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Yellow bass (Morone mississippiensis) — Moronidae

Yellow bass

Morone mississippiensis
Family: Moronidae
LC · Least Concern

The Yellow bass (Morone mississippiensis) is a freshwater fish of the family Moronidae that grows up to 46 cm.

Length
46 cm
Water
Freshwater
Depth
0–? m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
North America
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The yellow bass is a perch-like food fish from North America, occurring in the Mississippi basin and Lake Michigan, from Minnesota and Wisconsin to the Gulf coast. The species grows to about 46 cm and has a deep, laterally compressed body that is silvery-yellow with several dark longitudinal stripes; it has two dorsal fins. It lives in pools and backwaters of rivers and in lakes and ponds; juveniles eat small plankton, adults small fish such as shad and silversides. It is a popular game and food fish. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Yellow bass?

The Yellow bass has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly yellow-gold and shows a horizontal stripes pattern. Silvery-yellow with dark longitudinal stripes; two dorsal fins

Where does the Yellow bass live?

The Yellow bass lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. North America

How big does the Yellow bass get?

The Yellow bass grows to a maximum of about 46 cm. On average the species is around 24 cm.

Is the Yellow bass dangerous to humans?

No, the Yellow bass is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Yellow bass edible?

Yes, the Yellow bass is commonly eaten.

More photos

Yellow bass (Morone mississippiensis) — Moronidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Matthew Kvam, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Yellow bass (Morone mississippiensis) — Moronidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Bclegg77 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Yellow bass (Morone mississippiensis) — Moronidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) IHUNTA, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Yellow bass (Morone mississippiensis) — Moronidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) jasonrl, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Yellow bass verified
Scientific name
Morone mississippiensis
Family
Moronidae
Other names
Bass; Yellow bass; Barfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
46.0 verified
Average length (cm)
23.9 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0 sourced
Natural range
North America verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, plankton and crustaceans inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
levensduur_max_jaar
7.0 verified
Seasonality
Spawns in spring in shallow water. sourced
Special features
Silvery-yellow with dark longitudinal stripes; two dorsal fins sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Fishing with small lures, maggot or pieces of fish in lakes and rivers. sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Morone

More from the family Moronidae

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