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Bass (/bæs/; pl.: bass) is a generic common name shared by many species of ray-finned fish from the large clade Percomorpha, mainly belonging to the orders Perciformes and Moroniformes, encompassing both freshwater and marine species. The word bass comes from Middle English bars, meaning "perch",^[1] despite that none of the commonly referred bass species belong to the perch family Percidae.

• The black basses, such as the Choctaw bass (Micropterus haiaka), Guadalupe bass (M. treculii), largemouth bass (M. salmoides), smallmouth bass (M. dolomieu), and spotted bass (M. punctulatus), belong to the genus Micropterus of the sunfish family Centrarchidae.
• The temperate basses, such as the European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and white bass (M. chrysops), belong to the two extant genera Dicentrarchus and Morone of the family Moronidae.
• The Asian seabasses, such as the Japanese seabass (Lateolabrax japonicus) and Blackfin seabass (L. latus), belong to the genus Lateolabrax of the family Lateolabracidae.

Many species are also known as basses,^[2] including:

• The Australian bass, Macquaria novemaculeata, is a member of the temperate perch family Percichthyidae.
• The black sea bass, Centropristis striata, is a member of the sea bass and sea grouper family Serranidae.
• The Chilean sea bass, Dissostichus eleginoides, also known as the Patagonian toothfish, is a member of the cod icefish family Nototheniidae.
• The giant sea bass Stereolepis gigas, also known as the black sea bass, is a member of the wreckfish family Polyprionidae.
• The "lanternbellies" or "temperate ocean-basses", Acropomatidae.
• The "butterfly peacock bass", Cichla ocellaris, is a member of the cichlid family, Cichlidae and a prized game fish along with its relatives in the genus Cichla.

Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass are the most popular game fish in North America.^[3]

It is also very popular in South Africa. In the country, largemouth bass are often found in lakes, rivers, creeks, and dams.

When fishing, lures (Bass worms), live bait, spinner baits, jig bait or crank bait will work well. Lures that mimic baitfish, worms, crayfish, frogs, and mice are all effective.

• "Bass, the name of various trimly shaped, active, gamy fishes of both fresh and salt water" . Encyclopedia Americana. 1920.