I still struggle a little distinguishing the small hybrids from the sandies. What key things help with a positive id?
anyone have a foolproof way of telling?

patches of teeth on the tongue. two for Hybrids & one for sandies.

Sandbass typically have only one dark stripe on the side, with the rest looking faded. Hybrids have several distinct dark stripes with some broken lines. Their eyes are somewhat smaller in proportion to their bodies than a sandbass at the sizes I think you're referring to - I assume you're referring to over 10" fish & don't want to accidentally keep an undersize hybrid by mistake.

The tooth patch on a sandy is triangular shaped & very obviously a single patch. On a hybrid there are two patches, but on the smaller fish they're so closely spaced that it may look like a single patch. However, the hybrids tooth patch will be elongated rather than triangular.

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Yellow Bass
A Does not have a tooth patch near the midline towards the back of the tongue.
B Stripes distinct, broken above anal fin.
C Dorsal fins joined.
D Color - silvery yellow

White Bass
A Has one tooth patch near the midline towards the back of the tongue.
B Body deep, more than 1/3 length.
C Stripes faint, only one extends to tail.



Striped Bass
A Has two, distinct tooth patches near the midline towards the back of the tongue.
B Body slender, less than 1/3 length.
C Stripes distinct, several extend to tail.



Hybrid Striped Bass
A Has two, distinct tooth patches near the midline towards the back of the tongue.
B Body deep, more than 1/3 length.
C Stripes distinct, usually broken, several extend to tail.

It can be difficult especially in the summertime when the water is warm and there is a lot of activity. More oxygen from aquatic plants, boats and warmer waters allow the fish to move like fighter jets as they attack shad and other prey. A good rule is: When in doubt, just put em back for you or someone else to fight another day. Don't get caught with under fish. It's not worth the fine. If it�s a hybrid and you can�t tell it�s probably not legal. Along with what has been said already here are a few things to think about. Hybrids grow longer and heavier than whites do. Most every time you hook a hybrid it fights more wildly than a SB. Large hybrids will rip drag and straighten or break hooks if they don't snap your line 1st. When hooked, Hybrids tend to dive where Sand bass tend to run sideways and circle. When you feel the hybrid in your hands compared to a SB the Hybrid feels more stiff, tuff and muscular. Also you can see and tell tells the TPWD illustrates. I think Bill171 has referred to a portion of this page in his response. Here is the link:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/wbass_diagrams.phtml

So many fish...So little Time!

+1

"{quote}Most every time you hook a hybrid it fights more wildly than a SB." fiSH ZoMbiE



Hybrids that are 10 inches can be difficult. But if he fights like he77 when you touch him throw him back.

it takes a while to learn but you will get it

Just ask the fish "Are you a sand bass or a hybrid?" If it doesn't say anything, than it's a yellow bass trying to make you think it's not a yellow bass

Seriously though, if in doubt throw it back, like someone else suggested. As you catch more sand bass & hybrids, you'll learn the difference on how they fight and and the differences in their markings.

However, if you catch one that has long whiskers, is dark brown and has a big flat head, it's probably a carp

hey, I resemble that statement!

This comes up several times every spring. Here is the best thing to do. Go get the TPWD annual publication. It has pictures of the tooth patches in it showing the difference between yellows, whites, hybrids, and stripers. Do not trust the body stripes ever. I will promise you that if a fish is in question a TPWD Game Warden will check the tooth path not the body stripes or shape.