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The Fishing News
00000177-ba84-d5f4-a5ff-bbfc9abb0000 with Steve JunkerEach week during saltwater fishing season Steve Junker checks in with the folks at On the Water magazine and others to find out who's catching what where around the Cape and Islands—and how they're doing it. 00000177-ba84-d5f4-a5ff-bbfc9abc0000For a detailed weekly Fishing Forecast, check out On the Water.00000177-ba84-d5f4-a5ff-bbfc9abb0001

Healthy Black Sea Bass Population Makes for Good Fishing and Good Eating

Kevin Bryant

If you're looking for a "best bet" for Father's Day fishing, Black Sea Bass might be your winning pick. The fish are around in good numbers and seem to be extending their range northward in recent years. 

Black Sea Bass are a bottom fish. You want to look for them where there is bottom structure such as rockpiles, wrecks, ledges, or dropoffs. They are a schooling fish, so where you find one, you're likely to find more. They do like squid - a good set-up is to bait a weighted hook or jig with a piece of squid. 

With their light flaky flesh, Black Sea Bass make for great eating. You can filet them - but an easier method is to gut and scale them and grill them whole (slash the sides and dash on some seasoning).

Black Sea Bass particulars:

  • Grow 2 to 8 pounds.
  • Limit is 14" minimum, 8 fish per day.
  • Little-known fact: Many Black Sea Bass are hermaphrodites.  They typically mature as females, and only later do some become male. The sex change generally occurs over the winter.

Fishing Roundup:

The Outer Cape, particularly P-town area, reporting very good striper action this week. The Elizabeth Islands reporting big striped bass, though not in great numbers. Bluefish spreading out along the south side of the Cape, through Buzzards Bay and the Canal. Black Sea Bass bite is very good.

Steve is Managing Editor of News. He came to WCAI in 2007. He also hosts the weekly News Roundup on Friday mornings and produces The Fishing News.