There are two kinds of saltwater bass native to North American coastlines. The black sea bass is indigenous to the Gulf of Mexico and Florida coastline extending northward along the east coast to Cape Cod. These fish live around deep-water reefs, and they have a dense and tasty meat. However, they are not exciting to catch. For that, anglers turn to the striped bass, a migratory monster that prowls the east coast and reaches sizes up to 70 pounds. These fish are cunning and strong, and they provide a very satisfying fight on the line.
Finding Stripers
The striped bass migrate on a bird's schedule, heading north in the warmer months and retreating to more tropical waters for the winter. They spend most of their time along shorelines, perhaps as much as a mile or two out, and in coastal estuaries and inlets. Their natural pattern brings them as far north as the St. Lawrence River in Canada and as far south as the St. Johns River in Florida. They move into inland waterways to spawn and feed in the spring, particularly in the Chesapeake Bay, the Hudson River and Delaware River. They like the shallows where they can hunt mackerel and herring, and they generally move with the tides. Fishing for stripers near an inlet or a rocky jetty, at night with the outgoing tide is sure to land at least some strikes if not an actual catch.
Follow the wind. If there is a strong offshore that causes a lot of upwelling and muddy water along the coast, cast out to the blue water past the mud line. Follow the wind as it pushes into coves and inlets as the water movement forces bait fish into these areas.
Attracting Stripers
Some anglers like to chum the water, but this can be problematic in strong currents or along shorelines with the incoming surf. It's better to hook your line with the right bait and cast into the right areas. Using the natural food source is always best, and in around the Chesapeake,, that means herring if you can get it or clam bellies if you can't. Hook the herring just ahead of the dorsal fin, and cast upcurrent from your target area. Stripers are active swimmers and aggressive feeders, though they are known as somewhat lazy hunters. They like the food to come to them.
Eels are a striped bass favorite as well. Good 12- to 16-inch eels, hooked through the lower jaw, will swim right into the target area if you cast upcurrent, and they will attract a lot of attention.
Hooking Stripers
Avoid fishing for saltwater bass under bright, sunny skies in the middle of the day. You'll get a nice tan, but very few hits from your target fish. If you watch the weather carefully, you can fish as a front moves in; changes in the weather precipitate increased activity.
Striped bass are active at night. Note the moonrise for the night you want to fish, and try to start just before the moon comes up. If you can combine a weather system with an outgoing tide and moonrise, you are virtually guaranteed to catch striped bass out in the coastal saltwater.
Be patient when you feel a tug at your line. Striped bass are big and powerful, but they don't strike the hook initially. They tend to stun their pray with a swat of the tail, so don't panic when you get that first hit. Wait for the bass to really take the bait before you try to hook it.
Eating Stripers
You'll need to clean your catch right away. Bleed and gut the fish, and pack it in ice. Drain off melt water frequently, and keep fresh ice on top.
Striped bass are prized not just for the sport but for the meat as well. You can cut the meat into steaks that will stand up to grilling, broiling or baking. Big fish can yield thick steaks that you can stuff with any number of tasty ingredients, including onion, bacon, tomatoes, peppers or anything you wish.
Striper Season
The east coast striped bass season runs from mid-March to October. The spawning season begins in early spring, depending upon the weather, and generally peaks in late April. Most of the big, trophy fish are caught late in the season, around August and September, but you can have a very satisfying season throughout.
Black Sea Bass Fishing
Recreational fishing of black sea bass boomed in the 1980s, increasing by 500 percent, according to the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. As a result, there are strict control programs to restore the population. Recreational harvest is limited by size and bag weight, and these restrictions are adjusted as needed. Check with your local authority before angling for black sea bass
Finding Black Sea Bass
The best sea bass fishing begins in May and runs through the summer when the fish are closer to shore. They prefer underwater structures like reefs and wrecks, but you can also find fish by locating rocky, uneven sea beds with a GPS system. In the off season, sea bass retreat to waters as deep as 600 feet.
Hooking Black Sea Bass
While the fish has a large mouth, most anglers have the greatest success with #2 baitholder hooks. Large cod hooks are far less effective. The average weight is in the 1- to 2-pound range, though larger fish often lurk in deeper waters. An 8-pound test line should be sufficient, as the world record sea bass weighed only 8.2 pounds.
Sea bass are predominantly bottom feeders, so cut bait of fish or squid is especially attractive to them. You can combine stripped squid with a bucktail jig if you're having trouble getting the fish to pay attention.
Cooking Black Sea Bass
Sea bass meat is dense, sweet and very easy to fillet. The fillets are best broiled with herbs of your choice and a dollop of butter. Don't overcook the bass; it will dry out and become chewy. Cook each side for about four minutes a side, just enough to brown the meat and lock in the juices.
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