white seabass
{{Short description|Species of fish}}
{{inline citations needed|date=June 2024}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Atractoscion nobilis mspc096.jpg
| image_upright = 1.15
| image_caption =
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| taxon = Atractoscion nobilis
| authority = (Ayres, 1860)
| range_map = Atractoscion nobilis map.svg
}}
The white seabass or white weakfish, Atractoscion nobilis, is a species of croaker occurring from Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, to Juneau, Alaska. They usually travel in schools over deep rocky bottoms (0–122 m) and in and out of kelp beds.
Description
Image:Atractoscion nobilis mspc097.gif
The body of the white seabass is elongate, and somewhat compressed. The head is pointed and slightly compressed. The mouth is large, with a row of small teeth in the roof; the lower jaw slightly projects. The color is bluish to gray above, with dark speckling, becoming silver below. The young have several dark vertical bars. The white seabass is closely related to the California corbina, but is the only California member of the croaker family to exceed 20 pounds in weight. The largest recorded specimen was over 5 feet, 93.1 pounds. They are most easily separated from other croakers by the presence of a ridge running the length of the belly.
C
The diet of white seabass includes fishes, especially anchovies and sardines, and squid. At times, large fish are found which have eaten only Pacific mackerel. At the minimum legal length of 28 inches, the average white seabass is about 5 years of age, weighs about 7.5 pounds and has been sexually mature for at least one spawning season.
Fishing
File:Ensenada fish market 2.jpg, Mexico]]
White seabass are fished primarily with live bait in relatively shallow water, but they will also take a fast-trolled spoon, artificial squid or bone jig. Live squid appear to be the best bait for a white seabass, but large anchovies and medium-size sardines are also good. At times, large white seabass will bite only on fairly large, live Pacific mackerel. The young of this species are exceptionally vulnerable to sport anglers for two reasons: The first is that as juveniles they inhabit shallow nearshore areas, bays, and estuaries, and the second is that they are not easily recognized as white seabass by the average angler. Commonly, these young fish are mistakenly called "sea trout" because of their sleek profile and vertical bars or "parr marks".{{Citation needed|reason=These fish is remarkably similar to the Spotted Weakfish which is also well known as Spotted Sea Trout or Speckled Trout along the American Gulf Coast region which could also lead to anglers calling them sea trout rather than a lack of education, greater angling experience that would lead to the regionally differed nomenclature|date=August 2018}} To add to the confusion, these bars fade as the fish grows.
In California, there is a minimum 28 inch size limit and current fishing regulations should be checked concerning bag limits.
References
{{reflist}}
- Much of this article is copied from [http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/mspcont3.html#seabass California Marine Sportfish] by the California Department of Fish and Game, Marine Region; a public domain resource.[http://www.dfg.ca.gov/html/conditions.html#ownership]
- {{FishBase|genus=Atractoscion|species=nobilis|year=2006|month=5}}
- World Record Information taken from [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_1748238.php http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_1748238.php] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724074303/http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_1748238.php |date=2014-07-24 }}
External links
{{Commons category|Atractoscion nobilis}}
- [http://www.sbsea.org Santa Barbara Sea] - A non-profit organization dedicated to restoring the White Seabass' population in the California Bight.
- [https://castandspear.com/white-sea-bass/ White Seabass Fishing Guide]
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