There are certainly ways to determine which specie of bass is being identified all be it very tedious and most likely are not going to take the time but fortunately in VA working with the VaDWR anglers now have a envelope available to them where they can send in samples of tissue from the bass for examination to identify the reach of the invasive Alabama Bass in river systems. The fact of the matter is the risks associated with doing nothing to a smallmouth fishery can be devastating and in the interests of preserving our smallmouth river systems from the onslaught of the invasive Alabama Bass such actions must be taken. The reproductive rates can decimate smallmouth populations as well as we have seen with other black bass create even more hybridization within a fishery. While I understand the point being made regarding KY Spots the more anglers come in contact with the Alabama Bass the easier it will be for identification over the long run. There is a notion out there that somehow Snakehead must be treated differently than Alabama Bass but this is not being consistent and one could certainly argue that the Alabama Bass are a far greater threat to our river systems and lakes if NC is examined.
Virtually impossible for a VA angler to tell the difference between a KY Spotted Bass and an Alabama Spot. I have seen a lot of posts suggesting the caught spotted bass be harvested as they are sure it is an Alabama bass. KY spotted bass are in all of the large VA rivers (James, New, Shenandoah) as well as many of the smaller river such as the Rivanna and they have been there for years. They are fierce fighters and deserve better treatment than just being killed - harvest and eat if you must. Catch and release is a much better way to go, your mileage may vary.
There are certainly ways to determine which specie of bass is being identified all be it very tedious and most likely are not going to take the time but fortunately in VA working with the VaDWR anglers now have a envelope available to them where they can send in samples of tissue from the bass for examination to identify the reach of the invasive Alabama Bass in river systems. The fact of the matter is the risks associated with doing nothing to a smallmouth fishery can be devastating and in the interests of preserving our smallmouth river systems from the onslaught of the invasive Alabama Bass such actions must be taken. The reproductive rates can decimate smallmouth populations as well as we have seen with other black bass create even more hybridization within a fishery. While I understand the point being made regarding KY Spots the more anglers come in contact with the Alabama Bass the easier it will be for identification over the long run. There is a notion out there that somehow Snakehead must be treated differently than Alabama Bass but this is not being consistent and one could certainly argue that the Alabama Bass are a far greater threat to our river systems and lakes if NC is examined.
Virtually impossible for a VA angler to tell the difference between a KY Spotted Bass and an Alabama Spot. I have seen a lot of posts suggesting the caught spotted bass be harvested as they are sure it is an Alabama bass. KY spotted bass are in all of the large VA rivers (James, New, Shenandoah) as well as many of the smaller river such as the Rivanna and they have been there for years. They are fierce fighters and deserve better treatment than just being killed - harvest and eat if you must. Catch and release is a much better way to go, your mileage may vary.