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SEVEN CASTS
Coastal Companionby Seven Casts · Coastal Virginia
Plate 20 of 79SaltwaterOffshore

Black Sea Bass

Centropristis striata — also called sea bass, knothead (large males)

The wreck and reef bass of the nearshore and offshore structure — squid on a bottom rig, a federal season with set dates, and a sweet white fillet.

Typically present

beginnerBoat recommendedOffshore oceanNearshore ocean
Practice this species

Try a simulated catch in Seven Casts. Use this guide and its official sources to plan a real trip.

This profile has not yet been checked against an official regional data source — confirm identification, seasons, and regulations before you rely on it.

Black Sea Bass (Centropristis striata)
Fig. 20. Centropristis striata

Illustration: Duane Raver / USFWS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — Public domainLong edge is 752px, below this project's 1600px preference. Accepted because it is the best rights-clear, correctly-identified photo found for this species — see SPECIES_PHOTO_AUDIT.md for the source search record.

Habitat
Offshore waters
Methods
Inshore boat, Offshore
Typical size
12–15 in
Eating
good

Identification

Look for

  1. Stout, dusky black to grey body with pale spots that show as faint stripes; large males turn blue-black with a hump on the nape
  2. A single dorsal fin with white-edged spines and a rounded tail with a long upper ray on larger fish
  3. Big mouth and large eye for a fish its size; found tight to wrecks, reefs, and rockpiles
Typical size here
12–15 in
Notable fish
3–5 lb 'knotheads' on the deeper wrecks

Local waters

  • Wrecks, reefs, and rockpiles
  • Nearshore and offshore structure

Primarily a boat fishery here — typically fished by inshore boat, offshore boat.

Show on the map

When to fish

Typically present: spring, fall

Spring and fall over structure; the federally co-managed recreational season opens and closes on specific dates that change year to year.

Water temperature

The water, not the calendar, sets the season here — a warm October or a cold snap moves these bands.

Water temperature and the seasons

How to catch it

  • Squid strips or clam on a high-low rig dropped straight to the wreck; the fish are on the structure, not beside it.
  • Small jigs bounced along the structure take the bigger 'knotheads'.
  • Check the federal and VMRC season before the trip — it opens and closes on set dates.

Bait & lures

  • Squid or cut bait on a bottom rig
  • Small jigs bounced along structure

Tackle to start with

Ranges, not rules — match the day, the water, and the fish in front of you.

Rod
6½–7 ft medium-heavy
Line
20–30 lb braid
Leader
30–40 lb mono on a high-low rig
Hooks
2/0–4/0

Rigs for black sea bass

All rigs

Packing lists written for it

Terms usedPresentation

On the table

Sweet, delicate white flesh — pan-fried, baked with breadcrumbs, or whole-roasted. Confirm the current season and limits with VMRC.

  • Sharp dorsal spines and gill covers — grip from below or use a towel; measure carefully, the size limit is strict.

Recipes written for it

Cleaning, chilling, and cooking a legal catch covers the steps between the cooler and the pan.

Where to try

Water that suits black sea bass

Spots marked “habitat match” share this species' water type, habitat, and methods — not a report that it has been caught there.

On the mapAll fishing spots