The spotted bass one of several black bass species that are found in the Mid Atlantic region. The spotted bass can be identified by its pattern of spots along the body and a distinctive area of “teeth” on its tongue. The jaw does not extend past the eye as in the case of largemouth bass.
Spotted bass are found in the Ohio River watershed. In Pennsylvania, they are most common near the confluence of the Ohio, Allegheny, and Monongahela Rivers.
Spotted bass have been introduced in large impoundments throughout the Mid Atlantic. They occur in several reservoirs in Virginia.
In North Carolina, spotted bass are found in mountain and piedmont reservoirs, as well as the Yadkin River and upper Cape Fear River.
In some impoundments, introductions of non-native spotted bass have had negative impacts on existing sport fisheries. When the species becomes established, it sometimes replaces smallmouth bass or largemouth bass. Non-native spotted bass also interbreed with largemouth, producing hybrid offspring.
Spotted bass are often confused with Alabama bass, which are similar in size and appearance. The two species are sometimes found together and are known to produce hybrids.