Photo: Hans Hillewaert / CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Dicentrarchus labrax
European Seabass
Saltwater
About this species
A silver, streamlined predator of European coasts, highly prized by both anglers and chefs. It hunts in surf, estuaries and around rocky reefs, keying on baitfish in moving water. Surface lures at dawn, soft plastics and live sandeels all take good bass.
Season
123456789101112
Depth
0 – 100 m
Habitat Spots
SurfEstuaryNearshoreReef
Fishing Methods
LureFloat
Bait & Rig
Surface and sub-surface lures worked at dawn along surf beaches and rocky headlands, or live sandeels and peeler crab in estuaries on light rigs.
Edibility & Taste
One of Europe's most prized table fish with delicate, fine-textured white flesh superb baked whole with herbs or pan-fried in butter.
Similar Species
Resembles the spotted seabass (Dicentrarchus punctatus) but lacks the scattered black spots on the body above the lateral line.
Record Weight
12.7 kg