Species profile
Spotted Bass
Micropterus punctulatus
At a glance
Spotted Bass (Micropterus punctulatus) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 22 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (Indiana); the most generous is 30 (Mississippi).
Across 14 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 13.7 in (≈ 1 ft 2 in).
Confirmed by 1,736 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Texas, Tennessee, and Arkansas the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Distinguished from largemouth bass by distinctive rows of dark spots below the lateral line.
- The IGFA world record weighed 10 pounds 4 ounces, caught in California in 2017.
- Prefers clear, fast-moving streams over rocky substrate — more riverine than largemouth bass.
- Native to the Ohio River basin and Mississippi drainage south to the Gulf Coast.
- Can hybridize with both smallmouth and largemouth bass where their ranges overlap.
Where Spotted Bass are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Spotted Bass
Background
The spotted bass, also called spotty, or spots in various fishing communities, is a species of North American freshwater fish belonging to the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of the order Centrarchiformes. It is noted for the rows of dark spots below the lateral line, which give it its common name. One of the black basses, it is native to the Mississippi River basin and across the Gulf states,…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Spotted 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.