It has a massive, greenish-gray body, with flanks covered in irregular spots that tend to merge into a longitudinal band, clearly visible in young fish. The mouth is very wide, with a prominent lower jaw and small teeth.
Like the bluegill, the dorsal fin is supported by spiny rays at the front and soft rays at the back. It can reach a length of 60 cm and a weight of 4 kg.
Native to North America, it prefers warm, slow-moving or stagnant waters rich in aquatic plants. It feeds primarily on fish, hunting alone or in small groups near the shore, or remaining motionless, half-hidden by vegetation, awaiting prey.
From May to July, females at least three years old are led by males to lay a few thousand eggs in nests prepared in the gravel near the shore. The male guards the nest until after hatching, attacking any intruders, including bait cast by unscrupulous fishermen.
Largemouth bass act as a barrier to the excessive proliferation of cyprinid fish and are therefore considered a balancer for the fish population. They are highly prized by amateur fishermen and have excellent meat.
Also called: black-bass, big mouth.
Dialect: bocalon.
G. TOMASI, 2004 - The Three Hundred Lakes of Trentino. Ed. Artimedia – Temi, Trento, 535 pp.
