Live Mouth Bass for Sale

September 27, 2012

Question: I recently noticed an advertisement in the seafood section of our local Los Angeles Hong Kong supermarket newspaper where they are selling “Live Mouth Bass.” Is there really such a fish? The picture looks like they are largemouth bass. I didn’t think our precious game fish could be sold for food. If these are largemouth bass, is it legal to sell them in the market? (Doc H., Walnut)

Answer: I am not aware of a species called “live mouth bass.”  It is not legal to sell largemouth bass caught in the wild or under the authority of a sport fishing license. Often times the Asian markets have aquariums where they display live fish for sale. Largemouth bass can be sold if acquired from a private aquaculture facility with appropriate sales receipts.

Up here in the Bay Area they like ove black bass. See them for sale live in all the Ranch99 markets and I'm certain restaurants. They are all farmed fish.

Most likely they really meant to say Live Large Mouth Bass for sale.
But missed a word.