Bass Family
[Family Moronidae (temperate basses)]

"Bass" is a popular name applied to many fish that aren't really bass, but people call them "Bass" anyway, particularly the Black Bass (Smallmouth and Largemouth). Shown here are the real bass (even though one of them is called "Perch"), with links to some of the "not actually a bass" fish.

Black Bass - see Sunfish.
Chilean Sea Bass - see Patagonian Toothfish.
Japanese Seabass - see Perch.
Largemouth Bass - see Sunfish.
Smallmouth Bass - see Sunfish.

Sand Bass - [family Serranidae (Sea Basses) Paralabrax sp.]

The several varieties of Sand Bass available in Southern California, Barred (P.nebulifer), Spotted (P. maculatofasciatus), Goldspotted (P. auroguttatus), are all about the same as far as cooking is concerned. The Goldspotted is the only one much seen in markets, and is fished mainly in the Gulf of California. It can grow to 28 inches and 6 pounds, but the photo specimen was 20 inches long and weighed a hair over 4 pounds 6 ounces.   Details and Cooking

Striped Bass - [Striped Sea-bass, Morone saxatilis]

This sea bass is found mainly in river estuaries from the Gulf Coast of the U.S. up the Western Atlantic coast into Canada and there are some landlocked populations. It has been introduced to other countries and is now farmed commercially. These fish can grow to 78 inches and 125 pounds but the one in the photo was 15-1/2 inches and weighed 1-3/4 pounds, a typical market size. This fish renews its population fairly quickly, is not listed as threatened and is now being farmed.   Details and Cooking

White Bass - [Morone chrysops]
Native to the rivers of North America, this bass looks a lot like the Striped Bass, but it inhabits only fresh water and does not venture to sea. These fish can grow to almost 18 inches and 6-3/4 pounds but the one in the photo was 13-1/4 inches and weighed 1 pound 6 ounces, a little larger than the average market size. This fish is now farmed on an experimental basis and is not listed as threatened.   Details and Cooking

White Perch - [Morone americana]
Not actually a Perch but a Bass, this fish is native to the North Atlantic coast, living in salt, brackish and fresh water, and is an invasive species in the Great Lakes. It is a good eating fish and can be cooked in various ways. The White Perch is not considered threatened, in fact it is considered a nuisance in some areas. It can grow to a little over 19 inches and 4-3/4 pounds, but the photo specimen was 10 inches long and weighed 11 ounces, toward the high end of typical market size.   Details and Cooking.