The redeye bass, redeye, or Coosa bass is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) native to the Coosa River system of Georgia, Alabama. The waters it is normally found in are cool streams and rivers in the foothills of mountains.
Redeye bass
Male Micropterus tallapoosae
Fly rod-caught redeye bass, Tallapoosa River, Tallassee, Alabama (Released)
Centrarchidae, better known as sunfishes, is a family of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the order Perciformes, native only to North America. There are eight universally included genera within the centrarchid family: Lepomis, Micropterus, Pomoxis (crappies), Enneacanthus, Centrarchus, Archoplites, Ambloplites, and Acantharchus. A genetic study in 2012 suggests that the highly distinct pygmy sunfishes of the genus Elassoma are also centrarchids.
Image: Centrarchus macropterus (1)
Image: Centrarchidae Native Range
smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu)
Centrarchidae Native Range