Largemouth bass

A member of the sunfish family, the largemouth bass gets its name from its large mouth, which is a good way to distinguish it from other species of bass. When the mouth is closed, the upper jaw extends well beyond the eye. The color of largemouth bass varies depending on the clarity of the water it inhabits. In relatively clear water, it has a dark green upper body fading into a whitish belly, with a series of dark marks forming a dark horizontal band along the middle of the body. As water clarity decreases, the colors become more muted and the fish tends to be more silver in appearance.

Scientific Name: Micropterus salmoides

State Record: 22 lbs. 4 oz.

Image D.Raver (USFWS)