WHAT IS A REDEYE BASS

Question

WHEN FISHING IN THE MARYLAND RIVER SYSTEM I HAVE BEEN CATCHING AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF SMALL BASS WITH SOME SUNFISH MARKINGS AND RED EYES. THE MAJORITY OF THE FISH WE SEE IN THESE WATERS IS SMALLMOUTH BASS AND SUNFISH (TROUT IN SPRING). THESE REDEYE BASS SEEM TO HANG OUT IN SHALLOW WATERS UNDER SHADE. THEY SEEM TO STAY SMALL AND HANG CLOSLY WITH CROWDS OF SUNFISH. GETTING TO THE POINT, I HAVE A THEORY THAT THESE FISH ARE A HYBRID OF SUNFISH AND SMALLMOUTH BASS. IF ANYONE KNOWS ANY DETAILS TO MY UNUALY COMPLICATED QUESTION PLEASE LET ME KNOW

Answer 1

Rock bass. Some of us Marylanders call them goggle eye bass also. They are growing in population in Maryland waterways. Not to be confused with rockfish (striped bass).  

Answer 2

The Redeye Bass is in the sunfish family. Here is a link talking more about it in wikipedia, as well as a close-up picture.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redeye_bass

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co...

I hope this answers your question.

Additional: Oh and btw, here is the Rock Bass that the guy above mentioned, just in case this is what you are seeing, even though it doesn't exactly sound like the description you gave.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_bass

Answer 3

sounds like a rock bass  which is actually a sunfish  kinda green with red eyes very stiff spines in the dorsal fin

Answer 4

Those would be "rock bass". They are not technically a bass and are more closely related to a sunfish and the other panfish. Good eating.