Top Things to Know About the Black Bass

March 25, 2019 5:56 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

The black bass—also known as the largemouth bass, widemouth bass, bigmouth bass, bucketmouth bass or Florida bass—is one of the most sought-after game fish in the United States. In fact, an estimated 30 million people fish for black bass each year, many of whom fish for them in large tournaments with hefty prizes at stake. But what do you know about the black bass? If the answer is “not much,” then keep reading—this post from your favorite marina in Lewiston, CA will teach you what you need to know about these fish:

  • Size and weight: The largest black bass ever caught weighed 22 pounds and was 29.5 inches long! However, the typical black bass is only about 18 inches long and weighs about 12 pounds. Their relatively large size is part of what makes them so popular for sport fishermen.
  • Diet: So, what do black bass have to eat to grow to that size? Pretty much anything they can get their mouths on. Black bass are apex predators in the water and will feed on practically anything from smaller fish to amphibians, reptiles and even birds that aren’t careful. When black bass are young, though, they eat zooplankton and insect larvae until they grow large enough to start feeding on other fish.
  • Appearance: Black bass can have a different appearance depending on where they live. Generally speaking, their skin is olive colored with a dark horizontal stripe along each side. Many of them have dark (or black) blotches, typically closer to the tail.
  • Habitat: Black bass are found in a variety of different habitats across the globe. They can live in still water or flowing water, with or without aquatic vegetation. Pretty much the only things they need to survive are a food source and some cover!

Tips for catching them

Now, what everyone wants to know: how to catch one! Here are a couple of tips for reeling in a prize-worthy black bass:

  • Lures: Plastic worms, jigs, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and spoons are the most common lures for reeling in black bass. Though artificial lures are common, you may have luck using nightcrawlers, small shad or crayfish. Remember that black bass are opportunistic foragers, so try a variety of different lures and see what sticks!
  • They’re fighters: Get ready for a long day out on the water if you’re trying to catch black bass, because they won’t go down without a fight! Black bass are known to breach the water as a last-ditch effort to get off the line, so be ready to see some flying fish out there.
  • Proper handling: Once you’re able to bring in the fish, put its bottom lip between your thumb and pointer finger. Be sure to hold on tight, because you can bet that it’s going to try to get away from you.

If you’re visiting for the upcoming bass fishing tournament, be sure to stop by Trinity Alps Marina in Lewiston, CA. Who knows, we may even be able to give you some pointers on where to reel in the biggest black bass!

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