I found this stuff kind of interesting so I thought I'd pass it along. I was researching what I actually caught and found that the true "Black Sea Bass" is this fish in the "sea bass" group (along with Kelp (Calico), Barred Sand, and Spotted Sand Bass) that lives on the east coast and grows to about 24". Sounds as if it is very similar to the bass we have here. What I caught is a Giant Sea Bass and is in the temporate bass group (along with Striped Bass, White Bass, White Perch, etc.). Also it is spelled "Sea Bass" unlike the White Seabass which is spelled as one word "Seabass". Of course we all know that WSB are actually croakers.

Another interesting note is the Spotted Sand Bass can be found as far north as Monterey. I was under the impression that they were rare here in Santa Barbara. The Barred Sand Bass goes up to Santa Cruz and the Kelp (Calico) goes up to the Columbia River in Oregon. The Spotted Sand Bass is found further south than the other two.

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You can't catch tomorrow what you kill today - please practice catch and release.