It was considered to be conspecific with the largemouth bass (M. nigricans), albeit as a subspecies; however, more recently it has been treated as a valid species.

[2][3] A 2022 phylogenomic study supported its status as a valid species but found that it was more widespread than previously thought.

If this is the case then the correct binomial for the Florida bass is M. salmoides with M. floridanus as a junior synonym.

The mouth is large, the upper jaw extends to the rear beyond the eye in adults and there are no teeth on the tongue.

Although this species may prosper in many aquatic environments, it tends to be most numerous in warm, densely vegetated eutrophic lakes, rivers and reservoirs.