Florida Black Bass Fishing Provides Food And Challenge

September 1st, 2008 Posted in Bass Fishing Vacation

Black bass are one of the most popular freshwater fish and the largest species of pan fish in the state of Florida. Florida black bass fishing has become extremely popular, so much so, that there are now catch and release programs in place in order to maintain the appetite for this popular game fish. The primary residence of the black bass remains in Florida where it can enjoy the temperate waters, even though the species has been exported to California and Texas.

The Florida variety of black bass has 69 to 73 scales along the side, whilst its northern cousin, the largemouth, has 59 to 64 lateral side scales. There is also a larger fish produced in Florida black bass than its northern counterpart. This is partly due to the warmer waters whereby they thrive in temperatures between 75 and 85 degrees. They do however, during the early spring spawning, which is generally between December and May, lay their eggs in waters of approximately 65 to 70 degrees. 

A one year old black bass can reach approximately 7 inches, growing into adult size in approximately 18 months. Once the black bass reach the age of three or four years, the females will continue to grow faster than the males. The general size of a male is approximately 16 inches, whilst a female can grow to 22 inches or more.  If a black bass of eight pounds or more is caught, it is more than likely to be a female.

Attitude Makes Florida Black Bass Fishing Popular

The majority of anglers will agree that it is the way that black bass strike a wide variety of baits that makes fishing for these species so popular.  The black bass performs an explosive jump to the surface bait or performs a fast-running grab at a crank or a spinner bait, which gives the impression that the fish is attempting to gain control of the rod and reel. 

They provide the most excellent fight which is challenging in such a sense that the fish is daring the angler to get it to the shore. Adult black bass are not particularly fussy about their diet and will eat almost anything that gets in their way. This makes it very easy to locate bait black bass as they will eat smaller fish, crayfish, crabs, frog, and salamanders. It has even been known for them to eat mice and snakes.

The state record for the Florida black bass is 17 pounds, four and one-quarter ounce. The world record is just over 22 pounds, which was caught in Montgomery Lake, Georgia. There is an official state record from 1923 of a black bass being caught from a private pond at a weight of 20 pounds, two ounces.