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Smallmouth Bass

Micropterus dolomieu

Fish · family Centrarchidae · order Centrarchiformes

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
Native in
24 states[2]
Longest recorded life
26 years[3]

The Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) is a fish in the sunfish family Centrarchidae[4]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act, and it is native to 24 US states and territories[1][2].

Conservation status

The US Fish and Wildlife Service data we checked shows no listing for the Smallmouth Bass as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act[1]. Not being listed under the ESA is a federal legal fact. It does not by itself say how the fish is doing in each state. NatureServe also gives state ranks, and the table on this page shows them for 46 states[5].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed

Where Smallmouth Bass lives

NatureServe lists the Smallmouth Bass as native in 24 US states and territories, including Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Tennessee and Virginia[2]. It is listed as introduced, meaning people brought it there, in places including California, Oregon, Washington, Texas and Maine[6]. A state list shows where NatureServe records the fish. It is not a promise that you will see one there[2][6].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: introduced, state rank SNAMEWisconsin: native, state rank S5WIVermont: native, state rank S5VTNew Hampshire: introduced, state rank SNANHWashington: introduced, state rank SNAWAIdaho: introduced, state rank SNAIDMontana: introduced, state rank SNAMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNRNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5NYMassachusetts: introduced, state rank SNAMAOregon: introduced, state rank SNAORNevada: introduced, state rank SNANVWyoming: introduced, state rank SNAWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S5SDIowa: native, state rank S5IAIndiana: native, state rank S5INOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S5PANew Jersey: introduced, state rank SNANJConnecticut: introduced, state rank SNACTRhode Island: introduced, state rank SNARICalifornia: introduced, state rank SNACAUtah: introduced, state rank SNAUTColorado: introduced, state rank SNACONebraska: introduced, state rank SNANEMissouri: native, state rank SNRMOKentucky: native, state rank S4KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5WVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5MDDelaware: introduced, state rank SNADEArizona: introduced, state rank SNAAZNew Mexico: introduced, state rank SNANMKansas: native, state rank S3KSArkansas: native, state rank S4ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S4NCSouth Carolina: introduced, state rank SNASCDistrict of Columbia: introduced, state rank SNADCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: native, state rank S5MSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: introduced, state rank SNATXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[5].
Show state ranks (46 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArizonaSNANot Applicable
ArkansasS4Apparently Secure
CaliforniaSNANot Applicable
ColoradoSNANot Applicable
ConnecticutSNANot Applicable
DelawareSNANot Applicable
District of ColumbiaSNANot Applicable
GeorgiaS5Secure
IdahoSNANot Applicable
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS5Secure
IowaS5Secure
KansasS3Vulnerable
KentuckyS4Apparently Secure
MaineSNANot Applicable
MarylandS5Secure
MassachusettsSNANot Applicable
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNRNot Ranked
MississippiS5Secure
MissouriSNRNot Ranked
MontanaSNANot Applicable
NebraskaSNANot Applicable
NevadaSNANot Applicable
New HampshireSNANot Applicable
New JerseySNANot Applicable
New MexicoSNANot Applicable
New YorkS5Secure
North CarolinaS4Apparently Secure
North DakotaSNRNot Ranked
OhioS5Secure
OregonSNANot Applicable
PennsylvaniaS5Secure
Rhode IslandSNANot Applicable
South CarolinaSNANot Applicable
South DakotaS5Secure
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasSNANot Applicable
UtahSNANot Applicable
VermontS5Secure
VirginiaS5Secure
WashingtonSNANot Applicable
West VirginiaS5Secure
WisconsinS5Secure
WyomingSNANot Applicable

Habitat

NatureServe records big rivers, medium rivers and creeks as habitat, along with pools and shallow water[7]. The fish prefers clear water with cool summers, and it likes streams with large pools and plenty of cover such as rocks and logs[8]. Adults rest in pools or deep water during the day[8]. For spawning, it uses shallow water near shore with gravel or sand on the bottom[8].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[7]

Size, diet and lifespan

Young fish eat small crustaceans and water insects, then switch to eating fish once they reach about 5 cm in length[9]. Adults are listed as carnivores, and they feed almost entirely on other fish when enough are around[9][10]. NatureServe gives a typical length of 69 cm (27 in)[11]. The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 26 years, and this is a record, not a typical lifespan[3]. AnAge lists female maturity at 2,007 days[12]. Males guard the eggs and the newly hatched young[13].

Trait Value
Typical length[11] 69 cm (27 in)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[3] 26 years (wild)
Female maturity[12] 2,007 days (about 5.5 years)
Food habits[10] Carnivore, Piscivore, Invertivore
Migration[14] non-migrant, local migrant

When to look for it

The Smallmouth Bass is crepuscular, which means it is most active around dawn and dusk[15][16]. In the northern part of its range it is relatively inactive in winter[16]. It may move short distances between spawning and other waters[17]. Spawning happens in late spring or early summer[13]. On GBIF, most records fall in June, July and August, which shows when people report the fish and not how many there are[18].

January: 141 recordsJanFebruary: 147 recordsFebMarch: 440 recordsMarApril: 997 recordsAprMay: 2,037 recordsMayJune: 3,456 recordsJunJuly: 5,469 recordsJulAugust: 5,194 recordsAugSeptember: 3,129 recordsSepOctober: 1,587 recordsOctNovember: 495 recordsNovDecember: 1,792 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[18].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January141
February147
March440
April997
May2,037
June3,456
July5,469
August5,194
September3,129
October1,587
November495
December1,792

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Smallmouth Bass as present in 51 park units[19]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 27 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Pennsylvania, New York, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin[20]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Smallmouth Bass endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data[1].
Where does the Smallmouth Bass live?
It is native to 24 US states and territories, such as Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan and Tennessee[2]. It has also been introduced in places such as California, Texas and Washington[6].
What does the Smallmouth Bass eat?
Young fish eat crustaceans and water insects, and adults feed almost entirely on fish when enough are available[9]. Crayfish, amphibians and insects can also be important foods[9].
How big is a Smallmouth Bass?
NatureServe records a typical length of 69 cm (27 in)[11].
How long does a Smallmouth Bass live?
The longest recorded lifespan in the wild is 26 years[3].

Facts and sources

  1. Smallmouth Bass is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe lists Smallmouth Bass as native in 24 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, New York, Ohio,... NatureServe Explorer
  3. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 26 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  4. Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) is a fish in the family Centrarchidae, order Centrarchiformes. NatureServe Explorer
  5. NatureServe state ranks for Smallmouth Bass (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe lists Smallmouth Bass as introduced (not native) in: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Idaho, Massachusetts, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode... NatureServe Explorer
  7. Habitat types NatureServe records for Smallmouth Bass: Big river, Medium river, Creek, Moderate gradient, Low gradient, Pool, Shallow water. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe notes on habitat for Smallmouth Bass. NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe notes on food for Smallmouth Bass. NatureServe Explorer
  10. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore, Piscivore, Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  11. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 69 cm (27 in). NatureServe Explorer
  12. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 2,007 days (about 5.5 years). AnAge
  13. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Smallmouth Bass. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe migration category for Smallmouth Bass: non-migrant, local migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  15. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Crepuscular. NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe notes on phenology for Smallmouth Bass. NatureServe Explorer
  17. NatureServe notes on migration for Smallmouth Bass. NatureServe Explorer
  18. GBIF observation records of Smallmouth Bass in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  19. NPSpecies park lists recording Smallmouth Bass as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  20. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Smallmouth Bass: Pennsylvania, New York, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.