Fish guide
Black Sea Bass
Centropristis striata. Also called Sea bass, Blackfish.
Showing the fish for South Jersey Shore, NJ.
Season in South Jersey
ASMFC inshore May to September; May 2025 sea bass to 21 in on reef sites in 50 to 65 ft on clams and diamond jigs; June 2026 shorts outnumber keepers on inshore wrecks. (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: Southern New Jersey Fishing Report, May 22 2025 (Angler knowledge)
- On The Water: Southern New Jersey Fishing Report, June 11 2026 (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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