# Largemouth Bass (*Micropterus salmoides*)

> The largemouth bass is a top predator in North American lakes and rivers, named for a jaw extending past the eye. Prized by anglers worldwide, it strikes lures aggressively, grows to 10 kg (22 lb) in rich waters, and has been stocked on every continent except Antarctica for sport fishing.

- **Category:** Fish
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Native to eastern and central North America from southern Canada through the Great Lakes and Mississippi basin to Florida; stocked worldwide for sport fishing in warm still waters.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/bass/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Actinopterygii
- **Order:** Perciformes
- **Family:** Centrarchidae
- **Genus:** Micropterus

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Micropterus salmoides |
| Diet | Carnivore — fish, crayfish, frogs, and insects |
| Habitat | Warm lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and slow rivers with cover |
| Lifespan | 10–16 years in the wild |
| Weight | 0.5–10 kg (1–22 lb); most caught fish 1–3 kg |
| Top speed | Explosive ambush strikes from cover |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Ambush predator

Largemouth bass hide among lily pads, fallen timber, and weed beds, exploding forward to engulf prey with a cavernous mouth that gives the species its name. They are visual hunters, striking artificial lures that mimic wounded minnows, frogs, and worms.

## Nest guarding males

Male bass build and defend circular nests in shallow gravel or sand during spring. They fan silt away, guard eggs against sunfish and crayfish, and protect fry for days after hatching — one of the most dedicated parental behaviours among popular game fish.

## Global sport fishing icon

Bass tournaments across the United States draw millions of participants and television audiences. Stocking programmes introduced largemouth bass to Japan, South Africa, and Europe, where they sometimes disrupt native fish communities in warm still waters.

## Management and ecology

Native and Least Concern in North America, largemouth bass regulate populations of smaller fish and crayfish. Fisheries managers adjust size and bag limits to maintain trophy fisheries. Invasive where introduced outside their native warm-water range.

## Frequently asked questions

### How big do largemouth bass get?

Most angler catches are 1–3 kg, but fish over 5 kg are trophies and the world record exceeds 10 kg from a California reservoir.

### What do largemouth bass eat?

Fish, crayfish, frogs, insects, and even small birds or mice near the surface — opportunistic predators that prefer live prey.

### Where are largemouth bass native?

Eastern and central North America from southern Canada through the Great Lakes and Mississippi basin to Florida and northeastern Mexico.

### Largemouth vs smallmouth bass?

Largemouth have a jaw extending past the eye and prefer weedy warm water. Smallmouth bass have a jaw that stops at the eye and favour clearer, cooler rocky streams and lakes.

### Are largemouth bass good to eat?

Yes — firm white flesh is popular in the American South, though catch-and-release sport fishing dominates in many trophy fisheries.

## Sources

- [IUCN Red List — Micropterus salmoides.](https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Micropterus%20salmoides&searchType=species)
- [Animal Diversity Web — Micropterus salmoides. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Micropterus_salmoides/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/bass/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.