Fish guide
Black Sea Bass
Centropristis striata. Also called Sea bass, Blackfish.
Showing the fish for Delaware, Maryland and Virginia ocean coast.
Season in Delmarva
DNREC: abundant, around reefs, wrecks, jetties and bridge supports; mid-October 2026 Lewes boats found more keepers in deeper water. ASMFC inshore May to September. (Our inference)
Season by region
| Myrtle Beach | JFMAMJJASOND |
|---|---|
| Long Island | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Maine | JFMAMJJASOND |
| North Shore MA | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Cape Cod | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Rhode Island | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Connecticut | JFMAMJJASOND |
| North Jersey | JFMAMJJASOND |
| South Jersey | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Delmarva | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Outer Banks | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Southern NC | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Charleston | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Georgia | JFMAMJJASOND |
Where to find them
Jetties, docks and bridge supports for small fish; reefs and wrecks off Lewes and Ocean City by boat, more keepers in deeper water.
On the bottom right against structure: pier pilings, jetty rocks, reefs.
What to look for
Structure: pilings, rocks, live bottom. Many short fish mean you need to move to bigger structure.
What to throw
Bait
Squid strips (about 3 in by 1/2 in), Cut mullet or bluefish, Shrimp, Crab. Two-hook dropper rig with 1/0 to 3/0 circle hooks on short droppers, sinker just heavy enough to hold the bottom.
Leader
Short 2 to 3 in droppers with 1/0 to 3/0 circle hooks.
Common mistakes
- Fishing open sand away from structure
- Keeping fish under the 13 in limit (many pier fish are short)
Landing
Swing small fish up; use a pier net for big ones.
Handling
- Sharp dorsal spines
- Sharp gill cover spines
Smooth the dorsal fin down from front to back before you grip it.
Keep or release
Excellent eating. Check the state's season (DE, MD or VA).
Typical: 8 to 10 in in Delaware Bay; larger on the coast. Large: unknown. Delaware record 7 lb 6 oz (1988).
Limits
FishOS has not checked the DE and MD and VA limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Delaware DNREC Fish and Wildlife before you keep a fish.
Sources
- DNREC Delaware Fish and Shellfish Facts: Black Sea Bass (Official source)
- DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife weekly fishing report (Oct 15 2026) (Official source)
- ASMFC: Black Sea Bass (Official source)
- NOAA NEFSC Essential Fish Habitat source document: black sea bass (2nd ed.) (Official source)
- SCDNR species profile: black sea bass (Official source)
Is black sea bass worth it today?
The planner rates it for your exact time with the live tide, weather and water temperature.
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