Bass

Bass can be found in both fresh and salt waters pretty much everywhere where there is fish. Like most predatory fish, freshwater bass tend to bite better in the autumn, as the water gets colder, and in the spring, with a bit of a ‘lull’ during the warmest and coldest times of the year. Largemouth, smallmouth and other “black basses” fishing in North America is regulated by seasons, which are typically open so as not to interfere with spawning, but an enthusiastic angler with a will to travel can find a fishing opportunity in other parts of the world, for instance in South Africa, where the largemouth bass are considered invasive species and fishing is nearly unrestricted. As for saltwater bass species, the best time to fish for them is the periods when the sea is calm enough, so that the relatively small vessels of fishing charters and captains may safely sail them.

“Bass” is not a part of any scientific classification - rather, it’s a general name that unites a variety of predatory fish species. Their appearance depends on the species. The Australian bass, for example, is related to perch, the black sea bass - to groupers, and the Chilean sea bass - to cod. The greenish and striped common bass that dwells in the freshwater bodies of Europe and Asia seldom grows more than a couple of pounds, and the biggest giant sea bass ever caught tipped the scales at a quarter of a ton. But most basses are medium sized fish, silver or greenish covered, with a moderately stretched body, strong and tightly built for both speed and maneuverability, aggressive feeding habits, and a great fighting spirit - which is precisely what makes them so irresistible to anglers worldwide.

Being a predatory fish that feeds near the bottom more often than on the surface, a bass can be caught with a variety of methods, but the most important piece of bass fishing gear is unquestionably the spinning rod and reel. Both live bait and artificial lures can be used, the specific choice depending on the species, the body of water, the time of day and year, and caprices of the fish on a given day. Other methods of fishing, such as trolling, however, shouldn’t also be excluded out of the equation. For sea bass fishing, regular deep sea or inshore fishing methods are used. Largemouth bass fishing has bred a whole industry of tournaments, with considerable sums of money at stake, but you don’t have to have a set of gear that costs as much as a small house to enjoy bass fishing. Fishing for most species of bass is an active pursuit, with the angler moving over the river or lake in search of the fish rather than waiting for the fish in one sweet spot all day.