Northeast coast
Black sea bass
Centropristis striata
Blue-black bruisers on every rock pile. Great eating.
What they like
- 5–30 musual depth (they tolerate 2–80 m)
- 12–24 °Cwater temperature they feed in
- clear or coloured waterwater clarity
- rough bottom, drop-offs, deep waterbottom they hunt, in order
- any tidetide
- daylightlight
Rock piles, wrecks and mussel beds in 5-30 m; they move inshore in late spring.
Season by region
Peak months, shaded. Outside them the species may still be around, just less reliably.
Bait and technique
Methods: bait, spinning / casting.
Bait and lures: Squid strips, clams, small jigs with a teaser.
Technique: Anchor or drift over the structure, bait on the bottom, lift gently when you feel weight.
Rules
Atlantic states: Seasons and sizes (about 15-16.5 in) differ by state and year. Verify with your state.
Seasons, sizes and bag limits change every year and differ by zone. Check the current regulations before you keep anything.
Preferences are expert estimates from the fisheries literature and angling practice, not measurements at your spot. The likelihoods on the maps are a planning aid, not a catch prediction.