So, do you know what this article focuses on? You might assume largemouth bass,
but you would be wrong. Well, if it is not that, then you might assume striped bass.
But again you would be wrong. It's not your fault - all are excellent guesses - they
are the most popular bass around. But, therein lies the problem. The word bass.
Have you ever noticed how many bass there are. Let's take three of the most popular bass on the
south shore - largemouth bass, striped bass, and black sea bass. These three fish are all
"bass", but they aren't even closely related. Largemouth and smallmouth bass
are actually part of the sunfish family, something that I'll admit disturbed me when
I first found out. So, why are they bass? Why aren't they called largemouth sunfish
or some other unique name?
Striped bass are members of the Percichthyidae family, a very diverse (and
probably disfunctional) family that includes white bass, yellow bass, and white perch.
They are described in nature journals as the largest of the temperate sea basses. But,
whatever you do, don't call them sea bass.
Sea bass are members of the Serranidae
family, closely related (although probably twice removed) to the groupers. They are
considered the only true sea basses in nature journals (although, obviously not that
temperate).
Living right next to the coast, when I tell someone I'm going bass fishing,
they have absolutely no idea whether I'm heading to the ocean or to the local pond.
So, why are all these fish called bass? I have no idea. It seems that bass
is a rather common name applied to a huge variety of freshwater and marine species
which may or may not be related to one another. Add to this, nicknames such as "black
bass," "calico bass," and "red-eyed bass," and you've got yourself one heck of a bass mess. Let's
take a look at just some of the fish that call themselves "bass."
|
SPECIES NAME
|
SCIENTIFIC NAME
|
|
Apricot Bass
|
Plectranthias garrupellus
|
|
Bank Sea Bass
|
Centropristis ocyurus
|
|
Blackear Bass
|
Serranus atrobranchus
|
|
Blackmouth Bass
|
Synagrops bellus
|
|
Black Sea Bass
|
Centropristis striata
|
|
Cave Bass
|
Liopropoma mowbrayi
|
|
Chalk Bass
|
Serranus tortugarum
|
|
Harlequin Bass
|
Serranus tigrinus
|
|
Lantern Bass
|
Serranus baldwini
|
|
Largemouth Bass
|
Micropterus salmoides
|
|
Longtail Bass
|
Hemanthias leptus
|
|
Orangeback Bass
|
Serranus annularis
|
|
Peacock Bass
|
Cichla temensis
|
|
Peppermint Bass
|
Liopropoma rubre
|
|
Pygmy Sea Bass
|
Serraniculus pumilio
|
|
Reef Bass
|
Pseudogramma gregoryi
|
|
Rock Bass
|
Ambloplites rupestris
|
|
Rock Sea Bass
|
Centropristis philadelphica
|
|
Roughtongue Bass
|
Holanthias martinicensis
|
|
Saddle Bass
|
Serranus notospilus
|
|
School Bass
|
Schultzea beta
|
|
Smallmouth Bass
|
Micropterus dolomieu
|
|
Snow Bass
|
Serranus chionaraia
|
|
Spotted Bass
|
Micropterus punctulatus
|
|
Streamer Bass
|
Hemanthias aureorubens
|
|
Striped Bass
|
Morone saxatilis
|
|
Twinspot Bass
|
Serranus flaviventris
|
|
Two Spot Seabass
|
Centropristis fuscula
|
|
White Bass
|
Morone chrysops
|
|
Wrasse Bass
|
Liopropoma eukrines
|
|
Yellow Bass
|
Morone mississippiensis
|
|
Yellowfin Bass
|
Anthias nicholsi
|
|
Yellowtail Bass
|
Pikea mexicana
|
|
