Quite often people are interested in what kind of fish this is – sea bass. It is a common marine fish that belongs to the grouper family. This product is distinguished by white, dense meat with a slight sweetish aftertaste. It contains many valuable ingredients, and therefore it brings great benefits to the body. There are different ways to cook sea bass - boil, fry or bake.
Description of the fish
Sea bass belongs to the class Ray-finned and the order Moroniformes. This fish is found in salt waters. That's why it is often called sea wolf and laurel.
How does she look
This fish is found in the sea. It has a slanted body. Its height is smaller than the length of its head. The average weight of one individual is no more than 12 kilograms. The body of the sea bass is covered with ctenoid scales. Moreover, between the eyes and on the back of the head it is cycloid. The scales are quite large in size.
The head of the sea bass is characterized by a conical structure. The diameter of the eye can be about half the length of the snout. At the same time, the sea wolf is characterized by a terminal mouth. The mouth contains many villous teeth, which are located on both jaws. In the vomer area, the teeth are placed in a crescent shape. They are also present on the palate and tongue.
There are 2 dorsal fins on the body of the fish. The first contains 8-9 sharp rays, and the second has 1 spiny ray and several soft ones. In the area of the anal fin there are 3 spiny rays and 10-13 soft ones. The caudal fin of the sea bass is characterized by a small notch.
The fins of sea fish have a beautiful silver color. At the same time, the ventral fins are characterized by a slight yellowish tint. The back has a gray-green color scheme, and the sides are silver. On the gill cover of the sea dog there is a contrasting spot of a darker shade. Young fish have a pattern in the form of several black dots at the top of the body. Mature individuals do not contain any spots or patterns.
The maximum recorded length of the fish is 103 centimeters. However, in most cases, sea bass does not grow more than 50 centimeters. The maximum weight of an adult can reach 14 kilograms.
Comparison with similar fish
Translated, “see bass” means “sea bass.” However, it has nothing in common with real sea bass. These fish belong to different species, so it is difficult to confuse them. However, Chilean sea bass is sometimes mistaken for dark bass. However, it is worth considering that the sea wolf is characterized by a more elongated body and not so powerful pectoral fins.
Many people confuse sea bass and dorado. This is due to the fact that they have similar taste qualities. At the same time, these individuals are characterized by a number of differences:
- Dorado has an oval carcass, and sea bass has an elongated body;
- Sea bass is characterized by a cone-shaped head, and dorado is characterized by a flattened one;
- Dorado has a golden stripe on its forehead, but sea bass does not.
If you use fillet, it can be difficult to find the differences. If there are bones, it is recommended to pay attention to their removal. Sea bass bones are more difficult to obtain. At the same time, in dorado they are more easily separated from the meat.
Habitat
Lavrak lives in the Atlantic Ocean near the European coast. It is found from Morocco to Norway. Sea bass is also found in the Eresuni Strait. At the same time, it is almost absent in the Black and Mediterranean Seas. Rare individuals are found off the coast of Bulgaria, Turkey, and Romania.
This fish is usually found in coastal areas. She feels most comfortable at a depth of 10-100 meters. Sometimes sea bass swims into desalinated areas and even into river mouths. This happens when searching for food. However, in general, sea bass is considered a saltwater fish, so it rarely moves into fresh waters.
Is it found in Russia?
In Russia, wild sea bass is found only on the Black Sea coastline. Catching this fish is possible from August to October. At the same time, you can catch laurel near river mouths, into which it swims in search of food.
Diet
The basis of sea bass is crustaceans. In addition, the sea wolf feeds on crabs, shellfish, small fish, and shrimp. At its core, laurel is considered a predator. This is why sea bass looks unremarkable. Young fish live in schools. As they gain weight, they leave the flock and begin to hunt on their own.
It is worth noting that sardines are considered the favorite delicacy of sea bass. For their sake, with the onset of summer, he is ready to make a significant journey to its habitat areas.
Spawning and reproduction
Sexual maturity in males occurs at 2-4 years, when they grow to 36 centimeters. Females can breed when they reach 42 centimeters. Sea bass spawn in winter. However, this is influenced by seasonal factors. Mediterranean sea bass spawn from January to March. Fish native to the British Isles breed from early spring to early summer. The inhabitants of the Black Sea spawn from January to June. At the same time, fish lay eggs only once a year.
Sea bass quickly form fairly large schools and then move closer to the shores or river mouths. Here fish spawn randomly. In total, sea bass lays up to 250 thousand eggs. They are greasy and have a smooth surface. Due to this, no gluing occurs.
Young females lay eggs in dug burrows. There she is inaccessible to other inhabitants. Male sea bass are considered caring fathers who protect their offspring well. The hatched fry are placed in the area of surface water. They feed on plankton and microalgae.
Varieties
Sea bass has 2 main varieties:
- Common - lives near the eastern shores of the Atlantic. It is characterized by an elongated body.Moreover, the back and sides of this individual are covered with silvery scales. Sometimes the back has a greenish tint. There are 2 fins on it. Moreover, the first one has spines. In addition, the spikes are located on the head. The fish has almost no bones, but it has an unusually strong skeleton. This type of sea bass grows on average up to 50 centimeters.
- Chilean - also called black. Its scales are dark in color. This species differs from the ordinary one in that it has spines on all fins.
Sea bass fishing
Sea bass is considered a valuable commercial fish. However, recently mass production of this product has been prohibited. In many territories, bay laurel is listed in the Red Books. People's demands today are compensated by the work of large holdings that are engaged in the cultivation of sea bass.
Fish farming
Bay grass has a delicate taste, and therefore is a valuable delicacy. It has a white fillet and a firm texture. That is why it is actively bred artificially. Leading positions in sea bass cultivation are occupied by countries such as France, Italy, Tunisia, and Turkey.
Fish that has been raised in an artificial environment has fattier and higher-calorie meat. At the same time, it costs much less than wild-caught fish.
Fishing Features
Sea wolf is harvested from the shore. In this case, you need to cast a maximum of 30 meters. Sea bass lives near the coast during high tide. At the same time, it is recommended to catch it in reservoirs with a sandy or rocky bottom. It is best to do this in the evening or at dawn.
When fishing for sea bass, it is recommended to focus on the following factors:
- Wind – sea bass bites very well in windy weather. At this time, he begins to actively feed.
- Tide - this factor affects the output of the sea wolf. When the water drops, the sea bass leaves.
You should not overfeed sea bass. Since the basis of its diet are crustaceans, the bait should be made from them. It can be minced meat with chopped fish and shrimp. The ideal solution for bait would be fish juice from sardines.
To catch sea bass, it is recommended to use spinning or fly fishing. The first option is considered preferable. In this case, it is worth using wobblers or spinners. When using fly fishing, decoy baits are used that imitate small fish.
About meat
The meat of this fish has high nutritional value. Sea bass is actively used in cooking because it has a delicate taste and high juiciness. An additional advantage of the fish is the almost complete absence of bones. In addition, the meat of this fish contains many vitamins. Sea wolf has a refined taste, which is why dishes from it are prepared even in expensive restaurants.
Beneficial features
Lavrak is considered a dietary product. 100 grams of fish fillet contains no more than 82 kilocalories. It includes a large amount of minerals and vitamins. Sea bass contains many vitamins B, A, and PP. Fish also includes phosphorus, cobalt and calcium.
The product is very healthy because it contains many unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids. With their help, it is possible to prevent the appearance of malignant tumors, avoid pathologies of the cardiovascular system and cope with inflammation. Fish also reduces cholesterol in the blood and helps cleanse the body of waste and toxins.
100 grams of fish fillet contains 16 grams of protein. They are easily absorbed by the body.In addition, during the digestion of this product, fewer toxins are produced than when eating beef and pork.
Sea bass meat can be safely included in your diet. It contains a minimal amount of calories. The product is easily digestible and satiates for a long time. Fish that has grown in a natural environment is considered healthier than artificial fish because it contains less fat. In addition, the meat of grown animals may contain hazardous substances. This is due to the vaccination of fish against parasites and pathologies.
Sea bass in cooking
This fish is often used in cooking. It can be fried, boiled and stewed. To get a dietary dish, bay laurel should be baked or steamed. In any case, the result will be a tasty and appetizing dish.
Most often, sea bass is baked with spices. Culinary experts advise wrapping fish in foil. This will make the dish as juicy as possible. To get a tasty and healthy dish, fish should be baked with vegetables. Bay bay harmonizes well with tomatoes, garlic, onions and potatoes.
Herbs are a great addition to fish. You can use dill, mint, rosemary, and thyme. As for spices, cumin or turmeric are suitable. The fish is harmoniously complemented by citrus fruit juices and mustard-based dressing.
Popular recipes
Cooks today know many excellent sea bass recipes. This fish can be baked, fried or added to soups.
Sea bass soup
To prepare this dish you need to take:
- 500-600 grams of fish;
- 2 onions;
- 2 potatoes;
- 2 carrots;
- 1 zucchini;
- 1 leek;
- herbs and spices.
To get a tasty and healthy fish soup, it is recommended to do the following:
- Place the tail, head and ridge of the sea bass in 1 liter of water. Also add carrots and onions.Cook the broth for 1.5 hours over medium heat.
- Add finely chopped vegetables to the pan - zucchini, leeks, onions and carrots. The broth needs to be cooked for 15-20 minutes.
- Add sea bass fillet and cook for 10-15 minutes.
- Add spices and herbs.
- Turn off the heat and leave to steep for 15 minutes.
Seabass with potato scales
For this dish you will need:
- 4 sea bass fillets;
- 4 potatoes;
- 300 grams of salmon fillet;
- 1 white onion;
- 1 tablespoon chopped dill;
- 50 milliliters of cream;
- salt;
- white pepper
To cook delicious fish, it is recommended to do the following:
- Fry the chopped onion.
- Pass the fried onion, salmon fillet, and cream through a meat grinder. Add salt and pepper.
- Cut the potatoes into so-called flakes.
- Dry the sea bass fillet and coat with a layer of minced meat.
- Insert the scales in rows at an angle of 45 degrees and press lightly with your hand.
- Place the prepared fish in the pan, potatoes side down.
- Fry until golden brown and place on a baking sheet, potatoes side up.
- Bring the fish to readiness at a temperature of 180 degrees.
Sea bass is a very popular fish that contains many valuable components and has a wonderful taste. That is why it is an object of trade and is often used in cooking.
