Local Species - Bass

Dicentrarchus labrax Bass are a streamline bodied fish with a large head and mouth. They have small silver scales covering their body and two dorsal fins, the front one having 8-9 sharp spiny rays. Spines are also noticeable on the lower part of the gill plate. Bass are found sub-tidally down to around 100 m around most of the UK. Young fish are often found schooling in shallow waters, estuaries and the lower reaches of rivers as is commonly seen in the Kent and Essex IFCA district.

Larger adult bass are found in deeper water usually but come closer inshore to warmer waters from March to Mid-June peaking in May after spawning. Bass are a relatively slow growing species with males reaching minimum landing size at a mean age of 4 years and females from 5 years in the UK. Bass is a schooling predator of smaller fish species such as members of the herring family, sandeels and other small schooling fish.

They are also an important predator of small crustaceans and squid playing an important part of food chains in estuaries and coastal waters.

For details on when and how much bass can be caught and landed please see Bass Fishing Guidance 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)