New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

💧 Freshwater Least Concern 🎣 Game Fish 🌡️ Subtropical 🎣 Game Fish

Yellow bass

Morone mississippiensis Jordan & Eigenmann, 1887
Max Length
46 cm
Max Weight
11.0 kg
Lifespan
11 yrs
Trophic Level
4.1
Depth
-
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
35.00/100
Typical Length
23.9 cm
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Occur in pools and backwaters of small to large rivers; also in ponds and lakes . Young feed on microcrustaceans and midge larvae; adults on fish such as shad and silversides .

Scientific Name
Morone mississippiensis
Authority
Jordan & Eigenmann, 1887
Habitat
Freshwater
Climate
Subtropical
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
46 cm
Max Weight
11 kg
Lifespan
11 years
Trophic Level
4.1
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
35.00/100
Salinity
0–0.5 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

: fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Yellow bass is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

small fish
crustaceans
cephalopods

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous
Spawning Season
spring
Spawn Location
Substrate
Fertilization
External

Assuming same mode of reproduction as in M. saxatilis.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; demersal. Subtropical; 45°N - 27°N North America: Lake Michigan and Mississippi River basins from Wisconsin and Minnesota south to the Gulf in the USA; east to Indiana and Tennessee and west to Iowa and Oklahoma in the USA.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
💧 Freshwater ⬇️ Benthic
Trophic Level
4.1±0.7
Food Items

microcrustaceans and midge larvae; adults on fish such as shad and silversides (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01202 × L3.05 (TL)
Max TL
46cm
Max Weight
11,000g

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
0–0.5ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2012

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Low
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
35.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
4.1
Apex / Top predator
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Described By
Jordan & Eigenmann, 1887

🎣 Angling Guide

Difficulty
Beginner
Fight Rating
strong pulls with head-shakes
Best Seasons
spring,summer,fall
Best Time
incoming tide, dawn and dusk
Line Weight
15-30
Rod Type
medium-heavy spinning
Hook Size
2/0-5/0
Catch & Release
✓ Recommended
Best Months
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Techniques
bottom fishing popping cork soft plastics live bait
Bait & Lures
live shrimp cut mullet soft plastic paddle-tails popping corks
Recommended Tackle
  • medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
  • 30-50 lb braid
  • fluorocarbon leader
Where to Find Them
  • grass flats
  • oyster bars
  • marsh drains
  • deeper channel edges
Tips & Tricks
Popping cork technique attracts fish from distance. Fish moving tides.
Catch & Release Tips

Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.

Regulations Summary

⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.

📊 Population Dynamics

Year Region Index Notes
- - -

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Morone interrupta Gill 1860 Heterotypic

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 7 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for Yellow bass ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.