Bass (fish)

Largemouth Bass

Bass ( IPA /bæs/) is a name shared by many different species of popular game fish.

The striped bass belongs to the family of Percichthyidae and its other members include white bass and white perch. The striped bass and white bass are also known as temperate basses.

Another group of basses include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and spotted bass. They belong to the sunfish family Centrarchidae whose other members include: bluegills, pumpkinseed and rock bass. These basses are also referred to as warm water basses or black basses. Bass have steadily become the most popular freshwater sport fish in the United States. Their popularity has increased due in part to the rise of the bass fishing tournament industry that helps sell recreational fishing products and instruct other fishermen on how to catch bass.

The Australian Bass, (Macquaria novemaculeata) is a species of fish in the family Percichthyidae that occurs in coastal waterways along the east coast of Australia, from east of Wilson's Promontory in Victoria east and north along the eastern seaboard to the rivers and creeks of the Bundaberg region in central Queensland.

Australian Bass are a freshwater species, but one that must breed in estuarine waters. Consequently, Australian Bass are migratory, and reside in freshwater for the warmer half of the year or slightly more and the estuarine reaches in winter.