Spotted bass in Florida
Meet the species
Scientific name
Micropterus punctulatus
Overview
They prefer small to medium streams and rivers with clear, slow-moving water, and gravel or rock bottoms. Seldom found in natural lakes, and they do not enter brackish water.
Typical size
Big catch minimum: 16 inches or 2 lbs
At a glance
- Regions
- Panhandle
- Water
- Freshwater
- Bait
- Popular lures and baits include jigs, crankbaits, spinners & small plastic worms and crayfish.
Florida fishing record
- Weight
- 3 lb 15 oz
- Length
- 18.25 in (1.52 ft)
- Location
- Apalachicola river, gulf county
- Date
- Jun 28, 2025
- Angler
- Joe durden
- Type
- Florida state record
Record catch notes
3.93 lb; 18.25 in; by joe durden; on 6/28/2025; at apalachicola river, gulf county
When to fish
Good months
January–december
Season notes
FWC black bass top spots note special spotted bass opportunity in panhandle rivers. Intentional year round: Florida freshwater sport fish generally available year-round; peak months only when FWC When-to-Fish states them.
Where to fish
Florida regions
Panhandle
Water
Freshwater
Habitat
They prefer small to medium streams and rivers with clear, slow-moving water, and gravel or rock bottoms. Seldom found in natural lakes, and they do not enter brackish water.
How to catch
Strong fighters when caught on light tackle. Popular lures and baits include jigs, crankbaits, spinners, small plastic worms and crayfish. Image credit: © duane raver & jr.
Bait
Popular lures and baits include jigs, crankbaits, spinners & small plastic worms and crayfish.
Lures
Popular lures and baits include jigs, crankbaits, spinners & small plastic worms and crayfish.
Videos
- My favorite way to catch spotted BASS!! · Open original
- Brandon cobb's seasonal guide to spotted bass fishing · Open original
- How to catch more spotted bass! · Open original
- Spotted bass can’t resist this bait on lake allatoona! · Open original
- Saturn has been captured in stunning detail through a 24-inch telesco... · Open original
- Can earth get rings like saturn? Well, let’s look at how saturn’s rin... · Open original
- Video from tiktok.com (source title unavailable) · Open original
- Video from tiktok.com (source title unavailable) · Open original
Sources
- Myfwc.com (4 pages)
Information comes from the supplied source datasets. Check linked FWC regulations for current rules.