Maine Seafood Guide – Black Sea Bass

Black Sea Bass

Species Description

Black sea bass Centropristis striata

Wild.

Black sea bass is a perch-like fish that lives from the Gulf of Maine to Florida. Mottled smoky gray to dusky brown or blue-black in color, with one long, continuous dorsal fin. They live close to the bottom, gathering around ledges, banks and rocky substrate.

Season

May 19 – September 21, 2025 and October 18 – December 31, 2025, inclusive.

For the most recent updates on fishing black sea bass in Maine waters, visit Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR).

Status

According to the most recent assessment (2024) by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, the black sea bass population in the Mid-Atlantic is not considered overfished, and overfishing is not occurring.

Regulatory Authority

Managed cooperatively by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (under the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan).

Harvest Method

Otter trawls, fish pots and hand lines. Hook and line only in state waters. See the vessel and gear guide for more information.

Recreational Harvest

Minimum size: 13 inches

10 fish per angler per day.

Health Benefits & Risks

Black sea bass is low in calories and fat, is a good source of selenium, and contains omega-3 fatty acids.

Black sea bass has low to moderate levels of mercury.

View the 2021 US Food and Drug Administration’s fish consumption guidelines.

Buying & Preparing

Black sea bass is a versatile and flavorful white fish, popular for its firm texture and mild, slightly sweet flavor. It’s commonly sold whole, as fillets, or cut into steaks, and can be prepared in a variety of ways.

Look for bright, clear eyes and shiny skin if buying whole, or moist, firm flesh if buying fillets. Sea bass is often available fresh during warmer months, when it’s landed by local fishers along the southern Maine coast.

Black sea bass hold up well to grilling, roasting, broiling, or pan-searing. It’s an excellent substitute in recipes that call for striped bass, snapper, or other firm white fish. Try seasoning simply with lemon, herbs, and olive oil, or use in chowders, tacos, or whole-roasted presentations.

Maine Sea Grant