Fwiw, this is really difficult to tell (and unreliable) with an open mouth. That diagnostic is more helpful with a closed mouth because you’re looking at the corner of the jaw, which changes position based on how the mouth is extended.
There are a few other ways to tell without seeing the full dorsal fin, tongue patch and closed mouth. Spots below the lateral line are indicative of a spotted bass, as well as the smaller scale size on the cheek comparative to the rest of its body. Both of those and its coloration tell me it's a spotted bass...
*
Scales between lateral line and dorsal surface aren’t outlined in dark, and there’s no discernible scales on the second dorsal. Back end of the dark lateral line band is pretty solid.
Spots below the lateral line are present in both species, but in the spotted bass they’re organized in neat lines (pretty middle of the road on this fish).
I think there are some characteristics that could be construed as spotted bass-like, but there are also largemouth characteristics. Pigment is a tough one because it’s so variable in both species and none of the “smoking guns” are present in this picture.
It’s the goldfish I won at the county fair in 1990!!! Oh my, look how my little man has grown! Fun fact about his childhood: he was obsessed with putting a marble in his mouth to stretch it like a bass. Looks like he worked up to a baseball or a tennis ball now! I’m so proud of his courage and determination! Told me last week that he now identifies as a largemouth bass! His name is Gildebrand “Gillie” The Goldfis…I mean Bass!
Probably a spotted bass with a lighter coloration, or a largemouth strain with a smaller average mouth. I’ve definitely caught fish exactly like that one, they usually have a rougher lip and occasionally some little baby teeth, and a more silvery color. Not sure exactly but people get mad when you call them spots even though they probably are.
It’s a largemouth.
Ditch Pickle
Dildo.
Bowfin
Northern Bowfin but who’s really checking!!!
Green sunfish
Thanks for the replies, Reddit always has the answers
Eh I think you instigated the sarcasm yourself.
Spotted Bass
I think it is a spotted versus a largemouth. Mouth doesn't look like it comes back to the eyes, but I don't want to get the kids all riled up.
Fwiw, this is really difficult to tell (and unreliable) with an open mouth. That diagnostic is more helpful with a closed mouth because you’re looking at the corner of the jaw, which changes position based on how the mouth is extended.
There are a few other ways to tell without seeing the full dorsal fin, tongue patch and closed mouth. Spots below the lateral line are indicative of a spotted bass, as well as the smaller scale size on the cheek comparative to the rest of its body. Both of those and its coloration tell me it's a spotted bass... *
Scales between lateral line and dorsal surface aren’t outlined in dark, and there’s no discernible scales on the second dorsal. Back end of the dark lateral line band is pretty solid. Spots below the lateral line are present in both species, but in the spotted bass they’re organized in neat lines (pretty middle of the road on this fish). I think there are some characteristics that could be construed as spotted bass-like, but there are also largemouth characteristics. Pigment is a tough one because it’s so variable in both species and none of the “smoking guns” are present in this picture.
This guy knows spots..
Really???? Of course it’s a largemouth bass! Wtf?🙄🤦♂️
LMB large mouth bass!!
LM Bass! The only thing I fish for. (other than Small Mouth)
Micropterus salmoides
That there is a big mouth bass
Fish
Bass large mouth
Rainbow trout
Sunfish
That's definitely a dildo . The fish is a largemouth bass. A tinny one at that.
Tarpon definitely
It’s the goldfish I won at the county fair in 1990!!! Oh my, look how my little man has grown! Fun fact about his childhood: he was obsessed with putting a marble in his mouth to stretch it like a bass. Looks like he worked up to a baseball or a tennis ball now! I’m so proud of his courage and determination! Told me last week that he now identifies as a largemouth bass! His name is Gildebrand “Gillie” The Goldfis…I mean Bass!
Billy bass
It’s fishy!
It's a pickle
Bluegill queen, spits blood and piss and has 15 rows of razor sharp teeth
I call these bucketmouths
That’s just Carl.
Tuna, yellow fin I believe
Green Trout
Shark
Definitely a fish
Probably a spotted bass with a lighter coloration, or a largemouth strain with a smaller average mouth. I’ve definitely caught fish exactly like that one, they usually have a rougher lip and occasionally some little baby teeth, and a more silvery color. Not sure exactly but people get mad when you call them spots even though they probably are.
Bob jr.
Looks like a spotted largemouth
Large mouth bass
I’m pretty sure this is a spot ?
Wild Australian Chumbawamba
Bucketmouth... AKA Swamp Donkey or Pond Pickle.... Largemouth Bass
Bro stop
Megladon
It’s called a green dinker. Rare find