Species profile
Black Sea Bass
Centropristis striata
Identify Black Sea Bass (Centropristis striata) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 6 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Black Sea Bass (Centropristis striata) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 11 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 3 (New York); the most generous is 100 (Florida).
Across 8 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 13.7 in (≈ 1 ft 2 in).
Confirmed by 1,765 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with New York, New Jersey, and Florida the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Black Sea Bass are protogynous hermaphrodites — some females transform into males as they grow larger.
- Dominant males develop a fleshy hump on the forehead and vibrant blue-edged fins.
- Can live up to 10 years and reach nearly 9 pounds.
- Range the entire U.S. Atlantic coast from Maine to Florida.
- Feed heavily on crabs, shrimp, and small fish over rocky bottom structure.
Where Black Sea Bass are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Black Sea Bass
Background
The black sea bass (Centropristis striata) is an exclusively marine grouper found more commonly in northern than in southern ranges.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Black Sea Bass article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other bony fish on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Black Sea Bass?
Black Sea Bass (Centropristis striata) is an IUCN Least Concern bony-fish species regulated in 11 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Black Sea Bass?
Black Sea Bass is Centropristis striata.
Is Black Sea Bass regulated for fishing?
Yes — Black Sea Bass has fishing regulations in 6 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Black Sea Bass?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Black Sea Bass along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.