Species guide · North Carolina
Black sea bass fishing in North Carolina
Centropristis striata, a nearshore species also called sea bass, humpback and knothead. Listed for the South Atlantic region. Peak season, about 3 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in Croatan and Roanoke Sounds at 75, one of 9 North Carolina 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.
South Atlantic
Peak season, about 3 more weeks- Jan: Shoulder season
- Feb: Shoulder season
- Mar: Peak season
- Apr: Peak season
- May: Shoulder season
- Jun: Shoulder season
- Jul: Shoulder season
- Aug: Shoulder season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Peak season
- Nov: Peak season
- Dec: Shoulder season
Peak: Mar to Apr, Oct to Nov. In season (shoulder or peak): all year.
Research notes, South Atlantic region
Southern stock, managed by the South Atlantic council. Resident on hard bottom and reefs year-round with little migration; spawn February through May. Juveniles are common in high-salinity estuaries in summer, but keepers mostly come from nearshore reefs and wrecks.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 9
North Carolina bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's black sea bass score this hour.
Best window today 8 AM-8 PM (76) · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 8 AM (80) · 49 named spots
Best window today 8 AM-9 PM (75) · Best day Tue, Nov 3 at 7 AM (77) · 331 named spots
Best window today 8-11 AM (74) · Best day Tue, Nov 3 at 7 AM (75) · 26 named spots
Best window today 8-10 AM (73) · Best day Tue, Nov 3 at 7 AM (74) · 21 named spots
Best window today 8 AM-9 PM (74) · Best day Tue, Nov 3 at 7 AM (77) · 260 named spots
Best window today 5-9 PM (74) · Best day Tue, Nov 3 at 7 AM (76) · 134 named spots
Best window today 4-8 PM (77) · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 8 AM (80) · 75 named spots
Best window today 5-9 PM (70) · Best day Mon, Nov 9 at 12 PM (73) · 1 named spot
Best window today 4-8 PM (76) · Best day Sun, Nov 8 at 4 PM (78) · 7 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
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. Synced with NCDMF Nov 2, 2026.
No reviewed black sea bass rule for North Carolina is on file yet. Check with NCDMF before you keep one.
Other North Carolina species
- Bluefish
- Florida pompano
- Gag grouper
- Little tunny
- Red drum
- Southern flounder
- Spotted seatrout
- Wahoo
- Weakfish
- Atlantic bluefin tuna
- Atlantic croaker
- Black drum
- Crevalle jack
- Greater amberjack
- King mackerel
- Red snapper
- Sailfish
- Sheepshead
- Spot
- Striped bass
- Summer flounder
- Yellowfin tuna
- Atlantic tarpon
- Cobia
- Gray snapper
- Gray triggerfish
- Mahi-mahi
- Red grouper
- Spanish mackerel