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Sea wolf, koykan, sea bass, pike perch, lubin, brancino, branzino, spigola, early sometimes sea bass – all these are the names of one fish, which, like its closest relatives, ichthyologists call common laurel. The geographic reference of the common laurel distribution area is located in the eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean basin. Closely related species are also found in other regions of the World Ocean, for example: striped sea bass living in the Western Atlantic; white American sea bass, also found off the eastern coast of North America; Japanese pike perch living in the Japanese, Yellow Seas, off the coast of China and Peter the Great Bay. Sea bass belong to the pepper family, they are medium-sized marine fish. Most sea bass species can grow up to 1 m in length and about 12 kg in weight, but the American striped bass is thought to be larger. Known catches of fish over 50 kg. Sea basses have elongated, laterally flattened bodies, covered with medium-sized scales. The color of the fish speaks of a pelargic mode of existence. The back has a grayish-olive hue, and the sides are silvery. Some species have longitudinal stripes. There are two divided fins on the back, the front is spiny. The common laurel has a dark blurred mark in the upper part of the gill cover. In young individuals, scattered spots are observed on the body, but with age they disappear. Residents of Europe and Japan breed fish for commercial purposes. Sea basses are kept both in artificial reservoirs and in cages in the sea. In summer, Lavraki live near the coast, often in bays and lagoons, and when it gets cold they go to sea. Easily tolerate the conditions of brackish, desalinated water bodies. Young individuals lead a flocking lifestyle, with age they prefer to live alone. This is an active fish, often moving in search of food. It feeds on various crustaceans and small fish. Hunts by chasing or attacking prey. Sea bass are fairly common species of marine ichthyofauna, are represented quite widely, but at the boundaries of their ranges, they can live in small populations. So, there are restrictions on catch in the Black Sea and off the coast of the British Isles.
Fishing methods
All types of sea bass are valuable commercial fish. They are no less interesting for amateur fishing. The most popular ways of catching this fish can be considered fly fishing and spinning. Especially, in the variant of coastal fishing: rockfishing, surffishing and more. Seabass seabass often approach the shore during high tides, and given that they are very lively and active predators, they give anglers a lot of pleasure from hunting them. The best time for fishing is twilight and night time. Especially highlight the hours before dawn.
I catch sea bass on spinning
When choosing gear for catching a classic spinning “cast”, it is advisable to proceed from the principle “bait size + trophy size”. Given the lifestyle of laurels, spinning fishing can be very diverse. They can be caught both from boats in the coastal zone and from the shore. Therefore, sea basses can become trophies, both for lovers of leisurely fishing, in the comfortable conditions of sea boats, and for exploratory hunting near coastal rocks or sandbanks. They use classic baits: spinners, wobblers and silicone imitations. Reels should be with a good supply of fishing line or cord. In addition to a trouble-free braking system, the coil must be protected from salt water. In many types of sea fishing equipment, very fast wiring is required, which means a high gear ratio of the winding mechanism. According to the principle of operation, coils can be both multiplier and inertial-free. Accordingly, the rods are selected depending on the reel system. The choice of rods is very diverse, at the moment, manufacturers offer a large number of specialized “blanks” for various fishing conditions and types of bait. When fishing with spinning marine fish, fishing technique is very important. To select the correct wiring, it is necessary to consult experienced anglers or guides. And it should be borne in mind that when preparing, it is important to find out the size of possible trophies, and in the case of fishing for medium-sized fish, for example, on the European coast, it is quite enough to get by with lighter and more elegant gear.
Fly fishing for sea bass
Lavrakov, along with other coastal fish, are actively caught by sea fly fishing. In most cases, before the trip, it is worth clarifying the sizes of all possible trophies living in the region where fishing is planned. As a rule, “universal” sea, fly fishing gear can be considered one-handed 9-10 class. When catching medium-sized individuals, you can use sets of 6-7 classes. They use fairly large baits, so it is possible to use cords a class higher, corresponding to one-handed rods. Bulk reels must be suitable for the class of the rod, with the expectation that at least 200 m of strong backing must be placed on the spool. Do not forget that the gear will be exposed to salt water. Especially, this requirement applies to coils and cords. When choosing a coil, you should pay special attention to the design of the brake system. The friction clutch must be not only as reliable as possible, but also protected from salt water ingress into the mechanism. Do not forget that in conditions of frequent fishing near the coastline, without the use of watercraft, various surf and switch rods are very relevant and convenient, allowing you to fish more comfortably and for a long time, removing part of the load from the shoulder girdle due to the use, during casting, of both hands During fly fishing for marine fish, including sea bass, a certain lure control technique is required. Especially at the initial stage, it is worth taking the advice of experienced guides.
Baits
When fishing with spinning gear, as already mentioned, it is possible to use practically the entire arsenal of modern lures for casting “cast” that imitate the natural food of sea bass. It should be borne in mind that local fish preferences may be slightly adjusted. According to experienced anglers and ichthyologists, the menu of fish, depending on the season and place of fishing, can shift in preferences, from crustaceans to small fish. In fly fishing, various imitations of the possible food for sea bass are also used. These can be streamers from 4 cm in size, a variety of surface baits, in the style of a popper or slider, imitations of invertebrates.
Places of fishing and habitat
As already mentioned, despite the pelargic way of life and active hunting methods, most species of sea bass inhabit the coastal waters of the continents and islands. Outwardly and in behavior, the types of laurels are quite similar. Common sea bass inhabits the eastern waters of the Atlantic from Senegal to Norway, including the Mediterranean and Black Seas. American species of sea bass live on the west coast of North America and are popular recreational fisheries throughout the region. In Russia, laurels can be caught on the Black Sea coast and in the south of the Far East.
Spawning
Lavrak spawns in the coastal zone. Spawning is seasonal, depending on habitat and water temperature. The fecundity of females is quite high, the eggs are pelargic, but in the absence of a current, they settle to the bottom and stick to the relief. The American striped sea bass is a semi-anadromous fish that comes to spawn in the estuarine zone of rivers.