Centropristis ocyurus
Bank Sea Bass
This Sea Bass is pale olive or brassy brown in color with indistinct black blotches that form vertical barrings. The blotch above the pectoral fin is darker than the other blotches. There are wavy blue lines on head; lips are purplish-blue; caudal fin tri-lobed on adults; and the edge of the nape is unscaled.
They feed on squid, crustaceans and other small fish.
Bank sea bass are found in the western Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina to Florida, including the Gulf of Mexico.
Bank sea bass are offshore fish found in deep waters usually around 180 feet. They prefer rocky structural elements, particularly reefs and rock pilings. This species is typically found in waters between the temperature of 42 and 84 F.
The Bank Sea Bass is generally less than a half a pound and about 8 inches in length.