The Bank Sea Bass fish identification, habitats, characteristics, Fishing methods
Bank Sea Bass (Centropristis ocyurus) is a fish species in the Serranidae family. Its native range includes deep waters usually around 180 feet. Its diet includes squid, crustaceans and other small fish.
Bank Sea Bass at a glance
Scientific name
Centropristis ocyurus
Family
Serranidae
Native range
deep waters usually around 180 feet
Diet
squid, crustaceans and other small fish
The Bank Sea Bass live near rock outcrops and shallow, rocky bottoms, favorites include reefs and rock
pilings. Typically large-mouthed, bottom dwellers that have a dark black blotch above the pectoral fin is
darker than the other blotches. The tip of their lower jaw is purplish, and they have wavy blue lines on
head. This spike-finned fish changes sex over its lifetime: it starts out a female and becomes male as it
grows older and larger. Their average weight is less than a 1/2 pound. Bank Sea Bass has firm flesh and
very tasty skin.
Bank Sea Bass, Centropristis ocyurus, Family Serranidae, SEA BASSES AND GROUPER, is a saltwater
reef-associated fish range in the western Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina to Florida, including
the Gulf of Mexico..
Description
Bank Sea Bass is pale olive or brassy brown in color with indistinct black blotches that form vertical
barrings. The blotch above the pectoral fin is darker than the other blotches. There are wavy blue lines
on head; lips are purplish-blue; caudal fin tri-lobed on adults; and the edge of the nape is unscaled.
They have brassy brown or pale olive color with black blotches.
Above the pectoral fin the blotch is darker than the other blotches.
Their head has wavy blue lines and lips that are a bluish-purple color.
The caudal fin on adults is tri-lobed.
There are also no scales on the edging of the nape.
The blotches look similar to vertical bars.
Their average weight is less than a 1/2 pound.
Their average length is about 8 inches.
Habitats
Bank sea bass are offshore fish found in deep waters usually around 180 feet. They prefer rocky structural
elements, particularly prefer reefs and rock pilings. This species is typically found in waters between
the temperature of 42 and 84 F. They feed on squid, crustaceans and other small fish.
Spawning
Undergoes sex change, starting life as female, changing to male after three or four spawning seasons;
feeds on the bottom, taking squid, crustaceans, and small fish.
