Sand Bass

{
  "id": "6c73d4e2-442b-4466-ad80-23f59773233e",
  "commonName": "Sand Bass",
  "scientificName": "Paralabrax nebulifer",
  "slug": "sand-bass",
  "category": "saltwater",
  "aliases": [
    "Barred Sand Bass",
    "California Sand Bass",
    "Kelpbass",
    "Sandy",
    "Sandie",
    "Brownie",
    "Grumpy Bass",
    "Bottom Bruiser"
  ],
  "description": "A quintessential Pacific coast battler, the sand bass is a sturdy, thick-bodied fish built for ambush. While not a giant—typical catches range from two to five pounds, with the occasional double-digit specimen stirring up local legend—they present a muscular, football-shaped profile. Their coloring is a masterclass in camouflage: a mottled, sandy brown to olive back that dissolves into a pale, silvery belly, often dotted with faint, darker specks that help them vanish into their kelp-and-rock domain. Anglers will instantly recognize the telltale ridge along the gill cover, its spines giving the species its nickname \"calico bass\" in the north, and the prominent, dark lateral line running down its flank.",
  "imageUrl": "https://media.meridiaoutdoors.com/media/species/sand-bass/main.webp",
  "hero": {
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    "altText": "Sand Bass (Paralabrax nebulifer) watercolor",
    "caption": "A quintessential Pacific coast battler, the sand bass is a sturdy, thick-bodied fish built for ambush.",
    "width": 2400,
    "height": 1340
  },
  "phases": [
    {
      "id": "db95a163-3050-4173-8404-ccf9e5f2e718",
      "name": "Adult",
      "slug": "adult",
      "description": "The sand bass is a year-round resident of Southern California's inshore waters, thriving in rocky reefs, kelp beds, and sandy patches. This ambush predator spends its days lurking near structure, ready to pounce on baitfish, squid, and crustaceans with a powerful burst of speed.",
      "appearance": "A stout, football-shaped body with a thick, muscular build, typically 12-20 inches in length and 2-5 pounds, occasionally reaching up to 10 pounds. Coloration is a mottled sandy brown to olive-green on the back, fading to a pale silvery-white belly, often with faint, irregular dark specks scattered across the body. Key features include a prominent dark lateral line running from gill to tail, a spiny ridge along the gill cover (operculum) with sharp spines, a large mouth with a slightly protruding lower jaw, and dusky fins with no bright markings. The overall pattern provides excellent camouflage against rocky and sandy bottoms.",
      "triggers": null,
      "habitat": "Coastal waters from Southern California to Baja California, typically in depths of 10-150 feet, favoring rocky reefs, kelp forests, artificial reefs, and mixed sand-rock areas near structure.",
      "anglersNote": "This is the primary phase targeted by anglers, prized for its hard-fighting nature and delicious white flesh, making it a popular inshore gamefish year-round.",
      "displayOrder": 0,
      "imageUrl": null,
      "media": null
    }
  ],
  "contentUpdatedAt": "2026-05-09T22:31:55.999Z"
}

[]

[]

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  "title": null,
  "description": "Sand Bass (Paralabrax nebulifer) are mottled brown saltwater fish found along the Pacific coast. Known for their fighting ability and white flesh.",
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  "ogDescription": "The Sand Bass, also called Barred Sand Bass or Kelpbass, is a popular Pacific coast gamefish. Learn about its habitat, appearance, and why anglers prize this sturdy battler.",
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    "barred sand bass",
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    "sandy",
    "sandie",
    "brownie",
    "grumpy bass",
    "bottom bruiser"
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