the feasibility of rearing seabass, lates calcarifer, fry for fingerling production in illuminated floating nursery cages was determined. In experiment 1, sebass fry of 20.0 mm mean TL were stocked at 600 and 1200 in 1 m³ illuminated cages and reared without supplimental feeding. Control fish were stocked at same densities in non-illuminated cages at either density had higher specific growth rates (SGR) and percent survival (20-38%) than those of fish reared in non-illuminated cages was significantly higer than those found in the non-illuminated cages which was dominated by Copepods such as the Calanoid, Cyclopoid and Harpacticid and their nauplii. In experiment 2, minimum body size of seabass fry stocking in illuminated cages wa determined. Seabass fry of 7.35, 11.30, 18.72 and 20.71 mm total length (TL) were stocked at three repliates in illuminated cages and reared for 30 days. Percent survival was significantly higher for fish stocked at an initial size of 11.30 mmTL than the other size groups. Numbers of "shooters" (range = 6-9%) was significatly higher among fish with initial size of 7.35 mm and 20.71 mm than in other groups. SGR of 2.28%/day was highest for fish wth mean stocking size of 7.35 mm TL. Feeding incidence (FI) ranging from 13.16±6.7% to 54.9±4.2% was similar for all size groups during the first week fof rearing and significantly increased towards the end of rearing period except for fish stocked at 7.35mm intial TL. Results showed that nursery seabass fry in illuminated cages is feasible. Natural zoopankton were attracted into the cages by artifical illumination sufficiently served as food to fish. Minimumstocking size of seabass fry is from 10-15 mm TL for better survival. Early transfer of fry in nursery cages and availability of natural zooplankton through artificial illuminatiion can be a cost-effective method of nursing seabass fry.