Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Sea Bass
(Centropristis striata)

Sea Bass

The black sea bass is an exclusively marine fish, also known as sea basses and blackfish. It is a type of Grouper (Serranidae) found more commonly in northern than in southern ranges.

Black sea bass feed on crab, bluecrab, juvenile lobster, shrimp, mollusks, small fish, herring, menhaden and squid.They mainly feed on bottom-feeding organisms.

The average sea bass weighs about 1½ lb (680 g). The world record bass is 9 lb 8 oz (4,309 g),

It inhabits the coasts from Maine to NE Florida and the eastern Gulf of Mexico. They are most abundant off the waters of New York. They can be found in inshore waters (bays and sounds) and offshore in waters up to a depth of 130 m (425'). They spend most of their time close to the sea floor and are often congregated around bottom formations such as rocks, man-made reefs, wrecks, jetties, piers, and bridge pilings.