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In part one of “fun facts” about black bass biology in Arkansas, we will discuss which black bass species are found in Arkansas and give some characteristics to determine their differences.
Fun Fact: Did you know 19 species, subspecies, or genetically distinct lineages of black bass are currently recognized by the scientific community in the United States?
We currently have Florida Bass, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and Spotted Bass in Arkansas. Arkansas also has the Neosho Smallmouth Bass, a subspecies of Smallmouth Bass, and the Ouachita Smallmouth Bass, which have unique genetics, making them a good candidate for becoming a species or subspecies. In addition, many of these black bass species can breed together, producing hybrid offspring, also called intergrades. For example, a Meanmouth is Smallmouth/Spotted Bass hybrid, and an F1 Hybrid is Florida/Largemouth Bass intergrade.
So how do you tell which of the four common black bass you caught in Arkansas reservoirs?
Largemouth Bass: The Largemouth Bass’s upper jaw extends behind the eye. It has a deep notch between dorsal fins, and scales on the cheeks are about the same size as the ones on the body. Typically a dark stripe or blotches are located laterally from the gill plate to the tail. However, the darkness of the stripe or blotches is dependent on water clarity.
Smallmouth Bass: The Smallmouth Bass’s upper jaw extends to the eye and has a shallow notch between the dorsal fins. Smallmouth Bass typically have a uniform olive-brown coloration.
Spotted Bass: The Spotted Bass’s upper jaw extends to the eye. It has a shallow notch between the dorsal fins, scales on the cheeks much smaller than on the body, and dark spots in rows along the body. CAUTION: Do not use a tooth patch on the tongue as a distinguishing characteristic, as Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass can also have a tooth patch.
Florida Bass: Florida Bass and Largemouth Bass are tough to tell apart accurately. Florida Bass tend to have smaller scales, with 69 to 73 scales along the lateral line, compared to 59 to 65 on the Largemouth Bass. However, genetic analysis is needed to differentiate these two species with confidence.
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