White seabass

Big croaker (not a true sea bass) with a long silvery body, bluish-gray back, a raised ridge along the belly and a big mouth; small fish have dark bars.

15–40 lb.

About 5 ft and 90 lb.

Sardines, anchovies, mackerel and squid.

Fast, roaming schooling fish that follow bait along the kelp, islands and offshore banks.

Found from Southern California and Central & Northern California. Kelp beds and islands, especially when squid are spawning; from Baja up to San Francisco in warm years.

Kelp beds and islands, especially when squid are spawning; from Baja up to San Francisco in warm years.

15–120 ft.

Surface to 100 ft; deeper on the banks in the middle of the day.

Spring through fall, peaking in summer in warm-water years.

Dawn and dusk are best; they also feed under working birds during the day.

Current and moving water over the banks and around the islands.

Warm, clear blue water and calm seas.

Live squid is the number one bait; also live sardines and mackerel.

Large swimbaits, heavy jigs and spoons.

7–8 ft conventional rod with a strong star-drag or lever-drag reel.

1/0–4/0 live-bait hooks; surface and yo-yo iron jigs.

25–50 lb mono or 50–65 lb braid with a topshot.

25–40 lb fluorocarbon.

Fish a live squid on a dropper-loop near the bottom along the kelp at night or dawn when squid are spawning. Be patient: seabass often pick up the bait slowly.

Seabass were badly overfished and have come back thanks to hatchery releases and strict limits — a legal one is a true trophy.

Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.

Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.

Thick, mild white fillets: grilled, baked, fried or in ceviche.

Strong runs — keep fingers clear of the line and reel, and gaff carefully.

California has a minimum size of 28 in, a low bag limit and a spawning-season limit; a report card may apply. Check CDFW before you keep one. Licenses, size and bag limits and seasons are set by each state — the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (wildlife.ca.gov), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (myodfw.com) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (wdfw.wa.gov) — together with NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Rules change often, and many areas are no-take marine reserves: check before you go.

Keep only what you'll eat, release the rest quickly, and follow size and bag limits.