Kelp Bass

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Kelp Bass

Paralabrax clathratus

Photo contributed by:
Daniel W. Gotshall
To email him click here.

In-depth Information Regarding this Species

U.S. Range in the Pacific Ocean Columbia River to Baja
Rare north of Southern California (Eschmeyer and Herald 1983)

Habitat Lives near structures (Love 1996)
Kelp beds (Eschmeyer and Herald 1983)

Depth range (meters) Down to 46 (Eschmeyer and Herald 1983)

Behavior Solitary, loose schools (Love 1996)

Average Maximum Overall Length (cm) 72.3 (Love 1996, Eschmeyer and Herald 1983)

Average Maximum weight (kg) 6.6 (Love 1996, Eschmeyer and Herald 1983)

Overall Length to Age Ratio (cm/age in years) 10.2/1
30.5/6
43.2/9 (Love 1996)

Overall Maximum Age (years) 33 (Love 1996)

Overall Age at Maturity (years) 2–3 (some mature) (Love 1996)

Overall Length at Maturity (cm) 17.8 (some mature)
26.7 (all mature) (Love 1996)

Type of Reproduction Hermaphroditic (Eschmeyer and Herald 1983)

Spawning Behavior School during spawning time (Love 1996)

Time of Year of Spawning April–November
Summer (peak)
Larger females spawn earlier (Love 1996)

Description of Eggs Pelagic (Love 1996)

Days to Hatch 1–2 (Love 1996)

Days in Larval Stage 30 (Love 1996)

Habitat where Juveniles are found Settle out on kelp and algae (even plastic plants in lab) (Love 1996)

Juvenile Food Preference Plankton, Small Invertebrates on algae (Love 1996)

Adult Food Preference Subadults eat Amphipods, Brittlestars, Shrimp, Small Fish
Adults eat Fish, Octopi, Squid, Crab, Shrimp, Algae
Two major feeding times–late spring and fall (before and after spawning) (Love 1996)
Carnivore (Eschmeyer and Herald 1983)

Commercial Fishery Medium size commercial fishery in California until 1947
Now important recreational fishery (Love 1996)

Market "Good eating" (Eschmeyer and Herald 1983)

Ornamental Market Possible

Recent Wild Harvest Data for Oregon
Data from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Year Total Catch
(Pounds) Ex-vessel Value
( U.S. Dollars)

1989 N/A N/A

1990 N/A N/A

1991 N/A N/A

1992 N/A N/A

1993 N/A N/A

1994 N/A N/A

1995 N/A N/A

1996 N/A N/A

1997 N/A N/A

1998 N/A N/A

Photo by:
Milton Love

Home Species Profiles Top Food Species Top Ornamental Species Additional Information References Contacts

U.S. Range in the Pacific Ocean	Columbia River to Baja Rare north of Southern California (Eschmeyer and Herald 1983)
Habitat	Lives near structures (Love 1996) Kelp beds (Eschmeyer and Herald 1983)
Depth range (meters)	Down to 46 (Eschmeyer and Herald 1983)
Behavior	Solitary, loose schools (Love 1996)
Average Maximum Overall Length (cm)	72.3 (Love 1996, Eschmeyer and Herald 1983)
Average Maximum weight (kg)	6.6 (Love 1996, Eschmeyer and Herald 1983)
Overall Length to Age Ratio (cm/age in years)	10.2/1 30.5/6 43.2/9 (Love 1996)
Overall Maximum Age (years)	33 (Love 1996)
Overall Age at Maturity (years)	2–3 (some mature) (Love 1996)
Overall Length at Maturity (cm)	17.8 (some mature) 26.7 (all mature) (Love 1996)
Type of Reproduction	Hermaphroditic (Eschmeyer and Herald 1983)
Spawning Behavior	School during spawning time (Love 1996)
Time of Year of Spawning	April–November Summer (peak) Larger females spawn earlier (Love 1996)
Description of Eggs	Pelagic (Love 1996)
Days to Hatch	1–2 (Love 1996)
Days in Larval Stage	30 (Love 1996)
Habitat where Juveniles are found	Settle out on kelp and algae (even plastic plants in lab) (Love 1996)
Juvenile Food Preference	Plankton, Small Invertebrates on algae (Love 1996)
Adult Food Preference	Subadults eat Amphipods, Brittlestars, Shrimp, Small Fish Adults eat Fish, Octopi, Squid, Crab, Shrimp, Algae Two major feeding times–late spring and fall (before and after spawning) (Love 1996) Carnivore (Eschmeyer and Herald 1983)
Commercial Fishery	Medium size commercial fishery in California until 1947 Now important recreational fishery (Love 1996)
Market	"Good eating" (Eschmeyer and Herald 1983)
Ornamental Market	Possible

Year	Total Catch (Pounds)	Ex-vessel Value ( U.S. Dollars)
1989	N/A	N/A
1990	N/A	N/A
1991	N/A	N/A
1992	N/A	N/A
1993	N/A	N/A
1994	N/A	N/A
1995	N/A	N/A
1996	N/A	N/A
1997	N/A	N/A
1998	N/A	N/A