ASPECTS OF THE LIFE-HISTORIES OF THE KELP BASS, PARALABRAX-CLATHRATUS, AND BARRED SAND BASS, PARALABRAX-NEBULIFER, FROM THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT

Kelp bass, Paralabrax clathratus, and barred sand bass, P. neublifer, are major components of the nearshore marine environment in the southe rn California Eight. Both species are also very important parts of the marine recreational fishery. Surveys at King Harbor, Redondo Beach, C alifornia, have shown that: kelp bass primarily recruit between August and December. In general, both kelp bass and barred sand bass numbers increased in King Harbor beginning in the late 1970's and continuing into the 1980's. Male and female kelp bass and barred sand bass grow a t the same rates, and growth rates of both species are similar. The ol dest kelp bass in our sample was 33 yr old, the oldest barred sand bas s was 24 yr old. For kelp bass, 50% of males matured at 22.0 cm; for b arred sand bass, 50% of males matured at 21.9 cm. For kelp bass, 50% o f females matured at 22.6 cm; for barred sand bass, 50% of females mat ured at 23.9 cm. In both species, males matured between ages 2 and 4 y ears and females matured between ages 2 and 5 years.