Life History Information of Choctaw Bass Micropterus Haiaka, a Newly Described Species of Black Bass

The Choctaw Bass Micropterus haiaka is a newly discovered species of black bass found in coastal river systems of northwest Florida and southern Alabama.  The species was detected when an unidentified genetic profile was revealed in 2007 by a black bass study in the Chipola River, Florida.  Morphologically similar to the Spotted Bass Micropterus punctulatus, the Choctaw Bass was described as a unique species at the 2013 AFS Black Bass Diversity Symposium.  Prior to this study, there was limited life history information specific to this species.  Our research examines age, growth, mortality, and diet of Choctaw Bass collected from the Choctawhatchee River and Holmes Creek, a major tributary of the Choctawhatchee River, Florida in fall 2012 and 2013.  Diets of Choctaw Bass are similar to other riverine Micropterus spp. in the East Gulf Coastal Plain although they do differ intraspecifically between rivers.  Diets of fish collected from the Choctawhatchee River consisted primarily of fish while diets from fish collected from Holmes Creek consisted primarily of crayfish.  Mean total length at age was described by von Bertalanffy growth curves.  Choctawhatchee River fish exhibited faster growth rates.  The oldest Choctaw Bass was age-11 and the longest fish was 418 mm total length.