White seabass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White seabass |
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The white seabass (also called white weakfish) is a type of fish known as a croaker. Its scientific name is Atractoscion nobilis. These fish live along the Pacific coast, from Magdalena Bay in Baja California, Mexico, all the way up to Juneau, Alaska.
White seabass often swim together in large groups called schools. They prefer to hang out near deep, rocky areas, usually between the surface and about 400 feet (122 meters) down. They also love to swim in and around kelp forests, which are like underwater jungles.
What Does a White Seabass Look Like?
The white seabass has a long, somewhat flat body. Its head is pointed, and its mouth is quite large. Inside its mouth, it has a row of small teeth, and its lower jaw sticks out a little.
These fish are usually bluish or gray on top, with small dark spots. Their bellies are shiny silver. Young white seabass look a bit different; they have several dark stripes going up and down their bodies. As they grow bigger, these stripes fade away.
The white seabass is related to the California corbina. However, it's the only croaker in California that can grow to be very large. Some white seabass have been found weighing over 90 pounds (40 kg) and measuring more than 5 feet long! You can often tell them apart from other croakers by a special ridge that runs along their belly.
What Do White Seabass Eat?
White seabass are predators, meaning they hunt other animals for food. Their favorite meals include smaller fish like anchovies and sardines. They also enjoy eating squid. Sometimes, very large white seabass are found to have eaten only Pacific mackerel.
When a white seabass reaches the minimum legal size for fishing (about 28 inches or 71 cm), it's usually around 5 years old. At this age, it weighs about 7.5 pounds (3.4 kg) and has already been able to spawn (lay eggs) at least once.
Fishing for White Seabass
People who fish for white seabass often use live bait. They usually fish in water that isn't too deep. While live squid is often considered the best bait, large anchovies and medium-sized sardines also work well. Sometimes, very big white seabass will only bite on large, live Pacific mackerel.
Anglers also catch white seabass by pulling a fast-moving spoon, artificial squid, or a bone jig through the water.
Young white seabass are quite easy for sport anglers to catch. This is for two main reasons:
- First, when they are young, they live in shallow areas close to shore, including bays and estuaries.
- Second, many anglers don't realize they've caught a white seabass! Young white seabass are often mistakenly called "sea trout" because of their sleek shape and those vertical stripes (sometimes called "parr marks"). These stripes disappear as the fish gets older, which can add to the confusion.
In California, there are rules about fishing for white seabass. For example, a fish must be at least 28 inches (71 cm) long to be kept. It's always a good idea to check the latest fishing rules for bag limits (how many fish you can keep) before you go fishing.
