Differences Between Largemouth Bass and Spotted Bass

• Heath Anderson

There are several key differences between largemouth bass and spotted bass. At a high level they are jaw length, stomach markers, cheek scale size, dorsal fin attachment, tongue patch, and behavior. Also largemouth bass usually grow larger than spotted bass.

• Jaw Length
• Dorsal Fin
• Tongue
• Cheek Scales
• Stomach Markers
• Behavior
• Location
• Catch and Release
• Quiz

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It can be very difficult to tell which one you have caught unless you know what to look for. You can’t identify the fish based on coloration, stripes, or spots because they can change drastically depending on the water they inhabit. We will break it down for you into a few easily identifiable features and the basic behaviors of each fish so you will know what you have caught next time you’re out fishing – then you can test your knowledge with the quiz!

Jaw Length

The jaw when closed does not extend past the rear of the eye on a spotted bass. It does extend past the eye on a largemouth.

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Dorsal Fin

The spotted bass has a top dorsal fin that is clearly connected while the largemouth bass has a separate or almost separate dorsal fin.

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Tongue

The spotted bass has a small rectangular rough patch in the center of the tongue. Largemouth bass have almost an entirely smooth tongue. It is hard to tell in the pictures so be sure not to confuse pigmentation with texture.

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Cheek Scales

The cheek scales on a spotted bass are much smaller than the rest of the scales on their body. The cheek scales on a largemouth bass are the same size as the rest of their scales.

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Stomach Markers

Spotted bass have lines of spots along the stomach. Largemouth bass do not have these and generally just have a plain white stomach.

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Behavior and Characteristics

• Largemouth bass in general get bigger than spotted bass.
• Largemouth bass tend to jump and rush to the top when hooked while spotted bass will dive deep and behave more like a smallmouth on the line.
• Spotted bass tend to school more than largemouth bass.
• Spotted bass primarily relate to structure while largemouth bass primarily relate to cover.
• Spotted bass generally have better coloration, but there are exceptions.

Location

Both Spotted Bass and Largemouth Bass can be found in central and eastern United States. In fact, spotted bass are also sometimes called Kentucky Bass. These fish are both very exciting game fish for anglers and they live in the same areas so it can be a thrill to target and catch both!

Practice Responsible Catch and Release

• Don’t play the fish to exhaustion, ensure you’re using the proper weight tackle.
• If the fish is gut hooked, cut the line as close to the hook as possible and leave it in the fish.
• Handle a fish as little as possible using only wet hands or quality fish gloves to protect the mucous layer.
• Use a soft rubber landing net to protect the fish when bringing it into your boat or kayak. Rubber is the best choice here as knotted mesh nets can damage the eyes, fins, gills, and scales of the fish.
• Utilize a hook remover tool for a quick and gentle release. This makes it so much easier to quickly release a fish and prevents it from flopping a hook into your hand.
• If you’re weighing the fish, use a lip gripper with an integrated scale rather than hooking the fish in the gills as it is better for the fish and you can have it back in the water more quickly.

Spotted Bass vs Largemouth Bass Quiz