Sea bass are a favorite of saltwater anglers because of their size, the challenge they present and their tastiness on the dinner plate. If you’re looking to catch your limit the next time you head out for some sea bass fishing, follow some simple tips to give yourself the greatest chance of landing a whole cooler full of fish. You might even land a trophy fish to put up on the wall.
Use a Fishfinder
The ocean can be an overwhelming expanse of blue, making it tough to find a quality fishing spot. A fishfinder is a relatively inexpensive piece of equipment that uses sonar to locate fish beneath your boat to aid you in finding the best spot to cast your line. Since sea bass also like to congregate near reefs, consult a topographic map of the section of ocean you’re fishing in to find the best reef locations.
Use the Right Bait
Using the natural diet of a fish through live bait is one of the most effective ways to attract them since fish often use their sense of smell to find their food. Sea bass enjoy a steady diet of shellfish such as clams, mussels and crabs, so using live bait may be the most effective way to catch them. Using cut bait, such as mackerel—another common saltwater fish—is another popular method among sea bass fishers. Artificial bait such as jigs and lures may also be effective since they mimic the natural motion of fish and other sea creatures moving through the water. Spinnerbaits are particularly effective since the shiny, spinning motion of the lure catches the eye of sea bass and puts them in hot pursuit of their next meal.
Know Your Conditions
Many factors including the tide, weather and wind can play a role in how fish are biting, so paying attention to them may increase your chances of landing big fish, says saltwater fish charter owner Richie Lott. When the water temperature drops below 60 degrees F, sea bass tend to get more lethargic due to their cold-bloodedness, so using jigs which will float in the water past the fish rather than making them swim for bait or lures may be more effective in colder waters. Sea bass fishing is much more effective when the tide is coming in, says Lott, so consult tide tables to know when the tide will be right for your next fishing trip.
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