how can you tell a small hybrid from a sand bass. i know how to tell a big hybrid form a sand bass because sand bass don't grow as big.

i don't want to make a mistake and accidentally keep a hybrid.

i know the hybrid population on lake ray hubbard isnt the greatest. so if i catch a hybrid i want to be able to let it go and only keep the sandies.

I'm no expert but I'm sure some of the experts will chime in soon. For me the big sandies are easy to tell apart and if I'm not sure I throw it back. The two look alike when they are very young when the sandies are barely legal size. A 10-11 inch sandies doesn't have alot of meat so I only keep 12 inch or bigger.

I always go by the tooth patch. Here is the link to TPWD that shows the difference

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

Besides the tooth patch thing that I have never figured out, you can look at the lines on the fish. Sandbass have a lateral line that extends along the center of the side of the fish all the way to the tail with no complete lines to the tail below it.

Hybrids have at least one line below the center line that extends all the way to the tail with multiple broken lines below it. Ill try and find some good pictures to add!

Here ya go

If it looks really mad and tries to slice your finger open, it's a hybrid. The tooth patch thing will get you into trouble unless you know for sure what you are looking at. Once you catch a lot of both, you'll know the difference. What Rap trap put on here is perfect!!! The true question is how you tell the difference between a ditch pickle and a yellow bass

well i think that clears it up, thanks guys.

Rap Trap: ill see ya out there tonight