REDEYE BASS

The Redeye bass has also been known as the Coosa bass, shoal bass, Flint River smallmouth, Chipola bass, and black bass. The red color of eyes and fins is what makes this black bass readily

identifiable and separates it from other bass. Suwannee and shoal bass also have red eyes but generally have far less red on their fins. Redeye bass are brownish to greenish in color. The sides of this bass contain vertical bars with light centers. The coloring above the bars ranges from bronze-olive to dark olive mottling. The coloring below the bars runs yellow-white to a bluish hue. Redeye bass have a prominent dark spot on the gill cover. It has scales on the base portion of the soft-rayed dorsal fins and the first and second dorsal fins are clearly connected. The redeye’s upper jaw bone does not extend beyond the eyes.

An 8 pounds, 3 ounces, Redeye bass caught in the Flint River of Georgia in 1977 is the current world record for this species.

Redeye bass are generally found in Alabama and Georgia wherever pools form in creeks and rivers, the rocky shoals and rapids of creeks and rivers, and in small to medium rivers near the main channel due to cooler water temperatures in these areas. Redeye bass are very seldom found in lakes, ponds or reservoirs.

The Redeye bass is considered a scrappy fighter that is often difficult to catch and has earned its reputation as a good sport fish. Redeyes will strike small spinner baits as well as a variety of small surface lures. Live baits include worms, minnows, and crayfish. Aquatic insects on the waters surface are the favorite food source of Redeye bass, but they will also feed on insect, crayfish and fish larvae.

Redeye bass prefer to spawn in the coarse gravel areas found at the heads of creek pools. Spawning usually occurs from late May to early July when water temperatures range from 62 to 69 degrees. Just like a largemouth bass the male Redeye bass will prepare the nest and guard the eggs and fry.

Redeye bass growth rates are slow as compared with other black bass species. Initial growth is fairly fast but after a year decreases and slows more as the Redeye becomes older. Redeyes can however get up to 8 pounds as evidenced by the record.