Conservation Highlights

The Florida Bass: What's in a Name?

Florida’s iconic and most popular freshwater sportfish has a new name.

The American Fisheries Society established the Florida bass as a separate species from the largemouth bass. This means that in most of Florida (except the western panhandle; see map) what was known as a largemouth bass is now called a Florida bass. What was formerly known as the northern largemouth bass is now referred to as the largemouth bass (Micropterus nigricans) and what was formerly known as the Florida strain largemouth bass is now called the Florida bass (Micropterus salmoides). The two species cannot be distinguished visually and genetic testing is required to confirm the species. Other than a new name, this will not affect anglers in Florida in terms of regulations, state records, or participation in TrophyCatch. FWC regulations have been updated to reflect the name change and either Florida bass or largemouth bass are eligible for the Florida State Record Bass or TrophyCatch.

It has been known for decades that bass from Florida grew larger than bass from other parts of the country and biologists have debated for years whether bass in Florida were a different strain, subspecies or even species. In 2023, the American Fisheries Society divided what had been known as largemouth bass into two separate species and assigned new common and scientific names, based largely on information in study by Yale University published
 
in Nature in 2022. The publication indicated that bass in the southeast United States have significant genetic differences from those in other parts of the country to warrant being two separate species.
Why was this name change made? Genetics studies confirmed what many anglers and biologists have believed for a long time – Florida bass are special! Recent research at Yale University using advanced genetic analysis determined Florida bass to be its own species. The research also identified the range of Florida bass to be larger than once believed, including not only Florida, but also parts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.

Why does this matter?
Understanding and conserving fish species is crucial for sustainable recreational fishing and biodiversity preservation. The classification of species plays a key role in these efforts. Black basses (Micropterus spp.) are well-known fresh- water fish and highly popular for recreational fishing. This new understanding of black bass diversity, distribution, and classification pro- vides a critical foundation for better managing and conserving these important and iconic fish. It will aid in ensuring their continued conservation and sustainable use for future generations.
 
How will this impact bass fishing in Florida?
The name change will not affect how anglers fish for bass in Florida. It will impact how anglers see bass referred to in Florida. In most of the state, excluding the western panhandle, what was formerly known as largemouth bass will now be referred to as Florida bass in news releases, articles, regulations booklets, signs, etc.

What does this mean for TrophyCatch?
Florida bass and largemouth bass are still accepted into the program.

Can I visually tell the difference between Florida bass and largemouth bass?
The two species cannot be easily distinguished visually and genetic testing is usually required to determine the species.

How can anglers ensure they are correctly following regulations if they can’t tell the difference between the two species?
Regulations are the same for both species throughout Florida, so there is no need for anglers to distinguish between the two species for regulations purposes.