The European bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, is one of the most popular species in our waters. In recent years there has been an explosion of interest in targeting them with lures. They are a migratory species and can be caught offshore on the coastline and within estuaries. Of course, there are no hard rules, but these are some conclusions that I have come to after many hours spent targeting them in estuaries over the last few years.
LIFE STAGES
During late autumn, bass move offshore into deeper water to breed. Then, in early spring, bass will start to show in greater numbers along our coastline. By about June, the abundance of peeler crabs draws greater numbers of bass into estuaries. Typically, schools of juveniles are the first to appear in our estuary systems, followed by larger, solitary individuals. Although the biggest bass are typically caught out at sea, some do return to estuaries, often to the same spawning grounds.
FOOD SOURCES
Bass are carnivores, and their prey includes molluscs, crustaceans, shrimps and fish. However, although they feed on a wide variety of species, different populations of
