Bass Eating Bass!

[S_Miketa6]

I bet some other people have seen this but this past summer while fishing a tournament I saw probably a 3lb smallie dead floating in the water with about a 2lb'er in his mouth also dead. Can anyone tell me what might of possessed that fish to eat another of his kind, I understand survival of the fittest but anyone have an idea as to why it might of done this??

[Bluebasser86]

Bass aren't shy about eating each other. I've had big bass attack smaller bass while I was reeling them in several times. To a bass another smaller bass is just another baitfish. 

[ROCbass]

I bet some other people have seen this but this past summer while fishing a tournament I saw probably a 3lb smallie dead floating in the water with about a 2lb'er in his mouth also dead. Can anyone tell me what might of possessed that fish to eat another of his kind, I understand survival of the fittest but anyone have an idea as to why it might of done this??

It was hungry.

[S_Miketa6]

Ya I can see that, just was curious if there was a certin reason, but I guess if they're hungry they're hungry!!!

[Dyerbassman]

Bass have no problem eating their friends.

[pbizzle]

I bet some other people have seen this but this past summer while fishing a tournament I saw probably a 3lb smallie dead floating in the water with about a 2lb'er in his mouth also dead. Can anyone tell me what might of possessed that fish to eat another of his kind, I understand survival of the fittest but anyone have an idea as to why it might of done this??

Ever used a baby bass colored crankbait? Same thing.

[S_Miketa6]

Good point, just thought it was odd, especially from some decent sized fish!

[bassguytom]

A case of it bit off more than it could chew. Bass will eat their own kind if they are smaller then them. That is why when you find bass schooling they are all around the same size.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

If it had been a 4lb. smallie it probably could've eaten the 2lber no problem. 

[Sam]

A number of times I have been reeling in one bass and another has come up and attacked it.

 

Really gets me upset as I like to release all bass alive and unharmed.

 

When this happens you can see how fast a bass can travel in the water as the unhooked one hits the hooked one.

[georgeyew]

Too funny! I googled the exact same search term last night. I bought a baby bass colored prop bait last night, and I was second guessing myself about the color. I wondered if/why bass would eat it's own kind. But this post made me more relaxed about my purchase. I guess that there would not be a baby bass pattern if it did not catch fish. Thanks guys.

[McFurie]

bill dance once said an 18 inch lmb is capable of eating a 12 inch bass

[Snakehead Whisperer]

This topic has been discussed at great length before. 

 

Really wish I could give credit to whomever posted this originally, but I don't recall who it is. Saved this image from the gallery when I stumbled upon it because I liked it so much. 

[dreamertino]

Bass are preadators, they will try to eat anything. If they think they can fit it in their mouth they will try. A buddy of mine has a pond that has no bait fish in it but the bass are still living they are feeding on something. We saw a few tadpole around the rim of the pond but they have to eat just like we do. If pushed to the point of starvation people have eaten people. Never rule out anything in nature

[Khong]

I bet some other people have seen this but this past summer while fishing a tournament I saw probably a 3lb smallie dead floating in the water with about a 2lb'er in his mouth also dead. Can anyone tell me what might of possessed that fish to eat another of his kind, I understand survival of the fittest but anyone have an idea as to why it might of done this??

 

Animal instinct!  You eat to grow so you don't get eat!  It's a big lake and you need to be the biggest fish out there.