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The
shoal bass (
Micropterus cataractae) is a
species of
freshwater fish in the sunfish
family (
Centrarchidae) of
order Perciformes. One of the
black basses, it is native to subtropical waters in
Florida and
Georgia. It is also found in
Alabama. Of typical size for a black bass,
M. cataractae reaches a maximum recorded length of 61
cm (24
in) and a maximum published weight of 8 pounds and 12 ounces.
Only described for the first time in 1999, the shoal bass remains poorly understood by
ichthyologists. The shoal bass is often confused with the
redeye bass, due to its red-tinted eyes.
Until October 1999, this species was variously considered to be a redeye bass or subspecies of the redeye bass. James Williams and George Burgess published the official description of the new species in Volume 42, No. 2 of the "Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Natural History," which was printed on October 8, 1999.
The red color of eyes associates this species with the redeye and
Suwannee bass at first glance. However, it is more closely related to the spotted bass morphologically. Shoal bass generally are olive green to nearly black along the back. A dusky dark blotch about 50-67 percent of the size of the eye occurs on the back edge of the gill cover. Three diagonal black lines radiate along the side of the head looking like war paint. 10-15 vertical blotches appear along the sides with tiger-stripes often appearing in between.
The belly is creamy or white and wavy lines may appear slightly above the white 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.
The shoal bass has
scales on the base portion of the soft-rayed dorsal fins, clearly connected first and second
dorsal fins, and an upper jaw bone that does not extend beyond the eyes.
Subspecies - No known subspecies. Until October 1999 this species was considered to have been a subspecies of the redeye bass.
Shoal bass are now a species of special concern.
A good game fish and a scrappy fighter that can be fun to catch. They can be caught on worms, minnows, or crayfish as well as small spinners and a wide variety of small surface lures. Some have been known to reach more than eight pounds. As a sport fish, specific bag and size limit regulations apply, and you can register a qualifying catch as part of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's "Big Catch" program.
World Record - 8 pounds, 12 ounces. The fish was caught on October 23, 1977, in the Apalachicola River, Florida. This bass was a shoal bass, but originally reported as the Apalachicola form of redeye bass.
