Searching for the king: Natural history of the giant sea bass (Stereolepis gigas) in Mexican waters 

​About the king

The giant sea bass (Stereolepis gigas) is the largest bony fish in the waters of California and Baja California. It can grow up to 2.5 meters long (8.2 feet) and weight 250 kilograms (550 Pounds).

​Giant sea bass live in kelp forests, where they were once an abundant predator.

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Tomas Camacho, Las Barrancas, Abril, 2017

​Declines in its population

During the late 1900's giant sea bass were heavily fished by recreational and commercial fishers, driving its population to the edge of extinction.

In California, giant sea bass landings declined from 115 tonnes in 1932 to just 5 tonnes in 1980. In Mexican waters, landings went from 363 tonnes to 12 tonnes. A ban on all commercial and recreational fishing was established in California by 1981. However, the species remains practically unprotected -and its fishery unregulated- in Mexican waters.

​The species is currently listed as critically endangered under The IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.