FWC Home : Wildlife & Habitats : Species Information : Saltwater Fish Identification :  Rock Sea Bass

Sea Basses & Grouper: Rock Sea Bass

Family Serranidae, SEA BASSES AND GROUPER
Centropristis philadelphica

Illustrations and Copyright by Diane Rome Peebles
Illustrations are for viewing purposes only.

Description: color olive-brown or bronze, with dark blotches forming vertical bars; dark black blotch on middle of dorsal fin base; tip of lower jaw purplish; bright blue and orange stripes and markings on head and fins; fully scaled nape; tail tri-lobed in adults.

Similar Fish: bank sea bass C. ocyurus; other Centropristis.

Where found: OFFSHORE; differs from other sea basses in that it is often found on sandy or muddy bottoms.

Size: small species rarely more than 10 inches.

*Florida Record: n/a

Remarks: spawns January through March; young adults are predominently female, transforming into males as they grow older; maximum size about 10 inches.

* The Florida records quoted are from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's printed publication, Fishing Lines and are not necessarily the most current ones. The records are provided as only as a benchmark.