Hobbies And Interests
Early Stages of Life
White sea bass spawn in the early spring between March and July. The eggs float freely among kelp in shallow waters. This shallow water provides young sea bass with protection from most natural predators. They feed on anchovies, sardines and small squid, and sometimes move from the safety of the shallow coastal waters to the open ocean. Juvenile white sea bass have dark stripes on their sides. Young white sea bass are not sexually mature until they are about 2 years old.
Adulthood
The adult sea bass spends most of its life traveling in schools in the open ocean. It returns to shallow coastal regions in the spring to spawn in the kelp beds off the western coast of the United States. The average adult white sea bass can reach up to 5 feet and weigh more than 90 pounds. Adults have a long body, large mouth and a ridge along the side of the body. They are slate or grey-blue, and copper colored on the dorsal portion of the body. White sea bass can live as long as 15 years.
Diet
The white sea bass diet consists mostly of anchovies, squid and sardines. It will eat larger fish, such as mackerel, when it becomes an adult. The young white sea bass sometimes returns to the kelp beds and rocky outcrops off the western coast of the United States to feed on mackerel and other fish spawning in kelp beds. White sea bass feed on pelagic crab and any small fish in their hunting area.
Conservation
Commercial fishing of white sea bass is regulated to protect overfishing. Most that are caught by commercial fishing expeditions are approximately 5 years old. A white sea bass may not be captured until it is old enough to have at least one spawning cycle. Sport anglers may keep white sea bass that are at least 28 inches long. The white sea bass is currently an abundant ocean fish.