SHOAL BASS

The shoal bass was once considered to be a redeye bass or subspecies of the redeye bass due to the red coloring of its eyes. In October, 1999, this all changed as this bass was identified as an unique species with roots traceable more to the spotted bass. Shoal bass are generally olive green to nearly black along the back. A dusky dark blotch occurs on the back edge of the gill cover. Three diagonal

black lines run along the side of the head looking like war paint. Ten to fifteen vertical blotches appear along the sides with tiger-stripes often appearing between them. Shoal bass have a creamy or white belly. Wavy lines may appear slightly above their belly on the sides. The dorsal, caudal and anal fins are dark olive green to grayish black. Pelvic fins may have a cream colored leading edge with dark spots. Shoal bass have scales at the base of the soft-rayed dorsal fins. The first and second dorsal fins of the Shoal bass are connected and their upper jaw bone does not extend beyond the eyes.

The world record for shoal bass is 8 pounds, 3 ounces. This record bass was caught in the Flint River, Georgia, USA, in 1977.

Shoal bass are scrappy fighters and often difficult to catch. Good artificial lure choices include small spinners and topwater lures. They can also be caught on worms, minnows, and crayfish. The Shoal bass diet consists mainly of aquatic surface insects but they will also feed on insect, crayfish and fish larva.

The shoal bass is common in northern Florida, south Alabama and south Georgia where river shoals exists. It is not usually found in river areas that do not contain shoals.

Shoal bass like to spawn in coarse gravel at the heads of creek pools beginning sometime in April to early June according to temperature and water conditions. The preferred spawning water temperatures range from 64 to 73 degrees. The male Shoal bass will prepare the nest and guard the eggs and fry. Their growth rate is fast as compared against the redeye bass.