Spotted Sand Bass, Paralabrax maculatofasciatus
Spotted Sand Bass, Paralabrax maculatofasciatus. Fish caught from waters within Mission Bay, San Diego, California, July 2016. Length: 16 cm (6.3 inches). Catch, photograph, and identification courtesy of Ben Cantrell, Peoria, Illinois.
Spotted Sand Bass, Paralabrax maculatofasciatus. Fish caught from coastal waters off Puerto Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, October 2007. Length: 25 cm (9.8 inches).
Spotted Sand Bass, Paralabrax maculatofasciatus. Fish caught from coastal waters of Bahia de Los Angeles, Baja California, December 2015. Length: 30 cm (12 inches). Catch and photograph courtesy of Chris Wheaton, Fullerton, California.
Spotted Sand Bass, Paralabrax maculatofasciatus. Underwater photograph taken in coastal waters with Mission Bay, San Diego, California, September 2017. Photograph courtesy of Bob Hillis, Ivins, Utah.
The Spotted Sand Bass, Paralabrax maculatofasciatus, is a member of the Sea Bass or Serranidae Family, and is known in Mexico as cabrilla de roca, pinto, and within some fishing communities as lucero. Globally, there are nine species in the genus Paralabrax, of which five are found in Mexican waters, all in the Pacific Ocean.
The Spotted Sand Basses has a moderately elongated body with a pointed head that has a large mouth. They are tan in appearance and covered with numerous black, brown and orange spots that coalesce to form dark vertical lines along the rear of their belly. They have a dark line that runs from their eye to their gill cover and 6 or 7 faint dark lines on their sides. Their anal, caudal, and soft dorsal fins are densely spotted. A key to identification is the length of their third dorsal spine, which is very elongated and three times longer than the second dorsal spine.
The Spotted Sand Bass is found in sand adjacent to rocky structures at depths up to 91 m (300 feet). They reach a maximum of 46 cm (18 inches) in length and 2.24 kg (5 lbs 0 oz) in weight. As of January 1, 2023, the International Game Fish Association world record stood at 2.24 kg (5 lbs 0 oz) with the fish caught in coastal waters off San Diego, California in July 2003. They are a eurythermal species and are therefore able to tolerate water temperatures in excess of 90oF (32oC) and as low as 45oF (7.5oC). They feed on small fish during the day and are a significant predator of reef fish. The Spotted Sand Bass is poorly studied with very limited information available about their lifestyle and behavioral patterns including specific details on age, growth, longevity, movement patterns, diet, habitat use, and reproduction.
The Spotted Sand Bass is a resident of all Mexican waters of the Pacific Ocean.
The Spotted Sand Bass is similar to and can be confused with the Barred Sand Bass, Paralabrax nebulifer (dark blotches on upper two-thirds of body and tail base; third dorsal spine two and a half times longer than second spine); the Calico Bass, Paralabrax clathratus (yellow spots covering forehead; third and fourth dorsal spines of equal length); the Goldspotted Sand Bass, Paralabrax auroguttatus (dense orange spots covering head, body, and fins; third dorsal spine three times longer than second spine); and the Parrot Sand Bass, Paralabrax loro (orange spots and lines covering head; seven dark bars on the sides; third dorsal spine three times longer than second spine).
From a conservation perspective the Spotted Sand Bass is currently considered to be of Least Concern with stable widely distribution populations. They are an important component of the recreational catch in the northern portion of the Sea of Cortez and they are considered to be an excellent food fish. They are also an important commercial fish is some parts of their range. They are very abundant in Magdalena Bay but exceeding rare around the southern tip of Baja.