sea bass. Most species of true bass live in the ocean.

Temperate bass are silvery fish with two fins on the top of the back that are separated or only slightly connected. Most temperate bass have six or seven bold stripes along the side of the body.

There are seven species of temperate bass in North America. Four species—the white bass, yellow bass, striped bass, and white perch — caw be found in bodies of fresh water. White bass and yellow bass are strictly freshwater fish. They live in rivers and lakes from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes. Striped bass and white perch are native to the Atlantic Ocean. But some striped bass and white perch now live only in freshwater areas because of the damming of inland waters in which they breed. Striped bass are common in Atlantic coastal regions and in the South. They are caught both commercially and for sport. Most adult striped bass weigh from 2 to 20 pounds (0.9 to 9 kilograms).

Sea bass total about 370 species. These fish have a single fin on the back and many have spots. The goliath grouper is one of the largest species of sea bass. It grows up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) long and may weigh as much as 700 pounds (320 kilograms). The goliath grouper inhabits the Gulf of Mexico, the Florida coast, and tropical areas of the Atlantic Ocean.