Spotted Bass
Black bassMicropterus punctulatus · also called Kentucky bass, spot
Spotted bass sit between largemouth and smallmouth in appearance, which is exactly why they are misidentified so often. Two features are unique to them, and one requires putting a finger in the fish's mouth.
Quick facts
- Appearance
- Green above with a broken dark horizontal band, and distinct rows of small dark spots below the lateral line forming lines along the lower flank.
- Typical size
- 1–4 lb
- Waters
- river, reservoir, lake
- Regulations
- Many states count spotted bass separately or exclude them from black bass limits entirely, and some encourage removal where they compete with native smallmouth. Worth checking specifically.
How to confirm it
- Rows of small dark spots below the lateral line — neither of the other black bass has these.
- A rough patch of tiny teeth on the tongue. Run a finger over it; largemouth and smallmouth are smooth.
- Upper jaw ends roughly level with the rear of the eye — between the other two.
- Dorsal fin shallowly notched and continuous.
What it is confused with
One check settles each of these.
Check the tongue for a rough tooth patch and the lower flank for spot rows. Largemouth has neither, and its jaw extends further back.
Smallmouth has vertical bars and no spot rows or tongue teeth.
Why this matters beyond curiosity
- Look-alike species often carry different limits. Walleye and sauger, black and white crappie, pike and muskie, blue and channel catfish — each pair can have different sizes, seasons and daily limits in the same water.
- Check it before the fish goes in the livewell. Most of the tests on this site take seconds and are far easier on a fish you are still holding.
- If you cannot tell, release it. That is the answer that is never wrong, and it is the one a warden will not argue with.
- Regulations are set by your state or province and change annually. This site identifies fish; it does not tell you the rules. Check the current regulations for the water you are on.