Black Sea Bass

Centopristis striata

 

http://links.baruch.sc.edu/Data/BlackSeaBass/images/bsbadultfemale[1].jpg

• Distinguishing characteristics:   They are bluish to black in color and have the appearance of vertical white stripes.

 

In the Wild

• Habitat:  They live in saltwater near rocky bottoms.
• Diet:  Adults eat crabs, mussels,  and clams.
• Predators:  Larger fish can eat juvenile black sea bass.
• Size:  They can get up to 2 feet in the wild.
• Life Span:  They can live up to 20 years.

 

 

In the Aquatics Lab

• Diet:  Squid
• Size:  3-4”
• Quantity:  1

 

Other information

• Virginia Regulations:  Currently, you can keep 15 fish per person that are over 12.5 inches.
• Commercial Uses:  Black sea bass is a highly sought after by the commercial fishing fleets in the Bay.