WANT TO CATCH BLACK SEA BASS? GET JIGGY WITH THEM

Black sea bass are popular with fishermen up and down the Atlantic Coast of the USA. They’ve been caught from Nova Scotia south to the Florida Keys and even into the Gulf of Mexico as far as the Mississippi Delta. The black seabass population is managed in two population groups- the North Atlantic/Mid-Atlantic population north of Cape Hatteras and the South Atlantic population south of Cape Hatteras. It is in the region Cape Cod south to the tip of the Eastern Shore of Maryland where they are most highly sought after by both recreational and commercial fishermen.

The black sea bass is commonly found in the vicinity of areas with a rocky substrate. Although more common in moderate depths structured areas, hey have also been recorded in deeper, offshore waters to depths as low as 430 ft. They spend most of their time near the bottom where they congregate around features on the bottom such as rock piles, wrecks and man-made structures. It is often encountered resting in a head-up position waiting for the next meal. Normally the dorsal fin is folded down but will be raised and spread out as an aggressive signal to other members of its own species. Black seabass are slow-growing and they reach sexual maturity at between one and three years old. These fish spawn from January to July with the smaller females producing as few as 30,000 eggs while the larger females can produce 500,000. Eggs hatch 75 hours after laying, in water temperatures around 61 °F.

Black seabass are a predatory species. Their diet includes crabs, shrimps, barnacles, worms, small fish and bivalves. Females live to around 8 years of age while males can live to 12 years old. In the Mid-Atlantic they migrate seasonally as water temperature changes. They migrate offshore and south in the fall, returning north and inshore to coastal areas and bays in the spring. Black sea bass are usually black, but smaller ones are more of a dusky brown. The belly is slightly paler than the sides, and their fins are dark with dusky spots. The dorsal fin is also marked with a series of white spots and bands. During spawning, dominant males turn bright blue often with a blue hump on their heads. They attain a maximum length of 24-26” with a maximum known weight of about 9 lbs. Smaller fish are much more common.

The black sea bass has an oblong, laterally compressed body. It has a large mouth (hence the name bass), armed with bands of teeth on the jaw and with a triangular patch of teeth in the front roof of the mouth, with more teeth along the sides of that area. The mouth extends to the middle of the eye. The gill cover bears three flat spines. The dorsal fin has ten spines and eleven softer rays, the front spines being longer than the rear. The anal fin has three spines and seven soft rays.

Black seabass is popular for the table as it has lean, white flesh with a firm texture that breaks into small bite-sized flakes and has a delicate flavor. It is not surprising that the annual catch limit is divided between commercial and recreational fisheries. There are size and bag limits, and seasonal measures established for federal waters as well as by each state to ensure that the recreational harvest limit is not exceeded. The recreational fishery is evaluated after each season, and management measures are adjusted as needed in the following year. In the Mid-Atlantic, commercial fishermen mainly use hook-and-line gear, pots, and otter trawls. The southern fishery has banned the use of trawls. In 2022, the commercial haul of black sea bass totaled 5 million pounds and was valued at $14 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries database. In that same year recreational anglers landed 9 million pounds of black sea bass, according to NOAA Fisheries records.

For the recreational angler, black seabass are good fighters, and in most of the fishery you can catch them year-round. Given the temperature related migration, spring and summer is the most popular. They spawn in the shallows in the late spring from New England to New Jersey and by June, black sea bass fishing is in full swing in 20 to 40 feet of water. As the summer moves on, you can find them around structures, including piers, jetties, shoals, reefs, rockpiles, and wrecks in water anywhere from 60 to 120 feet. They readily hit jigs, and bottom rigged teaser hooks. Lead jigs or bucktail jigs tipped with soft-plastic trailers, or scented artificial bait like Gulp are very effective, as are metal jigging “spoons”. Lighter weight spinning

gear has become a popular and fun way to catch them. As conditions will vary, make sure to have a weight assortment of lead and/or jigs from 1/2 to 5 ounces to stay on the bottom. Deeper water and faster current usually require heavier jigs. Drop your jig to the bottom, then crank the reel one half-turn to keep it 12 to 18 inches off the bottom, which is where sea bass tend to feed. Keeping it off the bottom helps you minimize sea robin catching. Keep your fishing line vertical, and if that is difficult, try a heavier jig. Lift the rod tip to make the jig dart up from the bottom, then let it float back down, and repeat. Sea bass are aggressive, so when you feel a distinct thump, set the hook. The basic high-low rig with a teaser on top is a popular way to fish, and it works well in deeper water or where a heavy jig can act as your weight. TightLines & Live The Passion!
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