Black Sea Bass Thread

[iguana1]

As we wait for the first tuna to arrive and look for something to kill the time, I am thinking of doing more BSB fishing this year. We did a few trips with the kids last year and they had a blast. Mid-summer the BSB were right outside our harbor of Westport MA in 30-40feet of water. I did not try for them in the spring last year, but would like to this year.

I would be very interested in thoughts on when they migrate inshore and what the migration pattern is. Also, any interesting techniques. Last season we fished them on 3 way rigs drifting with green Shimano lucanus jigs on the dropper and a fluke hook for a teaser. This season I am thinking about messing around with anchoring and chumming.....

[dunn6253]

Not sure if this helps, but thought it was weird when I caught one striper fishing in Boston harbor last year. Would like to have a trip where they are the target species this year also........

[iguana1]

Dunn

I hear if you want the big ones you fish the deep holes in vineyard sound. I just don't know when they really start to show up in good numbers.

Given the short fluke season and the fact that I think stripers taste like socks I think this might be the inshore food fishery this year. PM me if you want to get out sometime.

[Tuna Meltdown]

It's been awhile since I fished the south side of the Cape since my boat has been in Boston the past 2 years but as I remember most of the Black Seabass I used to catch was by accident. Myself and two friends ran out of the Bass River one evening a few years ago and did pretty well at the tire reef thats out front of the river. We were using spro bucktail jigs tipped with squid. The time of year was June but other than that I have only ever caught them by accident either targeting bass, tog, or fluke.

[rirockhound]

It's been awhile since I fished the south side of the Cape since my boat has been in Boston the past 2 years but as I remember most of the Black Seabass I used to catch was by accident. Myself and two friends ran out of the Bass River one evening a few years ago and did pretty well at the tire reef thats out front of the river. We were using spro bucktail jigs tipped with squid. The time of year was June but other than that I have only ever caught them by accident either targeting bass, tog, or fluke.

Best time to target them is the fall.
Spring and Summer it can be tough to get through the micro BSB's, scup etc.. to get a few decent bump-heads.

[LeeG]

Biggest fish seem to come late summer and fall in the deeper water. Plenty of small fish around in during the summer. Last year we had two hit rebels while trolling around VH. Not what I wanted to see when I was targeting bonito.

[eastcoastsports]

Not sure how you guys do it up north, but I make a living BSB fishing with charters here. The best thing to weed through the little guys is to use a 2 or 3oz. white bucktail tipped with thick squid wings, FA belly, shark belly, or fishbites.

[KAISER]

Vinyard Sound and around the corner of the light is loaded with them mid july on. there are a few holes off Nomans that produce freakishly large bump heads year after year.

one of the best eating fish IMO

[seavee capt]

I try to locate the bait (squid), using my machine. Then try and stay on the school because they are constanly moving as most of the squid I find are on featureless bottom. Most all of my knotheads come in the heat of summer or in june, I'm too busy to fish them in the fall, trying to satisfy the tuna jones. I use mostly spro jigs and squid or fluke bellys.

[chumtini]

It's almost time for the hilight of the season...Magoo's May Bass Report