Centropristis striata                                              Photo Claire Sunquist ©

While they may be called black sea bass, these fish can change their color depending on their habitat. Smaller bass are usually dark brown while larger fish are almost black. These fish grow very slowly and a three pound sea bass might be nine years old.

                                                                            Photo Claire Sunquist ©

Like some other members of the grouper family, these fish can switch sex as they get older. In the case of the Black Sea Bass, older females sometimes become breeding males.

Adult Black Sea Bass hang out near rocks and reefs - smaller fish can found inshore near bridge pilings and jetties. They feed on bottom dwelling creatures like crab, shrimp, and mollusks.

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