Species profile
Alabama Bass
Micropterus henshalli
At a glance
Alabama Bass (Micropterus henshalli) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 5 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 5 (North Carolina); the most generous is 15 (Tennessee).
Confirmed by 724 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Alabama, Georgia, and California the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Long lumped with spotted bass, it is now recognized as its own distinct species.
- Native to the Mobile Basin drainage system in Alabama.
- Readily hybridizes with largemouth and spotted bass, posing a serious conservation challenge.
- Highly aggressive and can outcompete largemouth bass in many shared reservoirs.
Where Alabama Bass are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Alabama Bass
Background
The Alabama bass (Micropterus henshalli) is a medium-sized freshwater fish in the black bass genus. It is not usually a targeted species but can be caught when fishing for other species, especially its congener the largemouth bass. It is an uncommon species and can be found in most of Alabama (except the Southeast) and in the Chattahoochee River in Georgia. It is also possible to find them in…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Alabama Bass article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.