Paralabrax clathratus has an elongate,[4] relatively deep, compressed body with a pointed snout and a large, downturned[5] mouth.

The mouth extends back as far as the centre line of the pupil and the lower mandible protrudes to form part of the snout.

[6] The juvenile fish are light brown in colour,[7] while the adults are brown to olive-green fading ventrally[4] The dorsal part of the head has a mottling of light yellow spots while the dorsal part of the body is patterned with black, white, and/or olive green blotches.

Similar color changes have occurred when kelp bass were artificially removed from their habitat and placed into pens for study.

[5] They utilize a variety of micro-habitats within this habitat for feeding, shelter and breeding, for example the juveniles will hide among the blades of kelp and among seaweed in the intertidal zone.

The adults prefer deeper water, venturing into rocky habitats where their larger size gives them some protection against predation.

[12] The aggregations are normally formed around a natural or man-made structure such as the canopy of the kelp forest or piers and occur at depths of 8 to 18 metres (26 to 59 ft).

The mating fish break off into smaller groups in which a gravid female will swim to the substrate and males will perform courtship displays by rubbing themselves against her flanks and nibbling at her fins.

The reason for this remains a mystery, though it has been suggested that spawning during the high tides that are associated with the full moon may increase fertilization success.

Using this maximum age as a reference, studies found that, on average, about 17.6 percent of kelp bass die from natural causes each year.

In order to collect data on the growth and life history of Paralabrax clathratus, scientists dove along transects and recorded the number of fish that they saw within a 3 meter radius and their sizes.

The juveniles are more diurnal as zooplankton is more abundant during the day and their small size means they are subjected to greater predation so they take sanctuary among the kelp.

[3] Kelp bass are normally solitary, but will form aggregations in pelagic waters or spawning and to hunt as a group on bait fish.

[7] Paralabrax clathratus is ranked as the second most abundant California shallow water generalist and[3] it is not officially considered to be endangered in any part of its habitat.

[3] From 1974 to 2014, a 97 percent reduction in the abundance of kelp bass was observed in southern California using entrapment monitoring data.

[16] A similar chain reaction can occur if industrial waste or sewage runs off into the ocean and poisons the kelp.

[17] Kelp forests along the west coast are also threatened by invasive species such as Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (purple sea urchins).

[18] Another invasive species along the coast of California and Baja is wreaking havoc on kelp bass "recruitment", which is when newly settled juveniles move into their preferred habitats.

It has replaced the native giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera,[19] which has declined substantially due to increasing ocean temperatures.

No-take marine reserves have been successful in helping to preserve their abundance, as they rarely leave their home ranges.

[21] Before colonization, all species of bass were an important food source for west coast indigenous peoples.

Kelp bass were a particularly vital staple for the Chumash tribe, who historically lived along the central coast of California.

[3] Even after being released, there is evidence to suggest that Kelp Bass remain stressed for many hours after capture.

Interestingly, larger individuals tend to recover more rapidly and experience less stress in the first place when caught and released.