The largemouth bass is marked by a series of dark blotches forming a jagged horizontal stripe along the length of each side. It can also be totally black. The upper jaw of a largemouth bass extends beyond the back of the eye. The average bass weighs 1 to 3 pounds and measures between 12 and 18 inches long.The largest of the black basses, the Largemouth has reached a maximum recorded overall length of 97 cm (38 in), and a maximum recorded weight of 22 lb, 4 oz (10 kg, 113 g). It can live as long as 23 years, and, along with the black crappie, is also known as the Oswego bass.-----------------------The largemouth bass's diet changes as it matures, consuming mostly small food items such as plankton and insects as juveniles. As adults their eating habits mature to include small fish, crayfish, and frogs. Largemouth bass have even been known to take small mammals such as mice, rats and small birds. Under the cover of grass, brush, or drop-offs, the largemouth bass will use its sense of smell, sight, and hearing to attack and seize their prey, although they mainly rely on sight.