Bass

If you love eating fish for dinner, then you’re likely familiar with the humble Bass. This delectable fish can be found in any fish market, either fresh or frozen, and cooked in countless ways from baked to fried. But how exactly does a Bass go from its natural water habitat to our dinner plates? In this article, we’ll explore the fascinating journey from a Bass’s humble beginnings to its ultimate destination – your dinner plate.

Starting with Bass Spawning

The first step for a Bass to reach the dinner plate is the spawning process. A bass, technically known as a largemouth-bass, is a species of freshwater fish that live in rivers and lakes varying in depths, and is commonly found in the United States. During the months of April and May, a Bass will start its spawning process when the water temperature reaches its optimum temperature of between 65-69 degrees Fahrenheit (18-20 Celsius). During its spawning, the bass will form shallow nests on the sand or gravel bottom of the lake or riverbed, which act as its own personal “incubator”. The female bass will lay up to 20,000 eggs that will then be fertilized by the male rocketing out a seminal fluid, essentially impregnating her own eggs.

Selective Hatchery Process

When the eggs reach the proper stage of development, they’re collected and stored in hatcheries. In recent years, these hatcheries have become increasingly selective, ensuring only the best and most healthy bass are allowed to progress in the journey to the dinner plate. The selected bass will be placed in tanks where they’ll stay until they are mature enough to survive in a natural environment. This process can take anywhere from 4-8 weeks depending on the species, and is monitored closely by the hatchery technicians. During this time, the young bass will be fed high quality feed and their water temperature monitored or adjusted accordingly.

Translation into Natural Environments

When the bass reach 4-6 inches in length, they are ready to move from the hatchery environment to a natural environment. Bass remain in the depths of their original spawning grounds, however, and don’t usually wander far away as adults. Bass fishing usually means casting your line in the same spot as the bass were released and hopefully finding them again.

A Love For Fishing

Once the bass are mature, they are now fair game for anyone with a line and bait. As a result, bass fishing has become one of the most popular forms of recreational fishing in the United States. Anglers the world over are attracted by the challenge that bass fishing provides and many even compete in tournaments across the country. Thanks to the popularity of bass fishing and the exceptional catch-and-release guidelines of many bass fisheries, the population of adult bass has exploded and is now a much sought after sportfish.

Catch & Release

As mentioned above, a catch-and-release policy is often employed by many fishery managers to maintain healthy bass populations. Despite having a seemingly easy meal in hand, many anglers opt instead to take pictures and measure the fish, before returning it to the Lake. This method of conservation has allowed bass populations to increase despite the ongoing overfishing of other species such as salmon, cod, and flounder.

Netting & Sorting

Tournaments sometimes use nets and traps to separate their desired catches from the other fish found in the lake. Once the bass have been separated from the others, they are then placed into designated sorting tanks so they can be prepared for market. The fish are then graded based on their weight, size, and species, with the heavier bass typically being of higher quality for sale.

Processing & Packaging

After the fish have been graded and sorted, they are then sent to the processing facility where they are deboned, filleted, and cleaned to the appropriate standards set by the FDA. These fillets are then plunged into superchilled tanks of salted water and shocked to -22 degrees Fahrenheit to lower the core temperature and keep them fresh. Following an overnight rest in the freezer, the fillets are then packaged and sorted into boxes according to their weight and species.

Shipping

From here, the packages are sealed and ready to be shipped to their final destination. Depending on the country of origin, the fish may be sent truck, boat, or even plane to get to its final destination - usually within a few days or weeks.

Cooking & Eating

Finally, the fillets of the Bass arrive on the dinner plate. To be ready for consumption, the fillet is usually floured, and salted and pepper as desired, and then fried or baked. Once cooked, the fillet can be served to yourself or your family, and enjoyed.

Conclusion

From spawning to the dinner plate, the journey of a Bass is filled with an array of fascinating steps. From its submerged spawning site in a lake or river, to the selective hatchery process, to the recreational fishing and the final packaging, processing, and shipping, each step of the journey played an important role in getting the tasty fillet onto your dinner plate. Our appreciation of the delectable Bass dish should be extended, not only to the anglers, but all the people and processes that had to come together to make this fish a part of your dinner.