The largemouth bass was chosen as the state freshwater fish in 1975. It is abundant in Alabama inland waters and popular with sport fishermen. It is found throughout the United States in ponds, lakes, and rivers. The largest largemouth bass caught in Alabama weighed 16_lbs. 8_oz and was caught in 1987
in Mountain View Lake.

In 1975 the Legislature made a mistake in the wording of the legislation. When they designated the Largemouth Bass as the official state freshwater fish,
they incorrectly identified it by the Latin name Micropterus punctulatus,
which is actually the Spotted Bass. The correct Latin name for the
Largemouth Bass is Micropterus salmoides.