Family Moronidae--Temperate Bass Family
Temperate basses have two dorsal fins (the first with usually nine spines
and the second with one spine), three anal spines, a large mouth, ctenoid
scales, thoracic pelvic fins, a large spine on the gill cover and a small
gill on the underside of the gill cover. These fishes are popular sport
fishes.
white perch--Morone americana [nonnative]
 white bass -- Morone
chrysops
The white bass is a silvery fish with four to seven dark, horizontal stripes
along its sides. The teeth on the tongue are in a single patch. This fish
is found in pools of streams and open water habitat of lakes and reservoirs.
The white bass feeds early in the morning and late in the evening in large
schools that swim near the surface. The fishes being pursued may often
be seen leaping out of the water in an attempt to avoid these predators.
Spawning occurs in early spring, with spawning preceded by movements,
or "runs," of adults into tributary streams. Eggs settle to the bottom
after being released and hatch in about two days. Each female may produce
about one million eggs in a spawning season. The life span is about four
years during which it may reach a length of approximately one and one-half
feet.
yellow bass--Morone mississippiensis
 striped bass -- Morone
saxatilis[nonnative]
The striped bass is a silvery fish with six to nine dark stripes along
the sides. It is similar in appearance to the white bass but is more slender,
has a more rounded back and has the teeth on the tongue in two parallel
patches. It may reach a length of over six feet. The fish lives in reservoirs
and large streams where it feeds on fishes, primarily gizzard shad. Spawning
occurs in the spring when the water temperature exceeds 58 F in areas
with strong currents and rapids. The eggs must be suspended by the current
for the hatching time of 36-75 hours, or they will fall to the bottom,
become silted over and die. Females generally mature when 24 inches long
and four years old while most males mature in their second year.
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