I have been getting so confused with IDing fish. This was caught very early this summer in a local neighborhood lake in North Carolina.

I have been getting so confused with IDing fish. This was caught very early this summer in a local neighborhood lake in North Carolina.

I have been getting so confused with IDing fish. This was caught very early this summer in a local neighborhood lake in North Carolina.

Did the fish have teeth on it's tongue? The photo doesn't indicate where the jaw ends relative to the eye and the dorsal fin appears to be separated, indicating a largemouth. Spots have rolls of dark scales below the lateral line that can't be determined for the picture

Could be a spot or a largemouth.

WRB 

Did the fish have teeth on it's tongue? The photo doesn't indicate where the jaw ends relative to the eye and the dorsal fin appears to be separated, indicating a largemouth. Spots have rolls of dark scales below the lateral line that can't be determined for the picture

Could be a spot or a largemouth.

WRB 

Did the fish have teeth on it's tongue? The photo doesn't indicate where the jaw ends relative to the eye and the dorsal fin appears to be separated, indicating a largemouth. Spots have rolls of dark scales below the lateral line that can't be determined for the picture

Could be a spot or a largemouth.

WRB 

We had a big controversy over this last year @ a tourney in Eufaula and had to get a game warden to clarify for us.  If the corner of the mouth is even with eye it is a spot.  If mouth goes further back than the eye its a largemouth.  He said the fish are changing alot and the ways of identifying in the past are getting harder and harder.  But he said this is the tale-tale way.

We had a big controversy over this last year @ a tourney in Eufaula and had to get a game warden to clarify for us.  If the corner of the mouth is even with eye it is a spot.  If mouth goes further back than the eye its a largemouth.  He said the fish are changing alot and the ways of identifying in the past are getting harder and harder.  But he said this is the tale-tale way.

We had a big controversy over this last year @ a tourney in Eufaula and had to get a game warden to clarify for us.  If the corner of the mouth is even with eye it is a spot.  If mouth goes further back than the eye its a largemouth.  He said the fish are changing alot and the ways of identifying in the past are getting harder and harder.  But he said this is the tale-tale way.

The corner of the mouth even in level with the eye is the conclusive differentiation between a largemouth and a spot. The teethy patch on the tongue is not conclusive, about 20% of the LMBS have the teeth patch on the tongue so it 's not a mean of differentiation.

The corner of the mouth even in level with the eye is the conclusive differentiation between a largemouth and a spot. The teethy patch on the tongue is not conclusive, about 20% of the LMBS have the teeth patch on the tongue so it 's not a mean of differentiation.

The corner of the mouth even in level with the eye is the conclusive differentiation between a largemouth and a spot. The teethy patch on the tongue is not conclusive, about 20% of the LMBS have the teeth patch on the tongue so it 's not a mean of differentiation.

I also believe if the dorsal fins are separated it's a LM. If it's one long dorsal fin it's a spot.

I also believe if the dorsal fins are separated it's a LM. If it's one long dorsal fin it's a spot.

I also believe if the dorsal fins are separated it's a LM. If it's one long dorsal fin it's a spot.

Nope. It's a Largie. Spots look like this:

Nope. It's a Largie. Spots look like this:

Nope. It's a Largie. Spots look like this:

The corner of the mouth even in level with the eye is the conclusive differentiation between a largemouth and a spot. The teethy patch on the tongue is not conclusive, about 20% of the LMBS have the teeth patch on the tongue so it 's not a mean of differentiation.

That depends, where I live LDWF says that for enforcement purposes a spoted bass is defined as  a black bass with a tooth patch on its tongue.

The corner of the mouth even in level with the eye is the conclusive differentiation between a largemouth and a spot. The teethy patch on the tongue is not conclusive, about 20% of the LMBS have the teeth patch on the tongue so it 's not a mean of differentiation.

That depends, where I live LDWF says that for enforcement purposes a spoted bass is defined as  a black bass with a tooth patch on its tongue.

The corner of the mouth even in level with the eye is the conclusive differentiation between a largemouth and a spot. The teethy patch on the tongue is not conclusive, about 20% of the LMBS have the teeth patch on the tongue so it 's not a mean of differentiation.

That depends, where I live LDWF says that for enforcement purposes a spoted bass is defined as  a black bass with a tooth patch on its tongue.

If you mean on your shirt and pants - yeah, those are definitely spots

If you mean on your shirt and pants - yeah, those are definitely spots

If you mean on your shirt and pants - yeah, those are definitely spots

Like most are saying, the very best way to tell is to check the jawline. The dorsal being connected and the tooth patch are inconclusive for the simple fact that both are often seen on largemouth.