Species guide · Massachusetts
Black sea bass fishing in Massachusetts
Centropristis striata, a nearshore species also called sea bass, humpback and knothead. Listed for the New England region. Peak season, about 1 more week.
Right now it scores best in Buzzards Bay at 77, one of 8 Massachusetts bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Peak seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
New England
Peak season, about 1 more week- Jan: Not present
- Feb: Not present
- Mar: Not present
- Apr: Not present
- May: Shoulder season
- Jun: Peak season
- Jul: Peak season
- Aug: Shoulder season
- Sep: Peak season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Off season
- Dec: Not present
Peak: Jun to Jul, Sep. In season (shoulder or peak): May to Oct.
Research notes, New England region
Arrive in May to spawn over rock, shell and gravel in Long Island Sound, Narragansett Bay, Buzzards Bay and Vineyard and Nantucket sounds. ASMFC notes the range has expanded north since the mid-2000s with warming water. Leave for offshore wintering grounds by November.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 8
Massachusetts bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's black sea bass score this hour.
Best window today 6-8 PM (77) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 5 PM (78) · 151 named spots
Best window today 6-8 PM (75) · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 5 PM (76) · 27 named spots
Best window today 6-9 PM (75) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 5 PM (76) · 40 named spots
Best window today 7-9 PM (80) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (80) · 409 named spots
Best window today 7-10 PM (78) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 8 AM (78) · 122 named spots
Best window today 6 PM-12 AM (73) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 4 PM (75) · 158 named spots
Best window today 7-11 PM (76) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 8 AM (77) · 44 named spots
Best window today 7-10 PM (76) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 8 AM (76) · 2 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 48°F to 82°F, best between 55°F and 72°F.
- Water depth
- 10 to 180 ft of water.
- Structure
- Wreck, reef, ledge, jetty, oyster, pier, bridge and channel, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers moving water, with light current.Fished at anchor or on a slow drift right over structure. A light current carries scent and keeps fish up and feeding; strong current makes it hard to hold bottom on deeper wrecks.
- Light
- Little tied to dawn and dusk.
- Pressure
- Little response to pressure changes.
- Wind and sea limits
- 20 kt of wind and 5 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Black sea bass hold tight to wrecks, reefs, rock piles and jetties, from 15 feet inshore in late spring to well over 100 feet on offshore wrecks in late fall. Anchor or drift right over the structure and fish a two-hook high-low rig with squid or clam, or bounce a small jig on the bottom. The biggest males sit on the highest relief.
- Methods
- bottom fishing, jigging, drift fishing
- Lures
- diamond jigs, bucktail jigs, soft plastics on jig heads, slow-pitch jigs
- Bait
- squid strips, clams, cut fish, shrimp, crab
Regulations
Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. Synced with MassDMF Sep 18, 2026.
No reviewed black sea bass rule for Massachusetts is on file yet. Check with MassDMF before you keep one.