The Giant Sea Bass (commonly called the Black Sea Bass) is the largest inshore fish in the waters off southern California. These fish can grow to over 500 pounds, and live for over 70 years. They have been seriously depleted by overfishing, and are now rather rare. A moratorium on their take was instituted around 1980, and they seem to be coming back, but since they grow very slowly, it’ll be a while before the population is back where it should be.

Incidental catches of these fish have become more and more common in recent years. Every one caught is carefully released, often after posing for a picture.
Peter holding a foot-long giant sea bass  
Sometimes you catch small ones, a foot in length or smaller. They look like some kind of rockfish, but they’re not, and you release them carefully.
Peter holding a 2-foot-long giant sea bass  
When they get a bit bigger, it’s obvious what they are. You tend to catch them in the same areas where you catch calico bass. A calico this size would be a very nice catch, but this fish is still just a baby.
A 4-foot long giant sea bass, lying in the water with a gaff in its lip
This one was about 4 feet long, and weighed probably 70 pounds. I hooked it while fishing for calico bass near Point Dume. According to the books, it was probably around 12 years old, and just reaching maturity. After we cut the line, it swam away unharmed.
 

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