The Suwannee bass (Micropterus notius) is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of order Centrarchiformes. One of the black basses, This species is native to just two river systems in Florida and Georgia, although it has been introduced elsewhere.
Description
thumb|A Suwannee bass caught out of the [[Santa Fe River (Florida)|Santa Fe River near High Springs, Florida (May 27, 2023). ]]
The Suwannee bass is a rather small species compared to its congeners and has a deep body with a large mouth in which the maxilla is placed beneath the eye and there is a circular patch of teeth on the tongue. The base of the soft part of the dorsal fin and the anal fin are scaled. They are mostly brown in color marked with a dozen olive blotches on the flanks. These blotches are wider than the gaps between them towards the head but they merge towards the tail eventually creating a horizontal band near the caudal peduncle. There is a large blotch at the base of the caudal fin which has a pale margin, this is more obvious in young fish which also show bold mottling on the soft part of the dorsal fin, the anal fin and the caudal fin. In the breeding season, the adults show a turquoise coloration on the cheek, breast and belly. This species attains a maximum total length of although a more usual total length would be around and the maximum published weight is .
Distribution
The Suwannee bass is endemic to the southeastern United States where it is native to the lower Suwannee and Ochlockonee River systems in Florida and a small part of Georgia. It has been introduced into the St. Marks River and the Wacissa River in Florida.
Relationship with humans
While not as well known as other black basses, M. notius is also fished for sport. The IGFA all-tackle world record for the species stands at caught from the Suwannee River in 1985, and the length record is from the Withlacoochee River in 2025.
References
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/fish/freshwater/suwannee-bass/