Giant sea bass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Giant sea bass |
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The giant sea bass (Stereolepis gigas) is a huge fish found in the northern Pacific Ocean. Even though it's called a "sea bass," it's actually a type of fish called a wreckfish. Wreckfish belong to the family Polyprionidae. This means it's not a true sea bass, which belongs to the family Serranidae.
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What is a Giant Sea Bass?
Giant sea bass are known for their amazing size. Some have been reported to be over 8.2 feet (2.5 m) long. They can weigh as much as 562 pounds (255 kg)! That's like the weight of a small car. In the past, some were even said to weigh 800 pounds (360 kg).
These fish also live for a very long time. They become adults around 11 or 12 years old. At this age, they weigh about 50 pounds (23 kg). The biggest giant sea bass can be over 7 ft long. Scientists think these really big ones might be 75 years old or even older!
Where Do They Live?
Giant sea bass live in the eastern North Pacific. Their home stretches from Humboldt Bay in California down to the Gulf of California in Mexico. They are most common from Point Conception southwards. You can also find them around Japan in the northwestern Pacific.
These fish usually stay near kelp forests. They also like rocky areas, drop-offs, or sandy and muddy ocean floors. Young giant sea bass live in shallower water, around 69 feet (21 m) deep. Adult fish are found deeper, usually below 66 feet (20 m). Young giant sea bass are bright red or orange. As they get older, their colors change to more muted gray or brown.
What Do Giant Sea Bass Eat?
In kelp forests, the giant sea bass is the top hunter, also known as the apex predator. They eat many different types of food. Their diet includes crustaceans, like crabs, and a wide variety of other fish.
For giant sea bass living off the coast of California, their main foods are anchovies and croaker. They also enjoy eating mackerel, sheephead, whitefish, sand bass, and several kinds of crab. Even though they are huge and look heavy, giant sea bass can move surprisingly fast. They can even outswim quick fish like bonito!
History and Protecting the Giant Sea Bass
People started fishing for giant sea bass for fun in the late 1800s. In the 20th century, many were caught off the coasts of Central and Southern California. The most fish were caught in 1932. Giant sea bass used to be very common in Southern California waters. But by the 1980s, their numbers had dropped so much that they were almost gone from the California coast. This is called local extinction.
Giant sea bass were also a popular target for spearfishermen. In the 1970s, spearfishing for this species became illegal in California. This happened after some divers caught many fish and tried to sell them illegally. Fish and Game wardens found out because of marks left on the fish.
Protecting the Species
By the late 1970s, scientists realized the giant sea bass population was in trouble. So, in 1982, new rules were put in place. These rules protected the fish from both commercial fishing and sport fishing. In 1996, the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) listed the giant sea bass as critically endangered. This means they are at a very high risk of disappearing forever.
Since the protection began, it's thought that the number of giant sea bass in California might be growing. However, there isn't a lot of exact data to confirm this yet. A big step happened in 2016 when the first successful captive breeding of the species took place at the Aquarium of the Pacific. This means baby giant sea bass were born in a controlled environment.
In 2018, it was estimated that there were about 500 giant sea bass in California. About 40 to 50 of these fish return to Catalina Island each year to lay their eggs.
Conservation in Mexico
Scientists are still studying giant sea bass in Mexico. More than half of where these fish live is in Mexican waters. In Mexico, the giant sea bass is called mero gigante. Efforts are being made to count the fish and understand how fishing affects them.
In the past, many giant sea bass were caught in Mexico. Before 1964, commercial fishermen caught over 200,000 pounds (91,000 kg) of these fish each year. Rules have changed over time to protect them. For example, in 1988, U.S. fishermen were only allowed to catch one giant sea bass per trip if it was caught by accident. Mexican fishermen have caught an average of 55 tonnes (55,000 kg) of giant sea bass each year for over half a century.
