Shoal bass are an excellent game fish that can be found in river drainages in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. The best methods for catching them are bait casting, drift fishing, fly fishing, still fishing, and trolling. The best baits to use when targeting shoal bass are crayfish, minnow, and worms.
Habitat: Creek, River, Stream
How to identify Shoal Bass
Although the shoal bass is closer in relation to spotted bass, it is often mistaken as a redeye or Suwanee bass because of its red eyes. Shoals don’t have teeth on the tongue as spotted bass do. Adult shoals have distinguishing colored, patterned markings along their midsection and 6-8 prominent vertical bars on their sides. Redeye bass, on the other hand, have few patterned markings laterally, and the area of teeth on the tongue is oval. Shoal bass are dark green to black with a black marking in front of the tail and on the back of the opercula. It has three dark-colored, lateral lines on its head. Shoals average about 1-3 pounds but can grow to more than 8 pounds.
Where to catch Shoal Bass
These fish can be found in river drainages in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. They typically live in sandy bars/ridges in big creeks and rivers. They also tend to hang out where the current breaks in the water – especially if there are rocks nearby. These fish generally aren’t found in stagnant water.
The following are habitats where you can catch Shoal Bass:
- Cliffs and Steep Shore Banks
- Inlets and Outlets
- Overhanging Trees and Bushes
- Piers, Docks and Pilings
- Rivers and Streams
- Rocks
- Shoreline Shallows
- Sunken Objects
How to catch Shoal Bass
Shoal bass are excellent game fish. They can be difficult to catch and put up a fierce fight when they are on the line. For this reason, anglers should come prepared with strong fishing line. The best time to look for them is during the spring and fall. They can be caught by using a hook and bait, or by fly fishing. To find them, look for pockets of water that have good flow. The best methods for catching them include bait casting, drift fishing, fly fishing, still fishing, and trolling.
The following are effective fishing methods and techniques for catching Shoal Bass:
Best Lures, Bait & Tackle to catch Shoal Bass
Effective baits to use for shoal bass include crayfish, minnows, or worms, or lures
The following are fishing lures, bait and tackle that can be used to catch Shoal Bass:
