StriperrHunterr
Senior Member
The weight of this fish and its condition are a pretty good indication it’s a hybrid because Alabama bass (formerly Alabama spotted bass) as a species typically max out around 20-22 inches (with the mouth closed). For one to hit or even exceed 5 pounds (much less 7) requires considerably more girth than this fish appears to have. Having said that, most of the ‘spotted bass’ in the ACF Basin (below Morgan Falls Dam) are true spotted bass sometimes called northern or Kentucky spots.
Spotted bass (M. punctulatus) are more of a northern species native to the Mississippi River Basin so they typically do not grow as large as Alabama bass (M. henshalli) native to the Mobile Basin. In the middle Chattahoochee spotted bass rarely exceed 3 pounds while Alabama bass (Weiss, Carters, Allatoona, Lanier, Burton, Chatuge, Hartwell, Russell, etc...) commonly exceed 5 pounds. All this and the fact that this fish appears to have several intermediate and mixed characteristics suggest it is most likely a largemouth x spotted bass hybrid.
Alabama bass, Micropterus henshalli
Spotted bass, Micropterus punctulatus
Cheek scales much smaller than body scales
Spotted bass, Micropterus punctulatus
Cheek scales much smaller than body scales
Largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides
Cheek scales similar size as body scales
Largemouth x Spotted bass hybrid
Cheek scales appear to be intermediate size
BOOM! Called the fish, and the expert.
