The term “bass” often brings to mind a powerful, sought-after fish, but it represents a diverse group of species found in various aquatic environments. These fish exhibit a wide range of sizes, from modest freshwater dwellers to massive marine giants.
What is a Bass?
The name “bass” is a common term applied to many different fish, often causing confusion about their classification. It does not refer to a single biological family but rather to a collection of fish sharing characteristics like a predatory nature and an elongated body shape.
Most commonly, the term refers to members of the black bass family (Centrarchidae), which are freshwater fish, and the temperate bass family (Moronidae), which includes both freshwater and anadromous species. Various fish commonly called “sea bass” belong to different families entirely, such as the wreckfish family (Polyprionidae).
The Largest Bass Species
Certain bass species stand out for their impressive size. In freshwater, the Largemouth Bass (Micropterus nigricans) is the largest of the black basses. While typical adults range from 10 to 20 inches and weigh one to five pounds, some can grow significantly larger, especially the Florida strain (Micropterus salmoides floridanus). This species can reach a maximum recorded length of 29.5 inches (75 cm) with unofficial weights up to 25 pounds, 1 ounce (11.4 kg).
In temperate waters, the Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) is considered the largest of the true basses. These powerful fish are anadromous, spending most of their lives in saltwater but migrating to freshwater to spawn. Ocean-dwelling Striped Bass can attain substantial sizes, though landlocked populations tend to be somewhat smaller.
In marine environments, the Giant Sea Bass (Stereolepis gigas) is one of the largest bony fish. Despite its common name, it is not closely related to other sea basses but belongs to the wreckfish family. These colossal fish can grow to lengths exceeding 7 feet (2.1 meters) and are reported to weigh over 700 pounds, with verified records up to 563.5 pounds (256 kg). The Giant Sea Bass is a long-lived species, capable of surviving for over 70 years.
Record-Breaking Bass Catches
Specific world records demonstrate the immense size some bass species can achieve. The all-tackle world record for Largemouth Bass is shared by two catches. George Perry caught a 22-pound, 4-ounce (10.09 kg) Largemouth Bass on June 2, 1932, from Montgomery Lake, Georgia, USA. This record stood for decades as a benchmark for anglers worldwide.
On July 2, 2009, Manabu Kurita caught a 22-pound, 5-ounce (10.12 kg) Largemouth Bass from Lake Biwa, Japan. Although Kurita’s fish weighed slightly more than Perry’s, International Game Fish Association (IGFA) rules require a new record to exceed the previous one by at least 2 ounces, resulting in a tie for the world record.
For the saltwater Striped Bass, the IGFA all-tackle world record is held by Gregory Myerson. He caught an 81-pound, 14-ounce (37.14 kg) Striped Bass on August 4, 2011, while fishing in Long Island Sound, Connecticut, USA, using a live eel. This catch surpassed the previous record. A separate record exists for landlocked Striped Bass, with James Bramlett catching a 69-pound, 9-ounce specimen on February 28, 2013, in the Black Warrior River, Alabama.
The largest Giant Sea Bass caught by a sport fisherman weighed 563 pounds, landed off Anacapa Island in 1968. While not an IGFA all-tackle record in the same category as game fish, this catch highlights the immense size these marine giants can reach.