Stephen Lee Smith

Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) fail to spawn in association with dense populations of sunfish (Lepomis sp.). Previous studies have demonstrated that suppression is behavioral in nature and linked to interspecific competition for space within spawning areas. In 1976 a series of ponds were stocked with 3 pairs of bass and densities of sunfish from 0-458 kgJha to determine the density necessary to effect suppression. Results were inconclusive with spawning occurring in all ponds but only late in the season in ponds stocked at 250 kgJha or above. It was not clear whether the growth of...

The fish population of Lake Jackson was sampled over a three year period. The standing crop estimate was 971bs. 11 oz. per acre with largemouth bass comprising 36.7% of this total. Evidence is presented indicating the possibility oran overcrowded bass population. A (Tee) survey, conducted during: the last year of the study, documented intense fishing pressure and high harvest in Lake Jackson. Largemouth bass comprised an unusually high proportion of the effort (71.6%) and harvest (41.5%), with one trophy bass (8Ibs.> landed for each 13 acres of lake surface.

Largemouth bass collected from selected Florida locations and stocked in hatchery ponds were studied for growth and catchability differences. Data indicates that some populations grow faster than others and that females grow faster than males. Experimental fishing data indicates that some populations show trends towards greater catchability, but no one population was shown significantly more catchable.