(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species bass, barred sand
Species Id M010303
Date 27 AUG 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - bass, barred sand
OTHER COMMON NAMES - California sand bass, California rock bass, rock bass, Jonny verde, kelp bass, sand bass, ground bass, sugar bass and cabrilla
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Fish
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - Chordata,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - Osteichthyes,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - Perciformes,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - Serranidae,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - Paralabrax,
SPECIES AND SSP - nebulifer,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - Paralabrax nebulifer
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES - 01
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species bass, barred sand
Species Id M010303
Date 27 AUG 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Sport Fish
REFERENCES FOR STATUS - 01
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
The barred sand bass is an important sport fish in southern California *01*.
No commercial fishery exists in the United States for the barred sand bass,
but this species is harvested in Mexico *01*.
It is usually caught by spearfishing and by shore and pier fishermen using
hook and line *01*.
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Distribution
Species bass, barred sand
Species Id M010303
Date 27 AUG 96
DISTRIBUTION
Distribution - 1 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
LAND USE -
Water
Bays and Estuaries
REFERENCES FOR LAND USE - 01
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Marine FL. 2
Marine FL2
Marine RS.
Estuarine
REFERENCES FOR NWI - 01
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
The greatest abundance of adult barred sand bass appears to be near "edge"
habitats where rocky and sandy areas meet *01*.
Eggs and larvae are pelagic, while juveniles and adults are benthopelagic.
Adults usually remain within a few meters over the substrate. This species
is more bottom-oriented than kelp bass *01*.
The barred sand bass inhabits shallow neritic environments down to depths
of 183 m. Adults and subadults are most numerous between depths of 5.2
and 26 m. It is common over nearshore sandy flats, near kelp beds, rocky
areas, and bays, and can be the dominant fish on rocky reefs. Small,
immature sand bass prefer sheltered bays or harbors, especially around
breakwaters. Juveniles are often found in mouths of bays in eelgrass
(Zostera spp.) beds during fall and winter. It is the most common
trawl-caught fish in Mission Bay, and is also common in San Diego Bay, and
lower Newport Bay, California. Bays and estuaries appear to play an
important role in this species early life history *01*.
Preferred substrates range from sandy-bottom flats to rocky areas and kelp
beds. Spawning occurs over flat sandy bottoms. Young juveniles are often
found in and near eelgrass beds *01*.
Migrations and Movements: The barred sand bass moves to sandy flat bottoms
to spawn, and then back to rock reefs. Like the kelp bass, it appears to be
The barred sand bass seeks cover in caves and holes if frightened and may
feed actively at night *01*.
ANIMAL/PLANT SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
kelp bass (Paralabrax clathratus)
giant sea bass (Stereolepis gigas)
broomtail grouper (Mycteroperca xenarcha)
eelgrass (Zostera spp.)
REFERENCES FOR SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS - 01
COMMENTS ON SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
The barred sand bass is often captured with the kelp bass (Paralabrax
clathratus) and is regularly seen by skin divers, snorkelers, and
glass-bottom-boat sightseers *01*.
Barred sand bass and kelp bass are often found in the same habitat, but
prefer sandy-rocky areas more than the kelp beds that the kelp bass prefers.
As such, the barred sand bass is more abundant on manmade reefs *01*.
The barred sand bass is probably cannibalistic and may have similar
predators as kelp bass [e.g., giant sea bass (Stereolepis gigas) and
Habitat Associations - 1 broomtail grouper (Mycteroperca xenarcha)]. Large barred sand bass probably
have few predators except man *01*.
Juveniles are often found in mouths of bays in eelgrass (Zostera spp.) beds
during fall and winter *01*.
Habitat Associations - 2 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species bass, barred sand
Species Id M010303
Date 27 AUG 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
CARNIVORE
REFERENCES FOR TROPHIC LEVEL - 01
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
Larva Arthropods
Larva Crustaceans
Larva Plankton
General Crustaceans
General Arthropods
General Malacostraca
General Molluscs
General Polychaetes
General Echinoderms
General Brittle/Serpent Star
General Fish
General Clupeiformes
General Perciformes
REFERENCES FOR GENERAL FOOD - 01
REFERENCES FOR LARVAE FOOD - 01
COMMENTS ON FOOD -
Larvae, juveniles, and adults are carnivorous *01*.
Small sand bass prefer a variety of crustaceans (shrimp, amphipods, crabs),
molluscs (octopus, squid), polychaetes, ophiuroids, and fish (engraulids and
embiotocids). Crabs eaten are primarily spider and cancroid types. Large
bass prefer fish such as northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax) and other
perciform fishes (Artedius spp., and Runla spp.) *01*.
COMMENTS ON LARVAE FOOD -
Larvae probably feed on small pelagic crustaceans and other plankton once
their yolk sac is depleted.
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species bass, barred sand
Species Id M010303
Date 27 AUG 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Water Temperature: Specified in Comments
G Substrate: Sand
G Substrate: Specified in Comments
BA Substrate: Sand
BA Substrate: Specified in Comments
G Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Sand
G Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Specified in Comments
BA Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Sand
BA Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Specified in Comments
J Aquatic Vegetation [specified type]: Specified in comments
G Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Open water [pelagic zone]
G Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Specified in Comments
E Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Specified in Comments
L Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Specified in Comments
G Water Depth Preference: 10-25 ft.
G Water Depth Preference: 25-50 ft.
G Water Depth Preference: 50-100 ft.
G Water Depth Preference: 100-200 ft.
G Water Depth Preference: 200-500 ft.
G Water Depth Preference: 500-1000 ft.
G Water Depth Preference: Specified in Comments
G Coastal Features: Reefs
G Coastal Features: Specified in Comments
G Coastal Wetlands: Sounds and bays
G Coastal Wetlands: Specified in Comments
G Estuarine habitat zone: bay
G Estuarine habitat zone: specified in comments
J Coastal Wetlands: Sounds and bays
J Coastal Wetlands: Specified in Comments
J Estuarine habitat zone: bay
J Estuarine habitat zone: specified in comments
REFERENCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 01
REFERENCES FOR BREEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 01
REFERENCES FOR JUVENILE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 01
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species bass, barred sand
Species Id M010303
Date 27 AUG 96
COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS -
Large numbers of barred sand bass have apparently only been in southern
California waters since 1957. Before this period, sand bass were
insignificant in the sport catch. Its higher abundance now may relate to
increased coastal water temperatures *01*.
The greatest abundance of adult barred sand bass appears to be near "edge"
habitats where rocky and sandy areas meet *01*.
This species is more bottom-oriented than kelp bass *01*.
The barred sand bass inhabits shallow neritic environments down to depths
of 183 m. Adults and subadults are most numerous between depths of 5.2 and
26 m. It is common over nearshore sandy flats, near kelp beds, rocky areas,
and bays, and can be the dominant fish on rocky reefs. Bays and estuaries
appear to play an important role in this species early life history *01*.
Eggs and larvae are pelagic, while juveniles and adults are benthopelagic.
Adults usually remain within a few meters over the substrate. This species
is more bottom-oriented than kelp bass *01*.
Preferred substrates range from sandy-bottom flats to rocky areas and kelp
beds. Spawning occurs over flat sandy bottoms. Young juveniles are often
found in and near eelgrass beds *01*.
The barred sand bass seeks cover in caves and holes if frightened and may
feed actively at night *01*.
No information is available, but the barred sand bass is probably a
euhaline species. It may be more sensitive to cool water temperatures than
the kelp bass *01*.
COMMENTS ON ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
Juveniles and adults are benthopelagic. Adults usually remain within a few
meters over the substrate *01*.
COMMENTS ON BREEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
Spawning occurs over flat sandy bottoms *01*.
COMMENTS ON JUVENILE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
Small, immature sand bass prefer sheltered bays or harbors, especially
around breakwaters. Juveniles are often found in mouths of bays in eelgrass
(Zostera spp.) beds during fall and winter *01*.
Juveniles and adults are benthopelagic *01*.
COMMENTS ON LARVAE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
Eggs and larvae are pelagic *01*.
COMMENTS ON EGG ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
Eggs and larvae are pelagic *01*.
Environment Associations - 2 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species bass, barred sand
Species Id M010303
Date 27 AUG 96
LIFE HISTORY
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION/GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Egg Size and Embryonic Development: Eggs are 0.94-0.97 mm in diameter and
indistinguishable from kelp bass eggs. Embryonic development is indirect
and external. Eggs hatch in 36.0-40.5 h at 19 degrees C *01*.
Age and Size of Larvae: Yolk-sac larvae are not distinguishable from P.
clathratus or P. maculotofasciatus. Larvae range in length from 2.2-11.0
mm. Larval development is probably the same as P. Clathratus. Larval
yolk-sac is absorbed in 5 days (at 19 degrees C), and larval transformation
occurs when they are 11 mm long *01*.
Juvenile Size Range: Minimum juvenile size is 12mm *01*.
Age and Size of Adults: Age and size when mature is not known. This species
reaches a maximum length of 64 cm and probably lives as long as the kelp
bass (31 years). A 20 year-old fish was 63 cm *01*.
REPRODUCTION
Mode: This species is gonochoristic, oviparous, and iteroparous. It is a
broadcast spawner; eggs are fertilized externally *01*.
Mating/Spawning: Spawning occurs from April to fall. This species forms
spawning "schools" over sandy flat bottoms. The age, size, and frequency of
adult spawning is not documented *01*.
Fecundity: Batch fecundity ranges from approximately 12,000 eggs for a 447 g
female to greater than 185,000 eggs for a 2,625 g fish *01*
LIMITING FACTORS
Indicator of Environmental Stress: Industrial and domestic wastes may be
affecting barred sand bass habitat, but adverse effects have not been
documented. However, a morphological anomaly (bilateral asymmetry) has
become more prevalent in fish from southern California populations. This
condition may be a result of sublethal pollution effects related to
increasing human populations *01*.
Predation: The barred sand bass is probably cannibalistic and may have
similar predators as kelp bass [e.g., giant sea bass (Stereolepis gigas) and
broomtail grouper (Mycteroperca xenarcha)]. Large barred sand bass probably
have few predators except man *01*.
BEHAVIOR
Migrations and Movements: The barred sand bass moves to sandy flat bottoms
to spawn, and then back to rock reefs. Like the kelp bass, it appears to be
nonmigratory. The barred sand bass seeks cover in caves and holes if
frightened and may feed actively at night *01*.
LIFE HISTORY CODES -
Breeding Spawning Season: April
Breeding/Spawning Season: May
Breeding/Spawning Season: June
Breeding/Spawning Season: July
Breeding/Spawning Season: August
Spawning Site: Sand
Gestation/Incubation Period: 1-2 days
Average Number of Offspring/Reproductive Effort: Grea
Dispersion: Clumped
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species bass, barred sand
Species Id M010303
Date 27 AUG 96
LIFE HISTORY CODES -
Periodicity: Active at night
Periodicity: Other (specify in comments)
COMMENTS ON LIFE HISTORY -
Eggs hatch in 36.0-40.5 h at 19 degrees C *01*.
Spawning occurs from April to fall. This species forms spawning "schools"
over sandy flat bottoms *01*.
Batch fecundity ranges from approximately 12,000 eggs for a 447 g female to
greater than 185,000 eggs for a 2,625 g fish *01*
The barred sand bass seeks cover in caves and holes if frightened and may
feed actively at night *01*.
REFERENCES FOR LIFE HISTORY- 01
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species bass, barred sand
Species Id M010303
Date 27 AUG 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Controlling pollution [thermal, chemical, physical]
Beneficial Regulating harvest - setting bag/creel limits
REFERENCES FOR BENEFICIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 01
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
Industrial and domestic wastes may be affecting barred sand bass habitat,
but adverse effects have not been documented. However, a morphological
anomaly (bilateral asymmetry) has become more prevalent in fish from
southern California populations. This condition may be a result of
sublethal pollution effects related to increasing human populations *01*.
Large numbers of barred sand bass have apparently only been in southern
California waters since 1957. Before this period, sand bass were
insignificant in the sport catch. Its higher abundance now may relate to
increased coastal water temperatures. Because of its slow growth and
nonmigratory behavior, intense sport fishing may have a detrimental effect
on the abundance of this species *01*.
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species bass, barred sand
Species Id M010303
Date 27 AUG 96
References
01 * Emmett, R.L., S.L. Stone, S.A. Hinton, and M.E. Monaco. 1991.
Distribution and abundance of fishes and invertebrates in west coast
estuaries, Volume II: species life history summaries. ELMR Rep.No.8
NOAA/NOS Strategic Environmental Assessments Division, Rockville, MD. 329
pp.
References - 1