Largemouth bass with small heads

[FCPhil]

I found a new spot where I can catch quality largemouth bass, but I have noticed all the bass I have caught have unusually small heads. Anyone know what this means? They are all pretty fat, but their heads are even small for their length, not just their weight. (BTW they are not smallmouth or spotted bass if that is what you are thinking...)

[GreenPig]

Any pics?

[WRB]

Healthy fast growing bass have heads smaller then their body size vs slower growing bass. It takes about 4 years for bass to be adults and jaws start getting mature size.

Tom

[Bluebasser86]

They're just growing fast. Sounds like you found a good body of water. 

[the reel ess]

It probably means they're above average weight for fish their age. That's a good thing. It means they have plenty of forage and they're healthy and you get to catch bigger fish that are less experienced than the average fish their size.

[Paul Roberts]

Fast growth is what I've assumed also. It means a good start for those fish. How far they can go, though, depends in large part on there plenty of being appropriate food available for each size class. Most of my waters -and I know your are similar- the bass have a tough time breaking the 18-20" length. Length -"frame size" as it's been called- is needed for truly BIG bass. This is why I'm more apt to measure fish, rather than weigh them. I believe length tells me more about the BIG bass potential for that water. Most of our waters can grow some 18" bass. But these fish are, on average, 8years old here. They often decline after this. Some can live much longer, but continued growth depends in large on appropriate food.