Spotted Bass
Micropterus punctulatus
For largemouth bass there is no minimum length limit, only two largemouth bass less than 18 inches may be retained each day. For smallmouth bass (if present), minimum length limit = 14 inches. No minimum length limit on Alabama, Guadalupe and spotted bass. Daily bag limit for all black bass species is 5 in any combination.
Identify your catch
Rows of small dark spots below the lateral band help distinguish spotted bass. Confirm with the official bass identification guide.
Habitat on Jacksonville
Steep terrain, iron-ore rock, riprap, brush piles and lighted piers provide cover.
Fishing approach
Lake guide guidance: TPWD identifies deep structure, the dam face, vegetation in Cat Creek and Byrd Branch, and island drop-offs across from the marina as areas to investigate for bass.
Fishing guidance describes documented approaches, not a promise of fish activity today.
No active lake-specific advisory or possession ban was named in the reviewed DSHS directory. This does not guarantee that fish are safe to eat.
Harvest permission and eating restrictions are separate.
General species guide
Generally uses more current than largemouth bass. Its diet includes fish and crayfish.
General Spotted Bass profile →Sources & lake evidence
TPWD lake guide and reviewed fisheries evidence establish the listed species or group. Historical survey records do not establish current abundance.
Lake harvest rules ↗Eating guidance ↗Lake habitat & fishing guide ↗Species identification ↗