Latest Florida discovery: new black bass species

Scientists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have uncovered a new species of black bass in the southeastern United States.

Of course, I’m wondering just how heavy this new find will ultimately be.

Scientists have proposed naming the new species the Choctaw bass and recommended the scientific name of Micropterus haiaka. They revealed their discovery at a meeting of the Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society earlier this year.

According to a news release, the Choctaw bass looks like the spotted bass, and the differences between the two are not easily discerned with the naked eye.

Dogs vs. musselsThe Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will be using three zebra mussel-sniffing K-9 teams for the first time this year to help combat the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS).Minnesota is the second state in the country to use trained dogs to prevent the spread of AIS. They will be used throughout the state during the open water season.#147;The use of K-9s is a progressive enforcement tool that will complement and support our invasive species prevention efforts,#148; said Col. Jim Konrad, DNR Enforcement director. Fishing update:It#146;s a good bet that if you choose to work the shorelines from shore, your chances of a good angling day will be pretty good. I#146;m talking about bank anglers using the faster current to bring fish closer in on lakes like Pistakee, Marie, and the Grass Lake Road bridge. Walleyes, channel catfish, and crappie are on the menu.It#146;s still a no-wake situation for boaters on the Chain and Fox River. The local pond story is getting brighter every day, especially at places such as Beck and Busse lakes.ŸContact Mike Jackson at angler88@comcast.net, and catch his radio show 6-7 a.m. Sundays on WSBC 1240-AM and live-streamed at www.mikejacksonoutdoors.com.