argemouth bass are a popular fish species for both sport and food. This popularity creates an increased demand for the fish and a potentially lucrative enterprise for fish farmers. In some cases, largemouth bass can bring over $6 dollars per pound (live weight). The primary food fish market for largemouth bass is the Asian market in New York City.
Kentucky State University's (KYSU) Land Grant Program began working with largemouth bass more than 20 years ago. Initial research began in an effort to determine the causes of the high mortality rates that the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife had observed in their hatcheries over the winter. Over the years, KYSU's research expanded to include reproduction, larval feeding, production methods, feed development and marketing. Dr. Jim Tidwell, professor and chair of the School of Aquaculture and Aquatic Studies in the College of Agriculture, Communities, and the Environment, has dedicated many years to better understanding this species and to helping producers across Kentucky successfully produce largemouth bass.
Fish and Wildlife had observed in their hatcheries over the winter. Over the years, KYSU's research expanded to include reproduction, larval feeding, production methods, feed development and marketing. Dr. Jim Tidwell, professor and chair of the School of Aquaculture and Aquatic Studies in the College of Agriculture, Communities, and the Environment, has dedicated many years to better understanding this species and to helping producers across Kentucky successfully produce largemouth bass.
When the university began its research in the 1990s, there was little past research about the commercial production Robert Mayer and his family transformed their Nelson County tobacco farm in the late 1990s into a largemouth bass production facility. They tried shrimp at first, but found the old distillery ponds on the property were better suited for fish. The Mayers partnered with Kentucky State University to do some research and production of largemouth bass and have since grown to be the largest producer of food-size largemouth bass in Kentucky.