SHOAL BASS

The Shoal Bass is Georgia’s official riverine sport fish!

Michael Lopez

Luis Delgado 2022

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Micropterus cataractae

KEY PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

  • Body Shape: Elongated body similar to largemouth
  • Coloration: Dark olive green to black, fading into a cream/white belly
  • Markings:
    • Large vertical stripes along the midline of the body that resemble tiger stripes
    • Three dark radiating lines are found on the cheek
    • Dark spot on lower cheek
    • Upper jaw does not extend past eye
    • Basicaudal blotch: a distinct spot at the base of the tail fin
  • Size: typically, between 12-24 inches
photo shows fish on measuring board

Hop Nguyen 2023

HABITAT: Found around current breaks near flowing water, like in areas with submerged rocks, boulders, and fallen trees. They prefer fast-moving water where they can easily catch their prey.

FOOD: Diets vary by size. Smaller fish eat insects such as mayflies, dragonflies (odonates), and other larvae. As they grow, they depend less on insects for food. Larger shoal bass eat crayfish and other fish like minnows, darters, and madtoms.

 

 

WHERE CAN YOU CATCH A SHOAL BASS?

PUBLIC ACCESS POINTS:

Patrick Mawhinney 2022

UPPER CHATTACHOOCHEE RIVER
BELOW MORGAN FALLS DAM 

*Must hold a trout license and follow trout regulations to fish for anything in these areas*

  • Morgan Falls Park
  • Campbellton Road (SR166/154)
  • Chattahoochee Hills
  • Rotary Park
FLINT RIVER 

*All shoal bass caught on the Flint River downstream of Warwick Dam (Lake Blackshear) measuring between 15” and 20” must be released immediately. All others may be kept.

Nick O’Conor 2023

Outboard or jetdrive boats are often used in the Flint below Lake Blackshear all the way down to the upper end of Lake Seminole. Some of the biggest shoal bass come from this lower section of the river, with fish in the 4- to 6-pound range common.

  • Norman’s Ferry
  • Newton (SR37)
  • Punks Landing
  • Marine Corps Ditch
  • State Highway 32
OCMULGEE RIVER

Marshall Stamps 2021

Shoal bass are plentiful in the Ocmulgee north of Macon. Most of the shoal bass fishing effort in this river occurs immediately below Lake Jackson.

  • Ocmulgee River Public Boat Ramp (Georgia Power)
  • Marjorie Kahn Popper Hand Launch
  • Key Bridge (SR83)
  • Popes Ferry
  • Knowles (SR96)
OTHER FISHING LOCATIONS

For more information on the above public access points, to find other fishing locations, or find out where you can catch the other black bass species visit our interactive Georgia Bass Slam Map.

BOAT RAMPS

Boat ramps can be found on the Go Outdoors Georgia App, available for Apple or Android. This is a handy site to get anyone started looking for public access to Georgia river fishing.

 

HOW DO YOU CATCH A SHOAL BASS?

LOCATE SHOAL BASS HABITAT
photo shows fish being held

Jake Vincent 2022

Shoal bass like areas with fast-moving water with structures that provide cover to easily ambush their prey.

Look for areas like:

  • Rocky shoals and outcroppings
  • Eddies and current breaks
  • River bends
  • Confluences
  • Undercut banks in river runs
GEAR

Shoal bass are powerful fish that are in heavy current around rocks or trees; be sure to consider this when choosing a rod and line for shoal Bass fishing. Many suggest using a medium or medium-heavy rod, spinning or baitcasting reels, with braided line or 8-10-lb fluorocarbon.

LURES & BAIT

Shoal Bass can be caught on a variety of lures. Anything that will catch a largemouth bass will also work on shoal bass. Fly fishermen have also had success targeting shoal bass with foam topwater flies, surface poppers, and streamers.

L-R Top: Anthony Antinozzi 2021, Cathryn Valacius 2026, Aaron Griffith 2022 Bottom: Austin Thornton 2022, Fred Wommack 2022

Lures

  • Soft Plastic
  • Spinnnerbaits
  • Top Water Poppers
  • Crankbait
  • Jigs and crawfish trailers
  • Segmented swimbaits

Flies

  • Wooly buggers
  • Stealth Bomber
  • Boogle Bug Popper
  • Clouser minnows
  • Crayfish patterns

Live Bait

  • Crayfish
  • Minnows
  • small baitfish
TIMING

Shoal bass can be caught in the warmer months, best from spring through fall. In spring around the spawn, the fishing is typically good because they feed aggressively. Early morning and evening tend to be the best time of day for shoal bass fishing; however, overcast days can often extend this time.

REGULATIONS

The statewide minimum length limit for shoal bass is 15” except that all shoal bass caught on the Flint River downstream of Warwick Dam (Lake Blackshear) and measuring between 15” and 20” must be released immediately. All others may be kept. The daily limit for shoal bass is five (5) per day, although a total of up to ten (10) black bass species may be in possession when including other species like Largemouth Bass/Florida Bass or Alabama Bass/Spotted Bass.

 

STATE RECORD

BLACK BASS CONSERVATION

Shoal bass are native to the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) River basin and occur from Helen, Georgia, to Florida. Shoal Bass can be found in moderate streams with high relief and the mainstem of the ACF river system. Threats to shoal bass primarily include habitat alteration, water quality and quantity, and hybridization with non-native bass species, including Alabama Bass. WRD Fisheries conducts population monitoring, fish stocking, and habitat enhancement projects to ensure Georgia’s riverine sportfish will be available for anglers to pursue for generations to come!

Want to help conserve Georgia’s Black Bass? Buy a Georgia Bass Plate! The purchase of this plate helps fund conservation efforts that protect Georgia’s native black bass species, improve fish habitat and bass populations, and support research and stocking across our lakes and rivers. Visit https://georgiawildlife.com/licenseplates for more information.

GEORGIA BASS SLAMBass Slam Montage

Georgia is the Black Bass Capital of the World! Black bass are one of the most sought-after species in North America, and Georgia is home to 12[1] native black bass species! Did you know that if you catch five or more different species of black bass, you can qualify for the Georgia Bass Slam?

Georgia Bass Slam recognizes anglers with the knowledge and skill to catch five or more different species of black bass in a variety of habitats across the state and aims to stimulate interest in the conservation and management of black bass and their habitats. For rules and to submit your Georgia Bass Slam, visit bassslam.com.

 

Note: All photos used in this blog were acquired through Bass Slam Entrees. 

[1] Georgia is home to 12 native black bass species; however, for the purposes of implementing angler recognition programs like the Bass Slam and Angler Awards, difficult-to-distinguish species, including Largemouth Bass/Florida Bass and Alabama Bass/Spotted Bass, are combined.