Life Cycle and Biology of the Bass
The European sea-bass is an opportunistic, shoaling predator that is found from North Africa, to Norway, including most of the Mediterranean and adjoining seas and the British Isles. Adult fish can be found in deep water of over 30 fathoms, especially on wrecks, but also in shallow estuaries, harbours, bays and even into freshwater rivers on occasion. Spawning takes place, usually between February and April, mainly over deep water offshore, and the eggs, which are found throughout the water column, drift on the currents for a few weeks before hatching into planktonic larvae. The larvae drift in towards the coast as they grow and they appear to show an affinity for estuaries and bays.
A fine Catch
Soon after they arrive in their ‘nursery’ areas, normally between June and August, they become recognisable as tiny bass, then about 2cm long. They can be found in large shoals in tidal pools, saltmarshes and marinas during the summer, moving into slightly deeper water nearby during the winter. The young bass normally stay close inshore until they are around 35cm in length (and about 4 years old), after which they move into wider coastal areas for a year or so, as ‘school bass’, before becoming fully mature.
Male bass first mature at 32-35 cm in length and females at around 42cm. At this time they begin an annual pattern of seasonal movements between summer feeding areas and winter pre- spawning areas. Tagging has shown that many of the bass found around Wales in summer, migrate seasonally to spawning areas off North Cornwall and in the Western English Channel. Others appear to remain nearer to their summer areas, where they may also be joined by fish that have spent their summers further north. In the Irish Sea, bass grow at about 8cm per year for the first five years of life, slowing down in length as they put on weight, up to a potential maximum of around 18lb (kg). In UK waters bass can live for up to 30 years, but nowadays few are found over 15years old (normally about 8 to 11lbs). Bass can be aged by reading the growth checks that form on the scales. Bass feed on a wide range of prey, shrimps, crabs, marine worms and many types of fish, especially sand-eels, sprats and mackerel.
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Bass nursery areas in Wales
Fishing for bass from any vessel, as well as, fishing for any species of sea-fish using sand-eels (Ammodytidae) as bait, is prohibited in 37 separate areas for all or part of the year. These areas, their extent and the seasonal duration of the prohibition are set out below. The legislation is Statutory Instrument 1999 No 75 The Bass (Specified Areas) (Prohibition of Fishing) (Variation) Order 1999).
The nursery areas comprise river estuaries, harbours and power station outfalls where juvenile bass usually predominate and are more easily caught, particularly during the summer months. In certain nursery areas, fishing may also be subject to other restrictions implemented by the local sea fisheries committee or the Environment Agency [National Rivers Authority]. Such restrictions may include prohibitions on the setting of fixed nets or restrictions on the use of mobile gear.
The prohibition on bass fishing in nursery areas does not apply to fishing from the shore. However it is expected that shore anglers and their associations will respect the need for this prohibition and return to the sea any bass caught within nursery areas.
27.Aberthaw Power Station All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn at a radius of 1 nautical mile from Breaksea Point All year
28.Burry Inlet All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 071° true from Whiteford Lighthouse to Llanelli Docks and a line drawn 180° true from Whiteford Lighthouse to the shore Between 30 April and 1 November
29.Taf, Tywi and Gwendraeth Estuary All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 119° true from Ginst Point to Pen Towyn Point Between 30 April and 1 November 30.Milford Haven All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn from the shore along the eastern side of the Texaco Terminal approach jetty to the southernmost part of the T jetty thence eastwards along the southern edge of the jetty to the extremity at No. 3 berth (51°
31.Teifi Estuary All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn from the Boathouse, Penrhyn to the Cliff Hotel, Gwbert Between 30 April and 1 November
32.River Dyfi All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 168° true from Trefeddian Hotel (52° 32.8N, 04° 03.6W) to the flag pole at Ynys Las (52° 31.4N, 04° 03.8W) Between 30 April and 1 November
33.River Mawddach All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 226° true from the flagpole at Barmouth (52° 43.1N, 04° 03.1W) to the perch at 52° 42.7N, 04° 03.7W thence 155° true to the corner of the sea wall at Fairbourne (52° 42.5N, 04° 03.6W) Between 30 April and 1 November
34.Dwyryd/Glaslyn Estuary All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 152° true from the White House (52° 54.4N, 04° 09.1W) to Harlech Point (52° 53.7N, 04° 08.5W) Between 30 April and 1 November
35.Conwy Estuary All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn in a northerly direction from Penmaen-bach Point 001° true to the most westerly point of Great Ormes Head Between 30 April and 1 November
36.Dee Estuary All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 213° true from Hilbre Point to Mostyn Quay Between 31 May and 1 October
41.87N, 04° 57.58W) and then 098° true through the Pennar Beacon to the Llanreath foreshore (51° 41.55N, 04° 57.58W) and by a line drawn 162° true along the seaward side of the Pembroke to Neyland road bridge Between 30 April and 1 November