This year, the minimum size for black sea bass in Rhode Island is 13”. There is a shorter season for the first sub-period due to a 7% reduction required by the At- lantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. The first sub period started Sunday, June 29 and runs to August 31 with a three fish/person/day limit. The second subperiod runs from September 1 to December 31 with a seven fish/person/day limit.
Anglers have been catching keeper size black sea bass since the spring before the season opened while fishing for tautog and summer flounder. So this should be a good year for black sea bass. Al Conti of Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown, RI said, “Customers have been catching black sea bass when fishing for summer flounder in the four to five pound range so the season this year should be good.” Manny Macedo of Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren, RI said, “There are a lot of black sea bass out there and we’re getting good reports everyday from customers.”
New York State recreational black sea bass regulations call for a 13” minimum size with an eight fish/person/day limit and a season that runs from July 15 to December 31. Massachusetts has a 14” minimum size with a May 17 to September 15 season for private anglers and an eight fish/person/ day limit. There is a special access program in Massachusetts for the for-hire industry if operators decide to opt into the program that reduces their season but enhances the allowable catch limit.
BLACK SEA BASS FACTS
• Black sea bass are primarily black (sounds odd), but they have the ability to adjust their color to blend in with the bottom with colors ranging from grey, brown, black to a deep indigo hue.
• They spend most of their time around the bottom and can be found near rocky areas, jetties, rips and like a lot of bottom fish, they like structure.
• Black sea bass are hermaphroditic fish… they begin life as female then turn male.
• Black sea bass put up a good feisty fight but they do not grow to be large fish in the Northeast.
• The largest black sea bass caught was 9 pounds, 8 ounces and about 19.7” long.
• Ideal water temperature for black sea bass is 59 to 64 degrees.
HOW AND WHERE TO CATCH THEM… RIGS AND BAIT
Rigs often used to catch black sea bass have two hooks approximately 12” to 16” apart with a bank sinker to hold bottom. Squid or sea clams are most often used as bait. Anglers often catch them while fishing for summer flounder (fluke) or tautog because they are on or close to the bottom. They can also be caught with jigs and many prefer this method.
The best time to fish for black sea bass is from May (if legal) through the sum- mer, when they are closest to shore. Any underwater structures… rocks, wrecks, piers and jetties will attract black sea bass. The larger males are generally found in deeper water.
Capt. Robb Roach of Kettlebottom Outfitters charters, Jamestown, RI said “Fish reef edges, deeper structure, ESP wrecks are best. Squid strips and small crabs are bait of choice. They especially like tiny lob- sters but the only time you canuseitisif they spit up a dead one.”
Capt. Roach said that Hi/Low rigs work great and that fishing for black sea bass is more about location than fancy fishing rigs. “Anchor up to target black sea bass specifically, oth- erwise you will often catch them on a drift when fluke fishing.” said Roach.
The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries says, “The black sea bass is predominantly a bottom-feeder, although it will occasionally strike at plugs, jigs, or lures. Thus, bait
fishing with strips of squid or fish is the most productive method. The most commonly caught fish weigh from 1⁄2 to 2 pounds.
You can receive the greatest enjoyment when catching fish in this size range by using a medium-weight-spinning out- fit with 8-pound test line. Although a sea bass has a large mouth, use a #2 bait-holder hook tied above a small sinker; this fish normally hesitates to grab bait strung on large cod hooks.”
COOKING BLACK SEA BASS
Black sea bass is a delicate, sweet-tasting saltwater fish. The firm, white flesh of this species is a favorite of many. Bass are easy to fillet, especially when chilled, and yield a thick slice of meat. Some fillets are thick enough to slice lengthwise or to cut into nuggets for frying. Larger fish can be cut into steaks and cooked like striped bass.
Capt. Robb Roach’s favorite ways to cook black sea bass… “Cook whole! Gut, scale and cut off fins. Stuff and roast ei- ther in the oven or in a tin foil tent on the grill- yummy.”
The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries suggests broiling black sea bass fillets. When broiling, fold under the thin section from the tail area to al- low more even cook- ing. Place the fish in a greased pan, sprinkle with fresh ground pepper and paprika, and dot with butter or olive oil. Broil 5 to 6 minutes on each side, depending upon thickness, until the fillets are golden-brown. Be careful not to cook too long, as the fillets will dry and become somewhat leathery.
BLACK SEA BASS GETS ATTENTION OF RIMFC
Black sea bass (BSB) received a lot of atten- tion at the Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council (RIMFC) this winter. Council members and the fishing community expressed concern over the low quota assigned to Rhode Island (and other states) by the Atlantic Marine Fisheries Commission, the regional organization that provides management plan quotas and guidelines for coastal states in conjunction with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC).
The situation as related by members of the fishing community is that black sea bass are in abundance off coastal shores and in local bays. So much so that anglers catch them often as by- catch (and as bait stealers) when fishing for tautog, fluke and cod. So the large amounts of black sea bass and the low quotas have both commercial and recreational fishermen scratching their heads.
Councilman Kenneth Booth said, “The black sea bass situation is critical, there seem to be an awful lot of fish in the water, what do we have to do to get their attention (ASMFC and MAFMC). Should we engage an effort to enlist the support of our congressional delegation?” Jason McNamee, marine biologist for DEM, said, “The problem is not bad science, it is a matter of the process used (and classification given to BSB) that is impacting quota manage- meant.”
Mark Gibson, deputy chief for DEM’s Marine Fisheries, explained that black sea bass stock assessments are in tier 4 status, which is the lowest in terms of quality and suitability for management so what has to Mark Gibson, deputy chief for DEM’s Marine Fisheries, explained that black sea bass stock assessments are in tier 4 status, which is the lowest in terms of quality and suitability for management so what has to sessment could move up to a tier where catch limits could be connected to stock abundance.”
Black sea bass are a very important part of the fishery, for commercial fishermen, for charter and party boats and for recreational anglers. This species has a great economic impact on fisheries, we need more fish in our quota to liberalize regulations as there seems to be plenty of them in the water. We need to focus on getting research funding to change this.
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