White Bass

Silvery, spiny-rayed elongated fish with several dark horizontal streaks along the sides. Back is blue-gray with silvery reflections. Sides are silvery with a faint blue-green tinge and several horizontal olive-gray streaks. Upper surface of the tongue usually has a single, heart-shaped patch of teeth.  One of only two species of sea bass (yellow bass are the other) native to Missouri . One of the most important game fish in Missouri’s large impoundments. Most closely related to yellow and striped bass game fish.

Hybrids between the striped bass and white bass are stocked by the Missouri Department of Conservation in many impoundments around the state. These fish superficially resemble white bass but have 2 patches of teeth on the tongue very close together or else a single distinct tooth patch. Hybrids also achieve a larger size than white bass, exceeding a weight of 5 pounds.