ANIMAL: Rock Bass Ambloplites rupestris Type of Animal: Sunfish Habitat: Clear rocky stream pools, clear rocky vegetated lake margins, rocky lake banks, rocky reservoir banks, rocky shorelines, rocky-bottom human swimming areas, rocky-bottom lakeside docks, stone/rubble-covered rivers, rocky hard-bottom lakes, rocky hard-bottom lake coves, rubble/rock-strewn points in hard-bottom lakes, hard-bottom rocky lake reefs, deep stone/rubble-covered river pools, nearshore stone/rubble-covered river eddies, river pockets behind boulders/ledges/shaded shoreline spots, river logs/deadfalls/underwater stumps, reservoirs, vegetated rivers, vegetated lakes, vegetated ponds, vegetated streams, lightly vegetated gravel bars, gravel shorelines, breakwaters, rocky reservoir shores w/ permanent flow/silt-free bottom, rocks/rocky areas, logs, woodcover/bulrush covered lakes, pondweed lake flats, stagnant to slow-flowing rocky vegetated brushy stream margins, stagnant to slow-flowing rocky vegetated creek pools, stagnant to slow-flowing rocky vegetated canals, stagnant to slow-flowing rocky vegetated backwaters, irrigation channels Location(s): Native to C/E US & C/E Canada. Introduced/invasive throughout continental US, Mexico, & France’s Loire Valley. Appearance: Golden brown to olive colored fish w/ white to silver belly & dark spotting, red eyes, large mouth, dark teardrop shaped area around each eye, can change color to match surroundings Food/Diet: Crustaceans, smaller fish (including younger members of own species), insects, insect larvae, worms, leeches, aquatic plant matter Status in Wild: Stable Conservation: Not applicable Lifestyle: Schools of 10-40 fish. Colonial nesters w/ each nest guarded by territorial male. Juveniles found in even larger schools. Additional Info: Called: Male Female Young: Fry/Fingerling Group: School Weight: Male: 4.8-16 oz Female: 3.2-8 oz Gestation: 4 days Life Span: 5-10 years Body Length: Male: 7-10.5 in Female: 6-8 in Young: 3 in Tail Length: 2.5 in, same for both sexes Main predators are larger bass, pike, muskies, walleye, alligators, fish-eating birds, snapping turtles, & fish-eating mammals. They lack courtship displays, so females just enter male nest, w/ them simultaneously releasing sperm/eggs. Spawn in spring. They often compete w/ larger Smallmouth Bass. Also called Northern Rock Bass, Google Eye, Redeye Bass, Redeye, Perch, Sunfish, & Rock Perch. Fun Fact(s): Single female can lay anything from 2,000-11,000 eggs per season. Females lay eggs in multiple nests & nests usually contain eggs from many females. Male guards eggs/fry aggressively, even charging at people who come too close. Many males lose weight & even die during/after this period due to not eating. Popular gamefish in many areas but often treated in lesser manner compared to other popular gamefish.
