Guadalupe bass

Guadalupe bass
Conservation status
	; Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)
	; Vulnerable (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Centrarchidae
Genus:	Micropterus
Species:	M. treculii
Binomial name
	Micropterus treculii; (Vaillant & Bocourt, 1874)

Last updated March 29, 2024

The Guadalupe bass (Micropterus treculii) is a rare species of fish endemic to the U.S. state of Texas,^[2] where it also is the official state fish. It is restricted to creeks and rivers (including the Guadalupe River, hence the name Guadalupe bass), and is listed as near threatened.^[1] Today, most fly fishermen and anglers practice catch-and-release techniques to improve fish populations. The Guadalupe bass is often difficult to distinguish from the smallmouth bass or spotted bass, and the fish is known to hybridize.

Description and range

Guadalupe bass, like most black bass, are lime to olive green in color, this particular species being lighter in shade usually in river specimens. They have a lateral line covered in mostly separate diamond-shaped or circular spots, which with age fade from black to olive. Also, many smaller diamond marks are scattered on the back, which are less distinguished than the ones on the lateral line. They have a rectangular tooth patch on the tongue.^[3] Its physical traits are very similar to the spotted bass (i.e. small mouth that does not extend past the eye, sleek figure, etc.) with one exception; the green coloring tends to extend lower on the body past the lateral line than their relatives.^[4] So far, the record catch is 3.71 lb (3 lb 11.4 oz), caught by Dr. Bryan Townsend of Austin in 2014.^[5]

The fish is only found in the Edwards Plateau in central Texas. Its main habitats are the San Marcos, Colorado, Llano, and Guadalupe Rivers, but can also be found in smaller streams such as Barton Creek, Onion Creek, San Gabriel River and the Comal River.^[4] The species has also been farm-raised and stocked in the Llano River.

Threats and predators

The Guadalupe bass has almost no predators. Its main threat is not predation, but hybridization with the introduced smallmouth bass. The two species are very closely related and in some rivers almost half the Guadalupe bass are hybrids. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept stated it will likely stock many bass in the future to beat out the hybrid population. This will be a pilot for several other areas where rare spotted bass subspecies are having the same problems.

Habitat

Typically, Guadalupe bass are found in streams and reservoirs; they are absent from extreme headwaters. They prefer flowing waters of streams within native variety, and use covers such as large rocks, cypress trees, or stumps for refuge. Juvenile fish are often found in fast-moving water but begin transitioning to deeper, moderate current towards the end of their first year. ^[3]

Diet

The fish (especially juveniles and very old fish), unlike other bass, have an inclination towards insects. Guadalupe bass at their predatory peak prefer larger bait fish such as shad and small bass or bluegills.^[3]

Fishing

While almost unheard of elsewhere, the Guadalupe bass is very popular among fishermen in Central Texas. It is prized for its long, tough fights, in which it manipulates the current and its unusually strong muscles, and beautiful colors which tend to be more natural and bright than those of spotted bass. Its preference for strong current and its large diet of insects earned it the name "Texas brook trout" and make it popular for fly fishermen. It fights similarly to both smallmouth bass and rainbow trout—making long runs and manipulating current, but also making sharp turns and attempting to entangle the line on structures, and even making large jumps like both species.

The IGFA all-tackle world record for the species stands at 1.67 kg (3 lb 11 oz) caught in Lake Travis in Texas in 1983.^[6]

Reproduction

Both male and female Guadalupe Bass reach adulthood and sexually maturity at one year of age. Their spawning begins as early as March and continues into June depending on the locale and water conditions. However, unlike many other bass, a secondary spawn is possible in late summer or early fall. The male Guadalupe Bass builds and picks out a gravel nest for spawning in shallow water where there is a high flow rate but out of the way of fast moving water. It is important the male finds a good-looking nest, for these gravel nests attract the females. The female lays between 400 and 9000 eggs, but is chased away by the male immediately after she lays the eggs. From this point on, the male guards the nest from predators and will not eat, but may strike a lure in order to defend its territory. The male Guadalupe stays guard over the fry as they hatch. After hatching, the fry feed on invertebrates.^[7]

Related Research Articles

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Micropterus is a genus of North American freshwater fish collectively known as the black bass, belonging to the sunfish family Centrarchidae of order Perciformes. They are sometimes erroneously called "black trout", but the name trout more correctly refers to certain members of the salmonid family.

The spotted bass, also called spotty, or spots in various fishing communities, is a species of North American freshwater fish belonging to the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of the order Perciformes. It is noted for the rows of dark spots below the lateral line, which give it its common name. One of the black basses, it is native to the Mississippi River basin and across the Gulf states, from central Texas through the Florida panhandle. Its native range extends into the western Mid-Atlantic states and it has been introduced into western North Carolina and Virginia. It has also been introduced to southern Africa, where it has become established in some isolated waters as an invasive species.

The smallmouth bass is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of the order Perciformes. It is the type species of its genus Micropterus, and is a popular game fish sought by anglers throughout the temperate zones of North America, and has been spread by stocking—as well as illegal introductions—to many cool-water tributaries and lakes in Canada and more so introduced in the United States. The maximum recorded size is approximately 27 inches (69 cm) and 12 pounds (5.4 kg).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Largemouth bass</span> Species of black bass

The largemouth bass is a carnivorous freshwater ray-finned fish in the Centrarchidae (sunfish) family, native to the eastern and central United States, southeastern Canada and northern Mexico. It is known by a variety of regional names, such as the widemouth bass, bigmouth bass, black bass, bucketmouth, largie, Potter's fish, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, bucketmouth bass, green trout, Gilsdorf bass, Oswego bass, LMB, and southern largemouth and northern largemouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redeye bass</span> Species of fish

The redeye bass, redeye, or Coosa bass is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) native to the Coosa River system of Georgia, Alabama. The waters it is normally found in are cool streams and rivers in the foothills of mountains.

Bass fishing is the recreational fishing activity, typically via rod-based angling, for various game fishes of North America known collectively as black bass. There are numerous black bass species targeted in North America, including largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass or Kentucky bass, and Guadalupe bass. All black bass species are members of the sunfish family Centrarchidae.

The bluegill, sometimes referred to as "bream," "brim," "sunny," or, as is common in Texas, "copper nose", is a species of North American freshwater fish, native to and commonly found in streams, rivers, lakes, ponds and wetlands east of the Rocky Mountains. It is the type species of the genus Lepomis, from the family Centrarchidae in the order Perciformes.

The warmouth is a freshwater fish of the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) that is found throughout the eastern United States. Other local names include molly, redeye, goggle-eye, red-eyed bream, and strawberry perch.

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The shoal bass is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of order Perciformes. One of the black basses, it is native to waters in Florida and Georgia. It is also occasionally found in rivers and streams of East Alabama where it has been declared an endangered species and cannot legally be kept if caught by fishermen. Of typical size for a black bass, M. cataractae reaches a maximum recorded length of 24 inches (61 cm) and a maximum published weight of 8 pounds, 12 ounces.

The rock bass, also known as the rock perch, goggle-eye, red eye, and black perch, is a freshwater fish native to east-central North America. This red-eyed fish is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of order Perciformes and can be distinguished from other similar species by the six spines in the anal fin.

The shadow bass is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of order Perciformes. It is endemic to southeastern United States of America.

The redbreast sunfish is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of the order Perciformes. The type species of its genus, it is native to the river systems of eastern Canada and the United States. The redbreast sunfish reaches a maximum recorded length of about 30 centimetres (12 in).

The longear sunfish is a freshwater fish in the sunfish family, Centrarchidae, of order Perciformes. It is native to the area of eastern North America stretching from the Great Lakes down to northeastern Mexico. The longear sunfish reaches a maximum recorded length of about 24 cm (9.4 in), with a maximum recorded weight of 790 g (1.74 lb). Most do not live beyond six years. The longear sunfish is quite colorful, with an olive to rusty-brown back, bright orange belly and blue-green bars on the sides of its head. A unique characteristic is their elongated operculum flap, giving an appearance of a "long ear".

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References

1 2 NatureServe (2014). "Micropterus treculii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T13405A19032728. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T13405A19032728.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
1 2 "Micropterus treculii". NatureServe Explorer An online encyclopedia of life. 7.1. NatureServe. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
1 2 3 Curtis, S. G., Perkin, J. S., Bean, P. T., Sullivan, M. L., & Bonner, T. H. (2015). Guadalupe Bass Micropterus treculii (Vaillant & Bocourt, 1874). In Black bass diversity: multidisciplinary science for conservation. American Fisheries Society, Symposium (Vol. 82, pp. 55-60). http://sites.tntech.edu/jperkin/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2015/07/Curtis_et_al_2015.pdf
1 2 "Guadalupe Bass (Micropterus treculii)". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
↑ "State Fish Records". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
↑ "Bass, Guadeloupe". igfa.org. IGFA. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
↑ "Guadalupe Bass Reproduction Facts and Information | Bass Fishing Gurus". bassfishing-gurus.com. Retrieved 1 August 2022.