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Home > Learn to Fish & Boat > Fish Species > Black Sea Bass
Black sea bass are hermaphrodites; most begin their lives as females and change to males.
The tail or caudal fin is rounded, and the top ray of the tail fin is typically elongated in larger specimens. The dorsal fin is marked by several oblique, white spots arranged into stripes, and there is a large dark spot on the last dorsal spine. Large males of the species are sometimes known as humpbacks because of the visible rise or hump just behind their heads.
The black sea bass is found in the western North Atlantic Ocean along the United States east coast from Massachusetts to the Gulf of Mexico; it is most commonly found from Long Island, New York to South Carolina. The black sea bass is a bottom species, living around wrecks, reefs, piers, breakwaters, and over beds of shells, coral, rock, etc. The following list includes additional details on where to catch this fish:
The best fishing is in depths of 6 to 20 fathoms from May to June and from November to December, though they can be caught year-round. When hooked on light tackle, the sea bass fights hard all the way to the surface. The action is fast and vigorous, and in spite of its small size it is very much a game fish. Most are caught from anchored or drifting boats by bottom fishing with baits or by jigging with small metal jigs, while some are caught from docks, piers, or the shore. The following are fishing methods used to catch this fish:
The following are lures, tackle or bait that can be used to catch this fish:
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