Giant seabass
📖 Overview
Occur on rock bottoms; near shore, outside kelp beds and along drop-offs . Large specimens usually found deeper than 30 m, small ones over sand and in kelp beds mostly from 12-21 m . Aggregate for spawning in summer . Pelagic spawners . Longevity of 90 to 100 years stemmed from speculation on the age of a 557 lb fish caught in 1962, but the oldest age determined from otoliths of a 435 lb fish was 72 to75 years . Validated age so far is up to >50 years using bomb radiocarbon (A.H. Andrews, pers. comm.)
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Giant seabass is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Within kelp forests giant sea bass are the apex predator. Giant sea bass feed on crustaceans, as well as a wide variety of fish. For populations off the coast of California, anchovies and croaker are prominent food sources. Mackerel, sheephead, whitefish, sand bass, and several types of crab also make up the sea bass's diet. Despite their great size and bulky appearance, giant sea bass have been known to move extremely quickly, outstripping bonito.
🥚 Reproduction
Pelagic spawner .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; demersal; depth range 5 - 46 m . Subtropical; 41°N - 16°N Northwest Pacific: Japan (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Giant seabass is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 20.1 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 273 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Giant seabass has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Black pacific jewfish · Black Sea Bass · California black sea bass · East Pacific Giant Sea Bass · Giant sea bass · giant seabass · Pacific back sea bass · Pacific Jewfish |
| 🌍CES | mnohopilák velký |
| 🇩🇪German | Kalifornischer Judenfisch · Riesenjudenfisch |
| 🇫🇷French | Bar gigantesque · Barréan géant |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Cernia gigante |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Kokuchiishinagi · コクチイシナギ |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Califomische grote zaagbaars · Californische jodenvis |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Strzepiel gigantyczny |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Garoupa-da-Califórnia · Mero-gigante-do-Pacífico |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Гигантский морской окунь · Окунь гигантский морской |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Lubina Gigante · pescara · Pescara o Mero gigante |
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 25 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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