Kelp bass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kelp bass |
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Labrax clathratus Girard, 1854 |
The kelp bass is a cool fish that lives in the ocean. It's also called the bull bass or calico bass. This fish is a type of sea bass and belongs to a family of fish that includes groupers. You can find kelp bass in the eastern North Pacific Ocean, off the coast of North America. It's a popular fish for both people who fish for fun and those who fish for a living.
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What Does a Kelp Bass Look Like?
The kelp bass has a long, somewhat flat body. It has a pointed snout and a large mouth. Its mouth opens wide, almost to the middle of its eye. The lower part of its jaw sticks out a bit. It even has teeth all over the roof of its mouth!
This fish has a large spine on the edge of its gill cover. Its top fin, called the dorsal fin, has 10 strong spines and 13-14 soft rays. The third and fourth spines are the longest. The fin on its belly, called the anal fin, has 3 spines and 7 soft rays. Its tail fin is mostly flat.
Colors and Patterns
Young kelp bass are light brown. Adult fish are brown to olive-green on top, getting lighter underneath. The top of their head has light yellow spots. Their body has black, white, or olive-green blotches. You can also see rows of white, rectangle-shaped spots along their back.
Male kelp bass have an orange tint on their lower jaw and chin. A special thing about this fish is the colorful spots under its belly. This is why it's sometimes called the "calico bass," like a calico cat with many colors!
Kelp bass can grow quite large. They can reach up to 72 centimeters (about 28 inches) long. The heaviest one ever recorded weighed about 7 kilograms (around 15 pounds).
Where Do Kelp Bass Live?
Kelp bass live in the eastern North Pacific Ocean. You can find them along the western coast of North America. Their home range stretches from central California south to the very tip of Baja California in Mexico.
They used to live further north, even near the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington State. However, they are now rare north of a place called Point Conception in California.
Kelp Bass Homes and Habits
Kelp bass live in water that is not too deep, usually from the surface down to about 61 meters (200 feet). They really love kelp and are almost always found living in kelp forests. These underwater forests provide them with everything they need.
Life in the Kelp Forest
Kelp bass use different parts of the kelp forest for various activities. Young kelp bass hide among the kelp blades and other seaweed. This helps them stay safe from bigger fish. Adult kelp bass prefer deeper, rocky areas. Their larger size helps protect them from predators.
Kelp bass are mostly active during the day. They like to stay near cover or in shady spots. This helps them see their prey better and catch it. They usually stay in their own home areas, which can be quite large. They might even get curious about new things in their territory!
What Do Kelp Bass Eat?
What kelp bass eat changes as they grow up. Young kelp bass eat tiny creatures called zooplankton and small animals that live on the seafloor. As they get a bit older, they eat small crustaceans (like crabs or shrimp), brittle stars, and small fish.
Adult kelp bass are mostly fish eaters. They also eat cephalopods (like squid) and larger crustaceans. If there's a lot of zooplankton around, kelp bass of all ages will eat it.
Kelp Bass Reproduction and Life Cycle
Kelp bass reproduce from late spring to early autumn. When it's time to spawn (release eggs and sperm), adult kelp bass gather in groups. These groups can have up to 200 fish, but usually have about 50. They often gather around natural spots or man-made structures like piers or the top of kelp forests. These gatherings happen in water about 8 to 18 meters (26 to 59 feet) deep.
Mating and Young Fish
During mating, smaller groups of fish break off from the main gathering. A female fish ready to lay eggs will swim towards the bottom. Males will then try to attract her by displaying and rubbing against her. They might even nibble at her fins.
When they are mating, the females change color. Their upper body turns dark gray or black, and their belly becomes bright white. Males also get darker, becoming a charcoal color with black vertical stripes and white spots. The males and females release their sperm and eggs at the same time, usually around sunset.
After spawning, the eggs hatch within 36 hours. The baby fish then spend at least a month swimming freely in the water before they settle down. Male kelp bass are ready to reproduce when they are 2 to 4 years old. Females are ready when they are 2 to 5 years old. Kelp bass can live for a long time, up to 34 years!
Naming the Kelp Bass
The kelp bass was first officially described in 1854. It was named Labrax clathratus by a French scientist named Charles Frédéric Girard. He found the first one in San Diego, California.
The name Paralabrax comes from Greek words. "Para" means "the side of," and "labrax" refers to a type of sea bass. The specific name clathratus is Latin and means "latticed." This refers to the cool patterned markings on the fish's body.
Kelp Bass and People
Many people think kelp bass are delicious to eat. There's a big commercial fishery for them in Mexico. In California, however, you can't fish for kelp bass to sell them. Here, they are only caught by people who fish for fun.
Kelp bass are very popular with anglers (people who fish with a rod and line). They are known for putting up a good fight when caught! After World War II, too many kelp bass were being caught by sports fishermen. The number of fish started to go down. So, in the 1950s, rules were put in place. These rules included size limits for fish and a ban on selling them. Thanks to these rules, the kelp bass population recovered.
