Largemouth Spot Hybrid?

[tie1on]

Does anyone know if LM and spots can cross-breed? I have caught some bass lately that have a smaller mouth like a spot, w/ simular markings of a spot, and a dorsal fin like a Lm w/no tooth patch. All of these that I have caught have been in the 12-15" range.

 

[hotrod61]

last report i heard on this whas yes;but ther were cunduct furter studies???????? emoTeacher

 

[ashtrey]

How far back does the mouth come back to the eyes? short of the eyes or slightly past?

but as far as i know i have never heard of them being able to cross-breed.

 

[Shankopotamus]

Not being a biologist, it still seems to me that if a female LM laid her eggs and they were fertilized by a different species, they would have characteristics (DNA) of both species- hence- cross breeding.
The question becomes, would one species fertilize another species eggs?
If Kirk kissed that green woman, anything is possible!

 

[sprestwood]

All black bass can cross. TWRA even tried to introduce some crosses to see if they could be more hardy. They are convinced what they let go in the water all died because it did not turn up in electro-fishing surveys.

 

[craazyboutbass]

I catch LM with toothpatches alot which makes me think its a hybrid between spot and LM??

 

[crod]

I think deer and bass cross breed. I always seem to catch alot of buck bass. LOL

 

[MadBomber]

Lm and spots do crossbreed. It seems to me because of the reports we get here on the forum that the spot genes are dominant so the fish looks more spot than Lm. They do get larger than a pure "Kentucky" strain spot however. That being said, a few years ago, I caught a 4 pound bass that had the body shape of a spot but not the markings or tongue patch of a spot. So, I guess it can go either way. One thing that does intrigue me is whether or not a hybrid spot/lm is fertile. I suspect they are. that would mean that there are fish swiming around in our waters with all manner of percentages of spot/LM genes.

 

[Carl Guffey]

<font size="2">That is a pretty Corian counter top.emoPoke </font>

 

[WOBBLE HEAD]

I think they can....but....I ask a TWRA biologist about this last year in ref. to what is called a mean mouth. . He told me NO.That they did not cross breed...He did advise that a small percentage of Lm would have a tooth patch ...plus a small percentage of spots would NOT have a tooth patch, and about 50% of small mouth's would have a tooth patch. He says that what we are calling a mean mouth is nothing but a small mouth with a tooth patch that hasn't grown up enought and turned brown yet......i don't think I agree with TWRA on this but that's their stand on it.

 

[Carl Guffey]

<font size="2">You need to call the TWRA biologists and tell him to get his head out of his fart flappers. All black bass species can and will interbreed. There is a reason that TWRA now requires DNA testing on all bass considered for a possible state record. What did he think a "meanmouth" was, a Yankee with a temper?</font></p>

<font size="2">The Tennessee River, especially in the riverine sections(i.e.,riverpark), is and has become a black bass smorgasbord for inter-species mingling. Limited numbers of spawning areas and increased numbers of spotted bass and expanding ranges is the major contributing factor, especially between spotted bass and smallmouth(i,e, meanmouth)</font></p>

 

[MadBomber]

Carl Guffey - 4/28/2009 5:41 AM

<font size="2">You need to call the TWRA biologists and tell him to get his head out of his fart flappers. All black bass species can and will interbreed. There is a reason that TWRA now requires DNA testing on all bass considered for a possible state record. What did he think a "meanmouth" was, a Yankee with a temper?</font></p>

<font size="2">The Tennessee River, especially in the riverine sections(i.e.,riverpark), is and has become a black bass smorgasbord for inter-species mingling. Limited numbers of spawning areas and increased numbers of spotted bass and expanding ranges is the major contributing factor, especially between spotted bass and smallmouth(i,e, meanmouth)</font></p>

</p>

What Carl said, except I know he was not referring to Mike Jolley, who is our region III biologist. I believe the most common cross is between laremouth and Spots.</p>

 

[SpurHunter]

Here is a 5lb 2oz mix of some kind I caught.
http://www.chattanoogafishingforum.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=19638&posts=27