Species profile
Florida Bass
Micropterus salmoides
Identify Florida Bass (Micropterus salmoides) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 55 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Florida Bass (Micropterus salmoides) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 31 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (Ontario); the most generous is 20 (Wyoming).
Across 16 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 13.4 in (≈ 1 ft 1 in).
Confirmed by 4,235 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Grows faster and reaches larger sizes than northern largemouth bass in warm climates.
- Widely stocked in Texas, California, and other states to create trophy fisheries.
- Has more lateral-line scales than the northern largemouth bass — a key ID trait.
- Naturally found in the Florida peninsula and portions of Georgia and South Carolina.
- Florida strain fish have exceeded 20 pounds in managed trophy fisheries.
Where Florida Bass are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Florida Bass
Background
The Florida bass (Micropterus salmoides) is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a black bass belonging to the sunfish family Centrarchidae of order Centrarchiformes. It is found in the southeastern United States.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Florida Bass article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Florida Bass?
Florida Bass (Micropterus salmoides) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 31 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Florida Bass?
Florida Bass is Micropterus salmoides.
Is Florida Bass regulated for fishing?
Yes — Florida Bass has fishing regulations in 55 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Florida Bass?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Florida Bass along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.