Dominant and aggressive?

[Catt]

Which are more dominant and aggressive?

Bass over 10 pounds

Bass under 10 pounds

[Long Mike]

Dominant and aggressive?  Er, I think you are talking about my wife.  She's a red-headed Cajun.  ;D ;D

[Panamoka_Bassin]

Well, up here on Long Island, a 10# fish is HUGE and doesn't happen very often.  Putting it into local terms, say above or below 5 pounds, I think that below the mark the fish are more dominant and aggressive, but when that big cow decides she wants something, you'll see her make a wake as she comes for a bait.  Does that make it more aggressive?  Dunno, but I've seen 2 pounders school after a bait while I've never seen more than one large fish come after a bait at once.

Just my $0.02...

[edbassmaster]

definitely under...go look at the fish tank at any bass pro when the diver goes in and feeds them. I actually see the small bass take food right out of the 8-15lb bass' mouth

[earthworm77]

It is realtive to where you fish. On LI, there just aren't numbers of larger fish for you to experience them schooling like that. I knew of a few places where I could watch a pod of fish that size swim in and out of the shallows all day. I'm sure they are still there. Since I've moved to Fl., the story is much different. Here the fish have a longer season to grow and there are more larger fish. That said.....generally smaller fish 2lbs and under are more agressive. Suicidal at times. At certain times of the year larger fish can be like that but it isn't the norm. Larger fish are more dominant in that they are extremely territorial. One thing I've found is that if I'm catching smaller fish at a good clip and then the action simply stops, a larger fish may have moved into the area. Granted a 5 or 10lb bass may not regularly snack on a 2lb bass but the fear factor of a larger predator sends the smaller fish running for cover at times.

[Peter E.]

You know Catt that is a great question and it is up for debate in alot of circles. Doug Hannon, who as you know, is one of if not the leading expert in big bass. His stand on the matter, and I agree, is that the biggest fish in the system are the most aggresive. He contends that those fish had to be in order to reach such size. He also contends that for this reason these large fish are the first to be caught in an area when man is introduced because of their aggressive tendencies. It is because of this that these fish are so few in number. This is what makes most fishermen beleive that these fish are shy and elusive. This is why he says that fishermen need to seek out secluded places with certain conditions to catch the biggest fish.

Peter

[gatrboy53]

smaller bass are more aggressive even around larger bass.it is proven that when smaller bass are thrashing a school of bait the larger fish wait patiently underneath the school for a easy meal.the larger the fish the greater the metabolism.large bass will not expend as much energy to chase for food.

in the animal world bigger is badder.and for bass who are territorial in nature a bigger bass will always kick a little basses butt.

more aggressive=small bass

more dominant=large bass

[Guest avid]

size matters

the largest bass are the most dominant.

It's possible that some stupid little yearlings have very aggressive genes.

But the 10 lbers didn't get that way by letting the other bass beat them to prime cuisine.

[Nick_Barr]

Under 10= More Aggresive

Over 10= Dominant

    I believe the smaller ones are aggresive due to trying to survive. The big ones are not as aggresive I believe, they just wait for bigger prey to come by.

[Peter E.]

Well we all agree that these bigg bass are more dominant, well think on this a sec, Now a study was done a while back and they had a write up about it in BassMasters and I think it may have even been batted around on this site.

Big Bass get to where they get set in their ways and begin to preffer certain prey to others. I reckon its about like you and I they like what they like, I will attack oysters over a steak while ya'll might throw out the oysters and opt. for the steak, Savvy?

Those bass will not hesitate to knock those younger fish out of the way to get to that preffered prey. Avid put it best, they are not going to allow the smaller fish to eat that preffered Cuisine. That is how they got big in the first place being aggressively territorial and a voracious eater. That is why they break from schools, to cut down on comp. Once they set up that home range they will do a number on intruders. Although I have seen some blue gill do a number on them.

As far as dominate and aggressive, my dream fish is a five pound bream!

[Catt]

By definition can one be dominate and not be aggressive?

You think the bigger bass would hesitate and let the smaller fish have its prey?

[MALTESE FALCON]

UNDER 10=MORE AGGRESSIVE

OVER 10=MORE DOMINANT

I AGREE WITH NICK BARR ABOUT THE SMALLER ONES BEING MORE AGGRESSIVE TO SURVIVE.

[Guest avid]

In boxing, one of scoring criteria is "effective aggression"

One fighter can attack relentlessly but landing few telling blows, while the "effective" fighter throws fewer punches but the connect percentage is higher.

Let's get away from feeding for a moment.

Who do you think will occupy the prime spawning sites? The "aggresive" smaller fish or the bruisers who will fiercely and with highly effective aggresion, defend the prime reporductive assets?

[Guest the_muddy_man]

OH OH IM Sorry I thought this post was about mother in laws

[George Welcome]

Smaller are more aggressive for one simple reason - a higher metabolic rate per unit weight.

In the animal kingdom dominance is not necessarily related to size - whether their is a dominance in the world of bass is a study that is still out to lunch.

[Guest avid]

Smaller are more aggressive for one simple reason - a higher metabolic rate per unit weight.

In the animal kingdom dominance is not necessarily related to size - whether their is a dominance in the world of bass is a study that is still out to lunch.

I'm not sure I can agree with that George.  Of course there are variables such as age, health, diet etc.  But for the sake of argument let's assume that all variables are equal except size.

Reproductive rights to females are earned by the dominant i.e. Alpha males.

When rams butt horns, deer tangle antlers, canines fight etc. The winner is any particular species is generally a pretty large speciman.  The smaller and according to your pradigm more aggresive males may defeat aging or ailing alpha males, but in the animal world it seems size does truly matter.

[George Welcome]

In the world of Bass, the males that perform the act are those that are present, not those that have won some sort of battle for the position. For that matter, not just one male fertilizes the eggs of the female. Nor does the female hang around long enough for all the eggs to be nudged out of her. Rather, in most cases the eggs are laid over more than one nest, and several males fertilize the eggs.

[FIN-S-R]

Bigger Bass are selectivley as agressive as smaller fish, and are of course more dominant due to size. Now in "pristine" water that has never been fished, these big fish have not been conditioned so they eat whatever they have a chance at due to their oppurtunistic nature. But in the real world the big fish are big because they have figured out how to make a living without losing to a hook. Their agression has been conditioned and thus they are selectively agressive toward those food sources that they recognize as that which sustains life. This theory really doenst apply during the spawn, but I have noticed greater reluctance from larger females to "kick" an intruder out of the nest than from smaller females. now a male bass...just plain stupid wether it s a 12incher or a 3 lber..those males just aint all that bright.

[senile1]

I wouldn't say the male's aggressive behavior on the nest is because of stupidity.  I would say it is because of instinct.  The male role is to protect the nest at all costs, at least until a couple of weeks after the eggs hatch.  The female's role is to carry eggs and deposit them.  If she wears herself out chasing predators from the nest, she will be less likely to deposit healthy eggs.  

[WhiteMike1018]

I would say definately under. This makes me believe why bass under 10 are hard to catch!

[Catt]

Big bass will not only be found occupying the prime spawning areas but living on the prime structure/cover. This is considered as being DOMINANT, if they are not the most aggressive how could they keep these positions?

[Guest avid]

I was watching boxing on tv last night and something occured to me related to this thread.

It will contradict my earlier post, but that's what happens sometimes when a person thinks.

The lighter weight division fighters are highly aggressive in their technique.  Many punches thrown, fierce clashes and non stop fury.  The heavyweights are much more measured.  They take their time.  They are bruisers capable of delivering a knock out blow with one puch.

To extend this analogy to bass fishing.

The smaller bass are more aggressive.  Dashing quickly in to grab bait for example.

The larger bass are less aggressive.  they don't go running dashing in and out.  They don't have to.  The can sit in the prime territory below the shad school.  And easily pick off the crippled bait, injured by the aggressive smaller fish.

They are dominant because of size.

A highly aggressive lightweight fighter (135 lbs.) has virtually no chance of defeating a less aggressive yet enourmously more powerful heavyweight.

Dominance........large bass

Aggressiveness.......smaller bass

Avid has spoken  

[Catt]

Very good avid, but when that smaller bass dashes in quickly to grab a bait and the larger bass inhales the smaller bass who's more aggressive?

Again I'll ask how can one be dominate and not be aggressive?

Was Sugar Ray Leonard not dominate in his weight class by being the most aggressive?

Or how about Ali, Holyfeild, or Tyson?

I love making people think   ;D

[senile1]

Big bass are dominant but that doesn't mean they aren't aggressive.  It just means they temper their aggression with experience, and therefore, they exhibit less aggression than smaller fish.  Muhammad Ali is a great example of this, Catt.  Often, he would back-pedal and do his roper-dope while the other fighter flailed away aggressively.  Ali would save his energy and make his punches count while the more aggressive fighter missed many of his punches.  According to the definition of the word, aggressive, small bass are the most aggressive, but their aggression doesn't result in as much success in feeding and survival as the actions of the bigger bass.  Aggression tempered with knowing when to hold back is the key.  

ag[ch8231]gres[ch8231]sive[ch8194]

adjective

1. characterized by or tending toward unprovoked offensives, attacks, invasions, or the like; militantly forward or menacing: aggressive acts against a neighboring country.  

2. making an all-out effort to win or succeed; competitive: an aggressive basketball player.  

3. vigorously energetic, esp. in the use of initiative and forcefulness: an aggressive salesperson.  

[Catt]

AGGRESSIVE implies a disposition to dominate often in disregard of others' rights or in determined and energetic pursuit of one's ends

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

Through aggression one accomplishes dominances