Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament: Randy Howell wins fish
The Georgia-based crew reacts as they weigh in the top fish at the VyStar Credit Union Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament on Friday.
Step aside, Florida man. We now have an official Florida bass.
Largemouth bass in most of Florida, the state’s most popular freshwater game fish, have officially been declared a separate species from other largemouth bass, according to a release last week from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.
In 2022, researchers at Yale University used advanced genetic analysis to determine that Florida bass were not only “a distinct species” but also spread more than expected in parts of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. . The American Fisheries Society has established it as a separate species.
The former scientific name for largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, is now the name for Florida bass. Largemouth bass are now Micropterus nigricans.
Are Florida bass gone?
The Florida bass was named in 1822 by naturalist Charles Alexandre Lesueur, but it is believed to be a subspecies of the largemouth bass and is restricted to eastern Florida. The study found it to be a separate species and more widespread than originally thought.
How will this affect bass fishing in Florida?
Not really. This simply means that the name will be changed in news releases, articles, regulations and signs in most of Florida excluding the western Panhandle.
Does this affect TrophyCatch?
Nope. Florida bass and largemouth bass are still accepted into the program.
TrophyCatch is a largemouth bass conservation program in Florida designed to promote the responsible catch, documentation and release of trophy-size bass while rewarding anglers for their contributions to fisheries research and management.
What is the difference between Florida bass and largemouth bass?
Just genetics. You can’t tell by sight, the FWC said, and the regulations will be the same for both species throughout Florida.
So why does it matter?
“Understanding and conserving fish species is essential for sustainable recreational fishing and biodiversity preservation. Species classification plays an important role in these efforts,” said the FWC,
“Black bass (Micropterus spp.) is a well-known freshwater fish and is very popular for recreational fishing. New understanding of black bass diversity, distribution, and taxonomy provides a critical foundation for better management and conservation of these important and iconic fish. This will help ensure their continued conservation and sustainable use for future generations.”
