Smallmouth Bass Production in Georgia: The First Steps
Clint Peacock, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, 1255 Perry Pkwy
Perry, GA 31027. Email: clint.peacock@dnr.ga.gov
Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) are a black bass species native to the Tennessee River
watershed, which includes parts of extreme northern Georgia. As with other black bass species, they
are frequently targeted by recreational anglers. Smallmouth bass in Georgia have had difficulty
competing with the introduced spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus). These two factors have
presented a need and the public support for smallmouth bass conservation work. Due to the possibility
of hybridization between smallmouth bass and spotted bass, any broodfish collected from the wild need
to be genetically evaluated. Once wild broodfish arrive at the hatchery and are shown to be genetically
pure smallmouth bass, they are held in a concrete raceway where they will eventually spawn. Hatchery
conditions (temperature and lights) are controlled throughout the year to simulate changes in the
seasons. Spawning substrate is a mat of Spawntex with rocks adhered in the center. Spawned Eggs are
treated daily with 100 ppm of 35% Perox-Aid to limit fungus growth. Hatched fry are either stocked into
a pond or held inside and fed artemia nauplii. In 2017 two different diets were used in producing phase
II smallmouth bass. Fish in a pond were given live forage (fathead minnow and gambusia) while fish
inside the hatchery were fed a commercial pellet diet (Rangen Soft & Moist). Pond produced fish grew
from fry to 96.6mm average total length in roughly 4 months. In the same time period, pellet reared
fish grew from 51mm average to total length to 127.4mm. All fingerlings were stocked into Lake Blue
Ridge to support the struggling smallmouth bass population.
http://gaafs.org/pdfs/2018_GAAFSProgram_withabstracts.pdf