Russel Clarke and Kim Delaney with a huge bass weighing 55kg caught fishing over the Ranfurly Bank, a seamount some 18 miles north east of East Cape, New Zealand's North Island. Amazingly this species can grow to twice this weight.
Bass are very similar in appearance to groper. There are a few things to look for to help you tell them apart. Bass have a noticeably larger eye. The lower jaw doesn't protrude forward like that of the groper. The colour is also slightly different with bass being more of a brown rather than grey. You can find bass all around the New Zealand coastline usually in deep water over the 200m mark. The best area to catch this species seems to be off the Bay of Plenty particularly over the deepwater reefs around White Island .
Bass are big fish caught in very deep water. Only the strongest tackle and fishing gear will do to target them. Usually 24 kg gear is used – or even heavier. Tie up the same traces with several droppers on 100 kg monofilament as you would use to target groper. On monofilament fishing line you can't feel a strike deep beneath the boat so use tuna circle long-line type hooks unless using heavy braided line.
Bass are excellent table fish being much like groper to eat. |
