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Common name: Bass (sea bass)
Latin name: Dicentrarchus labrax
Record weight: Although bass of over
25 pounds have been captured by
commercial fisherman, the shore
and boat records are remarkably similar
at 19lb and 19lb 9oz respectively.
Distribution:
Bass are found right around
the coast of Europe from Scandinavia to the
Mediterranean. Most common in warmer
shallow water, particularly around the South
Coast of England and France. Found mainly around rocky
coasts where they come into very shallow water, often less than a metre deep.
Most common close to shore during the Summer months.
Features:
Few fish can be mistaken for the steely grey bullish looking bass. From
it's large muscular mouth to the thick sharpened rays in the dorsal fin, the
bass is a formidable looking fish. The two dorsal fins are of equal length, and
the bases just touch in the middle.
Diet: Young bass are
normally found feeding on small invertebrates in estuaries and close to the
shore. Molluscs are generally the major part of the diet, although other
seasonally available prey, such as peeler crabs can make up the bulk of the diet
for a time. Large bass become much more piscivorous, feeding upon young herring
off shore and young mackeral and sand eels when close to shore.
Spawning: Bass move
inshore to spawn during March through to June. There are now several marine
protection areas around the coast of Europe designed to protect the bass whilst
spawning and to give the young fish a chance to grow before being subjected to
the trawlers. Bass are scatter spawners, the eggs are carried by the currents,
being fertilised and then developing in the water column. By spawning in coastal
areas the young fish have a good chance of finding large amounts of microscopic
invertebrate food that form vast clouds in the nutrient-rich water.
Growth: Bass are
known to be very slow growing, and this is the main reason for their apparent
rarity in recent years. Large bass may take several decades to grow and so once
caught by trawlers they will not be replaced. Strict size limits, exclusion
zones and cleaner coastal waters are all helping populations of bass to become
re-established in many areas of Europe where over-fishing has seriously depleted
the population. When sport fishing, catch and release is encouraged to protect
this fine sporting fish