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.

Thanks for the info. I was under the impression that spotties liked warmer water. But, perhaps they just like stable water temps more than the others. As far as S.B. goes, it's a pretty small harbor right? They do like bigger bays, with lots of freshwater running in. A good example is Newport versus Dana Point. Newport is pretty large, with lots of freshwater coming in. Dana is small with almost no freshwater (definitely no streams or rivers). Sound like a good explanation?

Your post made Brian and I both think the same thing, if you can deal with a 50lb black in the shallows, then we can do it w/ piddly little yellowtail in the deep. Thanks for the demo. Did you use your crossbar like the LR guys do for cow tuna?

Amish Ed

Ed,
Pete's got the same float tube as I do (round boat) so if he didn't kill himself, I probably won't either... Yeah, it was pretty funny, I emailed Ed tellin him, hey, if Pete can catch 50# black seabass we should be able to catch 15# yellowtail, and he replied, "I was thinking the same thing". Har har.

That's a good point about the bay bass. Brian #2 caught one last year and I've heard of a couple others, but they definitely aren't here in any number. The SB harbor is very small and has no freshwater coming into it (streams, creeks etc.). The closest freshwater drainage is down the beach a ways from the harbor. There's plenty of sandies in the harbor though, and wsb as we all know... Them spotted suckers are weird. I wish we had some up here. Ed, you'll be happy to know that I bought myself a couple bags of zipper worms for use in the saltwater. I'll let you know what the results are up here.
-Brian

Just spent a small wad on more Brush Hogs and Brush bugs. Oh yeh, got a pack of Zippers too, just so I didn't feel wierd.

We may have the spotties down here, but I'd trade a few for you WSB. Perhaps they're incompatable? Because we do have those in Dana, though the legal ones are hard to find we have tons of 20"+.

Amish Ed

Ed, is that the key, the freshwater into the bay? I don't know about you, but I've caught way more seabass in DP then bay bass (who taught them the 28" limit, I think they bail when they hit 27 3\4!), but Newps isn't like that at all! San Diego Bay is also chock full of the spotties, but not as many seabass. Go figure. They do like the warm water, if you go to the Bay of LA or points south, or on the Pacific side way down towards Mag Bay, you can walk on the backs of the fat spotties if you need to get across the bay! I've never figured them out in Dana, but Newport is silly with them. They are one cool fish, though! Also the gold spotted bass, in the gulf, are really cool- usually deeper water then the spots, but same size range.

Gold Spotted Bass? Never heard of that one. Is it related to the Spotted Sand Bass (Spotted Bay), Barred Sand Bass, and Kelp Bass (Calico) or is it something completely different?

Just curious - this stuff interests me.

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

I know guys who target spotties at the small inlets of streams into bays, but I don't know if the freshwater is the key to having them around. Dana does have them, but they are smaller than their Newport brethren, and much less numerous. As of last friday though, NP was too cold for the spotties, but the sandies bit well.

Amish Ed

Gold Spotted Bass? Are you sure you aren't talking about the gold phase of the Leopard Grouper in the Cortez? They average 3-5#, most places, but I've heard of up to 26#ers. The biggest I've seen was a touch over 6#. Just wondering.

Tight lines,
Wade

Tight lines,
Wade

No bar - it was all arms! :) :) :)

Actually I tweaked some muscle in my back and was hurting on Sunday. It went away by Monday though. There was one time during the fight (right after I caught my first glimpse of his tail) where he turned and went straight under my tube. That was really wierd - seeing this big dark shape between my legs! Anyway he kind of tipped the boat a little backwards and to the side as I couldn't turn fast enough. Not enough to dump me but it made me concious of when he tried to do it again and so I was ready to turn quick.

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

Remember that some people would say Striped Marlin range to Anchorage Ak because one was caught near there by a Halibut angler year before last. Personally I've caught only 2 Calicos in Monterey Bay's Elkhorn Slough both on the same hottest day (both air and water temp) in 8 years. As for any of the other species you've mentioned I haven't seen them this far north.

Tight lines,
Wade