[3] The colour pattern is normally smoky grey, dusky brown or blue-black on the back and upper body, fading towards the underside.

In the breeding season the males develop bright fluorescent blue and green around the eyes and nape[4] and a hump on the head[5] contrasting with the paler and duller females which are brownish or blue-grey in colour.

The juveniles remain in the protected estuarine waters where they are found around man-made structures, wrecks and over shell substrates.

[4] They are a predatory species with a rather catholic diet which includes crabs, shrimps, barnacles, worms, tunicates, small fish and bivalves.

They are also preyed on by larger fish and their known predators include monkfish (Lophius americanus), spotted hake (Urophycis regia), summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus), striped bass (Morone saxatilis), bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), weakfish (Cynoscion regalis), little skate (Leucoraja erinacea), spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias), bignose shark (Carcharhinus altimus) and dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus).

[6] Black sea bass are highly sought after by recreational and commercial fisherman,[1] There are two populations identified for fisheries management.

[5] This species has lean, white flesh which has a relatively firm texture, breaks into small flakes and has a delicate flavour.

[8] In sheltered environments the black sea bass can attain a high growth rate but this does not lead to long-term survival of their populations.