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Species Directory

Black Sea Bass

Overview Management Recreational Fishing Commercial Fishing Science Resources

Black Sea Bass

Centropristis striata

Black sea bass
Also Known As
Sea bass, Blackfish, Rock bass, Black bass, Tallywag

Quick Facts

Region
New England/Mid-Atlantic, Southeast
Fish Watch. U.S. Seafood Facts Logo
black-sea-bass-NOAA.jpg

About The Species

The black sea bass fishery in the U.S. operates from Maine to Florida. Black sea bass are found in association with structured habitats. They migrate offshore and south in the fall, returning north and inshore to coastal areas and bays in spring. The black sea bass fishery predominantly uses trawls or rod and reel, but other gear includes longline, handline, pot, trap, gillnet, spear, and dredge. The market for black sea bass is for human consumption. U.S. wild-caught black sea bass is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations. Implementing regulations are found at 50 CFR part 648 subpart I.

Population Status Icon

Population Level

Above target population levels in the Mid-Atlantic. Below target levels and fishing rate promotes population growth in the South Atlantic.

Fishing Status Icon

Fishing Status

At recommended levels.

Habitat Impacts Icon

Habitat Impacts

Fishing gears used to harvest black sea bass have minimal impacts on habitat.

Bycatch Icon

Bycatch

Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.

Status

  • According to the 2019 stock assessment, the black sea bass stock in the Mid-Atlantic is not overfished and is not subject to overfishing.
  • According to the 2018 stock assessment, the black sea bass stock in the South Atlantic is not overfished and is not subject to overfishing.
  • Although both stocks of black sea bass have been assessed, the biology of this species is not well known and data are lacking, resulting in stock assessments that have a high degree of uncertainty.
  • In the Mid-Atlantic, scientists at NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center conduct bottom trawl surveys to estimate the abundance of black sea bass and other species.
  • In the South Atlantic, scientists, managers, and stakeholders assess the status of these stocks through the Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) process.

Appearance

  • Black sea bass are usually black, but smaller ones are more of a dusky brown.
  • The belly is slightly paler than the sides.
  • Fins are dark with dusky spots.
  • The dorsal fin is marked with a series of white spots and bands.
  • During spawning, dominant males turn bright blue and have a blue hump on their heads.

Biology

  • Black sea bass grow slowly, up to 2 feet and 9 pounds.
  • They are able to reproduce when they reach 1 to 3 years old.
  • They are protogynous hermaphrodites—most black sea bass start out as females, and as they mature and grow they become males. Researchers aren’t sure why this happens, but one hypothesis suggests the relative scarcity of males in a spawning group may be the stimulus for a female to switch sex.
  • Black sea bass spawn in coastal areas from January through July.
  • Males gather a group of females to mate with and aggressively defend their territory.
  • Depending on their size, females can produce between 30,000 and 500,000 eggs in a spawning season.
  • Females can live up to 8 years; males live up to 12.
  • Black sea bass eat whatever prey is available, but they especially like crabs, shrimp, worms, small fish, and clams.
  • Little skate, spiny dogfish, monkfish, spotted hake, and summer flounder all feed on black sea bass.

Where They Live

  • Along the U.S. East Coast from Cape Cod to the Gulf of Mexico.

Management

  • NOAA Fisheries, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission cooperatively manage the black sea bass fishery north of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
  • Managed under the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan:
    • Annual catch limit divided between the commercial and recreational fisheries.
    • The commercial catch limit is further divided among the states based on historical harvests.
    • Specific management measures for the commercial fishery include:
      • Minimum size limits.
      • Minimum mesh requirements for trawls.
      • A moratorium on entry into the fishery.
      • Closed seasons.
  • NOAA Fisheries and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council manage the black sea bass fishery south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
  • Managed under the South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan:
    • Commercial fishermen must have a permit to harvest black sea bass.
    • Annual catch limits, commercial trip limits, and recreational bag and possession limits.
    • Sale and purchase restrictions applicable after a commercial quota closure.
    • Minimum size limit.
    • Accountability measures in place to ensure overfishing does not occur, or to correct for overages if catch limit is exceeded.
    • Seasonal area closures for the commercial black sea bass component of the snapper-grouper fishery.
    • Trawling has been banned in the South Atlantic since 1989 to prevent impacts to habitat.
    • Gear restrictions for fish pots:
      • Commercial fishermen must have a pot endorsement to use a black sea bass pot to harvest black sea bass.
      • Minimum mesh size to reduce catch of undersized black sea bass.
      • Pots must have escape vents and escape panels with degradable fasteners to prevent bycatch.
      • Limit on the number of pots per trip.
      • Pots must be brought back to shore at the end of each trip to reduce bycatch and impacts to habitat and protected species.
      • Pots are only allowed north of Cape Canaveral, Florida, to prevent adverse impacts on live-bottom habitat.
      • Spatial and temporal closures to minimize entanglement risk for endangered North Atlantic Right Whales.

Featured News

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New England/Mid-Atlantic
Photo of Jonah crab on toast Jonah crab on toast. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Heather Soulen.
Feature Story

Seafood Lovers Showed Us Their Seafood

Alaska
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Pacific Islands
Southeast
West Coast
National
black sea bass swim in very large research aquarium Wild black sea bass in a 32,000-gallon research aquarium at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center's James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory at Sandy Hook, New Jersey.
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Black Sea Bass Sensitive to Ocean Noise in Wind Energy Development Areas

New England/Mid-Atlantic
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Recreational Fishing Regulations

Possession Limits and Fish Size Requirements
  • There federal possession limit (bag limit) in the recreational black sea bass fishery is 15 fish per person.
  • The federal minimum fish size is 12.5 inches in total length (the total length does not included the filament/tail extension).
  • The federal recreational black sea bass seasons are February 1 through 28, and May 15 through December 31.
  • Please also check with your local state agency for any state or regional measures and requirements that may also apply.

 

Current Black Sea Bass Recreational Harvest Limit (January 1-December 31, 2020)

2020 Recreational Harvest Limit (RHL) 5.81 million lb

 

Reporting A Recreational Catch

Catch Reporting and Vessel Trip Reports (VTR)

For all charter/party permit holders, VTRs must be maintained on board the vessel and submitted to NOAA Fisheries for all fishing trips, regardless of species retained. Instructions for completing the VTR can be found online on our reporting page.

eVTRs

Charter/Party vessel permit owners and operators with a federal charter/party (for-hire) permit to fish for black sea bass (and other Mid-Atlantic species) must submit the required VTR by electronic means through a software application approved by NOAA Fisheries. These electronic log VTRs must be submitted within 48 hours after entering port at the conclusion of a trip. More information of the eVTR requirements and help with electronic reporting can be found online on our reporting page.

Other Reporting Information

The recreational (charter/party) black sea bass fishery does not have any Interactive Voice Response (IVR), Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), or specific observer requirements. However, all federally permitted vessels are obligated to carry an observer if randomly selected by the National Observer Program.

Reporting is not required for the private recreational fishery, but the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) is a system of voluntary coordinated data collection programs designed to estimate recreational catch and effort.

More Information

  • e-CFR for Black Sea Bass Fishery Regulations
  • Greater Atlantic Recreational Fishing

Commercial Fishing Regulations

Possession and Size Requirements

The minimum commercial size limit for black sea bass is 11 inches in total length (Note: Filament/tail extension is NOT included in total length measurement).

There are no federal possession limit requirements in the commercial black sea bass fishery, unless using certain gear types (see below).

Please check with your state agency for any state or regional measures and requirements that may apply.

 

Current Black Sea Bass Specifications (January 1-December 31, 2020)

Overfishing Limit (OFL) 19.39 million lb
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) 15.07 million lb
Commercial Annual Catch Limit (ACL) 6.98 million lb
Commercial Annual Catch Target (ACT) 6.98 million lb
Commercial Quota 5.58 million lb

 

Reporting A Commercial Catch

Catch Reporting and Vessel Trip Reports (VTR)

VTRs must be submitted with a record of all fishing activity for each month. The reports must be submitted to NOAA fisheries or postmarked within 15 days after the end of the reporting month. Reports can also be submitted electronically through our online reporting page.

Other Reporting Information

The commercial black sea bass fishery does not have any Interactive Voice Response (IVR), Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), or specific observer requirements. However, all federally permitted vessels are obligated to carry an observer if randomly selected by the National Observer Program.

 

Commercial Gear Information

Otter trawlers – Vessels fishing under a black sea bass moratorium permit must have a minimum mesh size of 4.5-in diamond mesh applied throughout the codend for at least 75 continuous meshes forward of the end of the net. For codends with less than 75 meshes, the entire net must have a minimum mesh size of 4.5-in diamond mesh throughout. Black sea bass must be stored so as to be readily available for inspection in a standard 100 lb tote.

Vessels with a black sea bass moratorium permit that are not fishing in compliance with the above mesh requirements may retain no more than 500 lb from January 1 through March 31, and no more than 100 lb from April 1 through December 31.

Roller gear – A fishing vessel shall not use roller rig trawl gear with rollers greater than 18 inches in diameter.

Pots and traps – Black sea bass pots must have ghost panels (measuring 3 in by 6 in), degradable hinges, two escape vents in the parlor, and identification as follows:

  • Degradable Hinges made with
    • Untreated hemp, jute, or cotton string of 3/16 in diameter or smaller;  or
    • Magnesium alloy, pop-up devises or similar magnesium alloy fasteners; or
    • Ungalvanized or uncoated iron wire 0.094 in diameter or smaller.
  • Escape Vents
    • Rectangular vents measuring 1 3/8 in by 5 ¾ in; or
    • Circular vents measuring 2.5 in in diameter; or
    • Square vents with sides of 2 in, inside measure; or
    • Spaces of at least 1 3/8 in between two sets of wooden laths.
  • Identification
    • Marked with state registration number; and/or
    • Marked with U.S. Coast Guard documentation number.

More Information

  • e-CFR for Black Sea Bass Fishery Regulations
  • Quota Monitoring
  • Fishing Industry Home Page

Subsistence Fishing Regulations

Management Overview

The black sea bass fishery is managed in state and federal waters by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, in conjunction with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. NOAA Fisheries serves as the implementing body for rules and regulations within the fishery.

The fishery is managed using minimum size, season, and a bag limit for the recreational fishery; and an annual coast-wide quota, size limit, and gear restrictions for the commercial fishery.

The fishing year runs from January 1 through December 31, and there are no specified management areas for the fishery; with NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Region jurisdiction covering black sea bass from Maine to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina (35° 15.3’ N latitude).

Control Date for the Black Sea Bass Fishery: June 5, 2001


Specifications/Quotas

The Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) requires the specification of catch and harvest limits for up to three years at a time. In 1997, Judge Robert Dumar ordered that specifications must publish before the fishing year begins.

Inseason Actions

If the coast-wide commercial black sea bass quota is fully harvested, then the commercial black sea bass fishery will be closed.

 

Current Black Sea Bass Specifications (January 1-December 31, 2020)

Overfishing Limit (OFL) 19.39 million lb
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) 15.07 million lb
Commercial Annual Catch Limit (ACL) 6.98 million lb
Commercial Annual Catch Target (ACT) 6.98 million lb
Recreational ACL and ACT 8.09 million lb
Commercial Quota 5.58 million lb
Recreational Harvest Limit (RHL) 5.81 million lb

 

Accountability Measures (AM)

Commercial AM

Any overages of the annual coast-wide quota will be deducted from the quota allocation for the following year in the final rule that establishes the annual quota.

Recreational AM

The recreational sector ACL will be evaluated based on a 3-year moving average comparison of total catch (landings and dead discards). Both landings and dead discards will be evaluated in determining if the 3-year average recreational ACL has been exceeded. If available data indicate that the recreational sector ACL has been exceeded, the total catch exceeds the ABC, or the total catch exceeds the OFL, then a system of accountability measures will be used that are based on a combination of how high the overage is and what condition the stock is in. In other words, the status of the stock determines what type of management response would be implemented, including adjustment of management measures, scaled payback of overage, or pound-for-pound overage payback. These adjustments will be made in the following fishing year, or as soon as possible, as a single year adjustment.


Regulatory History

  • 1996 – Black Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) is incorporated into the Summer Flounder FMP (through Amendment 9); established black sea bass management measures including commercial quotas, recreational harvest limits, size limits, gear restrictions, permits, and reporting requirements.
  • 1997 – Amendment 10 modified commercial minimum mesh requirements, continued commercial vessel moratorium, and prohibited transfer of fish at sea.
  • 1998 – Amendment 11 modified certain provisions related to vessel replacement and upgrading, permit history transfer, splitting, and permit renewal regulations.
  • 2001 – Framework 1 established quota set-aside for research.
  • 2003 – Amendment 13 revised the black sea bass commercial quota system.
  • 2004 – Framework 5 established multi-year specification setting of quota.
  • 2007 – Framework 7 built flexibility into the process to define and update status determination criteria for species.
  • 2007 – Amendment 16 standardized bycatch reporting methodology.
  • 2009 – Mid-Atlantic black sea bass is considered rebuilt.
  • 2011 – Amendment 15 established annual catch limits and accountability measures.
  • 2014 – Amendment 19 changed recreational accountability measures.
  • 2015 – Amendment 17 implemented Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology.
  • 2015 – Framework 8 changed the start date of the recreational fishing season from May 19 to May 15.
  • 2015 – Amendment 18 eliminated the requirement for vessel owners to submit "did not fish" reports for months or weeks when their vessel was not fishing.  Removed some of the restrictions for upgrading vessels listed on Federal fishing permits
  • 2017 – Amendment 20 implemented management measures to prevent the development of new, and the expansion of existing, commercial fisheries on certain forage species in the Mid-Atlantic.

More Information

  • e-CFR for Black Sea Bass Fishery Regulations
  • Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Black Sea Bass Page
  • Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Ba…
  • Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan
  • Black Sea Bass Permits Page
  • Quota Monitoring
  • Fishing Industry Home Page

Science Overview

The most recent benchmark stock assessment for black sea bass was in 2016, where the stock was declared not overfished and overfishing was not occurring. The next assessment for black sea bass is an operational assessment, scheduled for August 2019. This operational assessment will incorporate revised Marine Recreational Information Program data.

 

Research, Surveys, & Data

Black Sea Bass Stock Status Based on Most Recent (2016) Benchmark Stock Assessment
Stock Black Sea Bass
Spawning Stock Biomass (SSB) 48.9 million lb (2015)
SSBMSY Proxy 21.3 million lb
SSB / ½ SSBMSY Proxy 2.30
Overfished Definition The stock is overfished when SSB < ½ SSBMSY
Overfished? No
Fishing Mortality Rate (F) 0.27 (2015)
FMSY 0.36
F/FMSY 0.75
Overfishing Definition Overfishing occurs when F > FMSY
Overfishing? No
Current Rebuilding Program? No. Black sea bass stock declared rebuilt in 2009
Next Stock Assessment Operational assessment scheduled for Summer 2019

Research & Data

Atlantic Red Drum Fishery Harvest or Possession Prohibition Area

This dataset depicts the boundaries of the Atlantic Red Drum Fishery…
PDF Metadata Shapefile
October 07, 2019 - Map ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
This is the chart for the Atlantic Red Drum Fishery Harvest or Possession Prohibition Area.

Commercial Black Sea Bass Pot Closure for November & April Fishery Management Area Map & GIS Data

Map and GIS data representing the seasonal closure of the commercial black…
Google Earth File Shapefile
June 27, 2019 - Map ,
Southeast
This is a map of the commercial black sea bass pot closure for November and April in the South Atlantic Region.

Commercial Black Sea Bass Pot Closure Dec 1 - Mar 31 Fishery Management Area Map & GIS Data

Map and GIS data representing the seasonal closure of the commercial black…
Google Earth File Shapefile
June 27, 2019 - Map ,
Southeast
This is a map of the commercial black sea bass pot closure Dec 1 - Mar 31 in the South Atlantic Region.
View More

More Information

  • 2016 Black Sea Bass Benchmark Stock Assessment
  • Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Black Sea Bass Page
  • Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Ba…

Documents

Document

Age Determination Methods for Northwest Atlantic Species

This manual documents age determination techniques used by staff at the Woods Hole Laboratory to…

New England/Mid-Atlantic
More Documents

Data & Maps

Map

New Jersey Special Management Zone Areas

New England/Mid-Atlantic
Map

Management Units for Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass

New England/Mid-Atlantic
Map

Delaware Special Management Zone Areas for Recreational Fishermen

New England/Mid-Atlantic
Map

Atlantic Red Drum Fishery Harvest or Possession Prohibition Area

New England/Mid-Atlantic
More Data and Maps

Research

Fish and Invertebrate Acoustic Projects

The Northeast’s Passive Acoustic Research Program works on various projects which focus on identifying spawning grounds and their season duration, acoustic diversity, and ecology. We also evaluate if and how human-made sound sources alter fish and…

New England/Mid-Atlantic

Milford Lab's GoPro Aquaculture Project

Using GoPro Cameras to Understand Interactions Between Shellfish Aquaculture Gear and the Environment

New England/Mid-Atlantic
More Research
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