State wildlife officials have certified a state record Alabama bass, an invasive species, caught on Parksville Reservoir in Polk County, Tennessee.
The 7-pound, 3-ounce fish was caught by angler Caleb Bell on the Ocoee River and tops the previous Parksville Reservoir state record of 7 pounds even set by Shane McKee in 2014, according to a Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency statement. Parksville Reservoir is created by the Ocoee Dam on the downstream end of the reservoir.
Alabama bass are an invasive species illegally introduced in Tennessee, wildlife officials said in the statement. They can cause harm to the environment, economy and health of humans or native species. Alabama bass affect numerous Tennessee River reservoirs, competing with native species for resources.
Alabama bass jeopardize native bass populations, including smallmouth bass, through hybridization and competition for resources, officials said. Although Alabama bass have somewhat higher growth rates upon initial introduction to new places, this is typically a short-lived phenomenon, and those fish tend to overpopulate and remain relatively small.
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