Article by Capt. BJ Pietryak
It's that time of the year again... Many anglers wait patiently for the start of the black sea bass season to begin. Sea bass or black fish are one of our most sought after species. The season opened in Maryland and Delaware on May 15 with both states setting this year’s regulations at a 12.5 inch minimum and a creel limit of 15 per person/day.
Black sea bass (Centropristis Striata) are a black fish with white meat. An interesting fact is that sea bass are hermaphrodites being born female. At the size of 9-12.5” some will change to males during the winter months. The world record for sea bass is 10 lbs. 4 oz. from Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Sea bass can be found in back bay waters and as deep as 450 ft. The average depth fished by most anglers is between 60 ft. and 100 ft.
The equipment used by fishermen can vary. Rods can be spinning or conventional. They can be either light weight or medium/heavy. When fishing in deeper water, an angler could benefit from a stronger rod to help handle the increased weight needed to keep the bait on the bottom. Between 2-12 oz. of weight is used to reach these fish bottom and wreck dwelling fish. Braid or mono can be used, with braid being the preference in deeper water due to its sensitivity. A variety of hooks can be used, to include a wide gap flounder hook, small straight shank hook and circle hooks.
The simplest rig used for these fish are the top and bottom rigs. These can be tied by yourself using two dropper loops about 10” apart with a double overhand knot at the bottom for the weight. See (photo to the right) Flat fall jigs, Butterfly jigs, as well as lucanus jigs are also used by anglers.
Bait for black sea bass can also vary. It can include squid, sand fleas, and clams. Many anglers and several party boats use salted clams. These are created by soaking clams in water and a heavy helping of kosher salt. Stir occasionally to ensure even mixing. After a few hours these clams can be put into bags or simply left in the bucket. No refrigeration is needed, and they will last a few months. This process makes the clams much tougher and keeps them on the hook much longer. If you plan on fishing for sea bass multiple times, I suggest you buy a case or big box of clams and salt them.
The nice thing about these fish, especially for new anglers, is that it is a “do nothing” style of fishing. When over a wreck or structure, simply drop your rig down to the bottom and wait until you feel the fish tugging, then pull up and reel!
These fish are found around structures such as wrecks, artificial reefs, and/or coral bottoms. Many artificial reefs lie off our waters. In Delaware, go to the Delaware Reef Foundation to get a free map of these locations and in Maryland the Ocean City Reef Foundation offers a reef map for a modest price. These maps show locations and details of the reef's composition; old ships, barges, concrete blocks, subway cars and cables are some of the items you will find. Ships and cables in particular are some of the best structures for holding big numbers of these delicious fish, but be aware that they are very prone to hanging up your rigs, so expect to lose a few.
These sites can also be found on many charts. The areas around us include the bass grounds, African Queen Site, Sites 10 and 11 in Delaware, NJ/DE reef, Jack's Spot, and Marine Electric. Look for them in shallower water (60ft) in the spring months and then go deeper (80-120ft) as the water warms in summer.
Several options are available to fish for sea bass. If you own your own boat, you can either drift the wrecks or anchor on them. A drift of 1.5 mph is best. Private charter boats are also available, but can get expensive. Head boats or party boats are best for single anglers and new anglers as they are most affordable. They have all equipment needed, including bait, and have mates who will help you and make your experiences enjoyable. Just a reminder, due to Covid 19 these boats are running capacity restrictions. You should call or check websites for a reservation early as walk ups may not be available. Some of the best charters and head boats in the area are in the Fishing Charters section of this paper.
Sea bass is prized for its flavor and can be cooked in many ways. So get out there and catch some!
