Goggle-eye
Rock bass, or goggle-eye, are one of the most sought-after game fish in many Ozark streams and is exceeded in popularity in these waters only by smallmouth bass. The goggle-eye goes by two other common names—redeye and rock perch. It belongs to the sunfish family, which includes smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, spotted bass, white crappie, black crappie, warmouth, green sunfish, longear sunfish, bluegill, bantam sunfish, redspotted sunfish, orange spotted sunfish, dollar sunfish, redear sunfish and pumpkinseed.
Range of Northern Rock Bass
Two very close relatives of the goggle-eye have been recognized as separate species in Missouri. Although nearly identical in behavior, habitat and life histories, the shadow bass (Ambloplites ariommus) and Ozark bass (Ambloplites constellatus) differ from northern rock bass and from each other primarily by their location. Collectively these three species are also known as “goggle-eye.” Even though all three species are native to Missouri, it is likely that their current distribution is more widespread due to efforts made in the 1930s and 1940s to establish them in many Missouri streams.
The total weight of goggle-eye in many Ozark streams equals or exceeds that of all other small sunfishes combined. The Missouri state record is a 2-pound, 12-ounce-fish caught from the Big Piney River in 1968. By comparison, the world record goggle-eye was caught from Holloway Reservoir (Michigan) in 1965 and weighed 3 pounds, 6 ounces.
