A 40-pound, 40-inch fish is not uncommon on either coast of Florida, but only those between 18 and 27 inches are legally harvestable and only one fish per person per day. Stringent restrictions were necessitated by declining populations, beginning in the early 1970's. Redfish populations became so low that in 1988 a complete moratorium was placed on their commercial harvest. Red drum are prodigious spawners that produce millions of eggs each year but their popularity as "Blackened Redfish" on the culinary menu overwhelmed their populations. Today, thanks to regulations and the practice of voluntary catch-and-release, their populations are strong statewide.

To learn more about red drum and other saltwater sport fish in Florida, write to FWC's Division of Marine Fisheries, Outreach and Education Section, 2590 Executive Center Circle East, Suite 204, Tallahassee, FL 32301. FWC produces a series of informational pamphlets entitled Sea Stats of which Red Drum, Marine Musicians is one.

Fishing regulations may change annually, or more frequently if emergency conditions exist. Contact the FWC's Division of Law Enforcement for information about current regulations.

FLORIDA LARGEMOUTH BASS (Micropterus salmoides floridanus)
The largemouth bass is Florida's most popular freshwater game fish. A study just out by Tony Fedler, Ph.D., says in 1996 the number of Florida anglers saying they fished primarily for black bass was 663,000, out of 1,137,000 freshwater anglers. All totaled they fished 18,409,000 days.

Largemouth bass are also known as black bass, Florida bass, green bass, bigmouth, bucketmouth, and even green trout. Regardless of the nickname, black bass' popularity is due to their aggressive attitude and willingness to strike a lure or bait with explosive force.

The value of the largemouth bass as a sport fish has prompted a movement toward catch-and-release fishing, which is reinforced where appropriate by strict regulations. As a sport fish, specific bag and size limit regulations apply depending on the location fished.

Largemouth are the largest members of the sunfish family, which includes bream. They have light greenish sides with a dark lateral line that tends to break into blotches towards the tail. Often confused with Suwannee or spotted bass, they are distinguished by having an upper jaw that extends beyond the rear edge of the eye.

Two subspecies are recognized: the northern largemouth and the Florida largemouth. Although the two look similar, Florida bass grow to trophy size more readily than northern largemouth in warm waters. Black bass prefer clear, fresh waters with abundant vegetation, where food and cover are available. They also occupy brackish water, and prefer temperatures from 65 to 85 degrees.

Spawning occurs from December through May, when water temperatures reach 58 to 65 degrees. The male builds a saucer like nest 20 to 30 inches in diameter by fanning away silt and sand with its tail. Bass typically build nests on hard bottoms around 2 to 4 feet deep. A female then lays up to 100,000 eggs, which are fertilized as they settle into the nest. The male guards the nest, eggs and young (fry) attacking anything that approaches the nest. The diet of bass changes with size. Young fish feed on microscopic animals (zooplankton). Fingerling bass (4-8 inches) feed on insects, crayfish, and small fishes. Adult bass eat whatever is available, including fish, crayfish, crabs, and frogs.

Growth varies depending on food supply. Female bass live longer than males and are much more likely to reach trophy size. Males seldom exceed 16 inches. At five years, a female may weigh twice as much as a male. One-year old bass average seven inches in length, and become adults at a size of 10 inches in about 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 years. Generally, trophy bass (10 pounds or larger) are about 10 years old. Florida's certified state record is 17 pounds, 4-1/4 ounces, (17.27 lbs.) and was caught in Polk County in 1986. That is the fish to beat for a new state record, which MUST be seen by a FWC fisheries biologist and weighed on a certified scale. The uncertified state record of 20 pounds, 2 ounces, was caught in Pasco County in 1923, but not weighed on a certified scale.

BASS TAG SPECIAL OFFER [NO LONGER AVAILABLE] Buy a "go fishing" bass tag for your vehicle or trailer,  for a free T-shirt and special discount in the Big Bass Record Club (no additional purchase necessary, tag must be bought or renewed after 1 June 2001, have your tag number ready), as their way of thanking you for supporting Florida's fish and wildlife conservation efforts.