Fish guide
Black Sea Bass
Centropristis striata. Also called Sea bass, Blackfish.
Showing the fish for North Jersey Shore, NJ.
Season in North Jersey
ASMFC: recreational fishing follows the inshore period, May to September; reef-site sea bass very cooperative in Oct 2025 and excellent offshore in Dec 2025 (deeper water by boat). Shore anglers mostly see small fish at jetties and pilings. (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
Small fish at jetties and pilings from shore; keepers on reefs and wrecks by boat, diamond jigs often better for keepers than clams.
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. NJ sets several sea bass seasons; check NJ rules.
Typical: About 12 in, 1 lb. Large: 3 lb and up (big males with a blue hump). SC record 8 lb 3 oz (1995).
Limits
FishOS has not checked the NJ limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife before you keep a fish.
Sources
- ASMFC: Black Sea Bass (Official source)
- On The Water: Northern New Jersey Fishing Report, October 16 2025 (Angler knowledge)
- On The Water: Northern New Jersey Fishing Report, December 11 2025 (Angler knowledge)
- NOAA NEFSC Essential Fish Habitat source document: black sea bass (2nd ed.) (Official source)
- SCDNR species profile: black sea bass (Official source)
- SCDNR saltwater game fish records (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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