Bass or Seabass? A Guide to Wild and Farmed

Estimated reading time: 3 to 4 minutes

Is there a difference between bass and seabass? It is one of the questions we are asked most often, and a fair one. The two names are used as though they mean the same thing, yet in the seafood trade they often point to fish from very different sources.

At Hamiltons Fish we sell wild bass only. This is a deliberate choice, made to support the British fishing industry and the day boats that land it at Brixham. Here is what the names mean, and why we have chosen wild.

Is there a difference between bass and seabass?

As a species, no. They are the same fish, the European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), a silvery fish with a mild flavour and a firm texture. In everyday use in the UK trade, though, the two words have come to suggest different things: how the fish was raised, and where it came from.

Wild bass and farmed seabass

This is where the difference lies. "Bass", or wild bass, usually means fish caught in the wild, often by line or net, and landed fresh. It is seasonal, with a firm texture and a clean, delicate flavour. "Seabass" more often refers to farmed fish, commonly raised in the Mediterranean, with a softer texture and a richer, oilier character. This is not an official rule, but it is a distinction many fishmongers make, and one we follow.

Why we sell wild bass only

We made the decision to stock wild bass and nothing else, because it keeps our trade with the British boats that fish our own waters. Our wild bass is line-caught or netted in British waters and bought at Brixham Fish Market, prepared to order and never previously frozen. If you are looking for fish with a clear origin and a firm, clean texture, this is it.

A seasonal fish

Wild bass is not available all year round. There is a national closed season for bass each year, from the first of February to the end of March, when it cannot be landed and sold. The closure protects the fish during the spawning months, so the stock can breed and recover, and it applies to everyone, not just to us. It is one of the reasons bass stocks have begun to recover after years of pressure, and it is part of what buying British and buying wild supports. When wild bass is out of season, we are happy to point you towards another fish that suits the dish you had in mind.

How to cook wild bass

Wild bass rewards simple cooking. The firm flakes and clean flavour need very little: a whole fish roasted or grilled, or fillets pan-fried skin side down until the skin is crisp, with lemon and a few herbs. Heavy sauces tend to get in the way more than they help.

Shop with confidence

We label our fish clearly, so you know exactly what you are buying. Because we never sell previously frozen fish and only buy to order, you can be sure of the quality on the plate.

Shop Wild Bass, landed at Brixham, filleted fresh, and well suited to simple cooking. You can also find it, when in season, among our Brixham Fish Market range.