The Sea Bass is one of the best target fish for beginners. Its voracious appetite, aggressive bites, and fierce fighting make it an excellent starter species. However, that doesn’t mean you can go to the local pier with a clothesline and a photo hook. There are some tips and tricks for reeling in this greedy but stubborn fighting fish.

To fish the Sea Bass successfully, you need to have a good knowledge of:

• the underwater location and structures
• the equipment and bait to be used in the given conditions
• the Sea Bass habits
• the rod and reel best suited for this fish
• and how to get the most out of the fight a Sea Bass will undoubtedly deliver.

We will highlight the best advice we have heard and used over the years and leave comments on this page. So if you have something to share, do it here!

 

Practice patience

Take your time with your installation, whether it’s on a boat, a dock, or on the shore. You can try drifting on a swim before you decide to drop anchor to see if there’s any action. Make sure you are familiar with the bottom and location of structures. If you find Bass, you’ll know. If you’re on a pier, try to make a few casts to different sides of the pier, be careful. The shallower the water /, the closer to shore the fish are, and the smaller they are likely to be.

Don’t worry about trying new places or asking for advice. Unless you are a commercial angler, people are usually quite open with their numbers, and local fishing clubs and groups may be willing to help.

 

Choose the best times to fish for sea bass.

The best time for the bar is at dawn and dusk, when bears are most likely to feed, but they can be bitten throughout the day. You’ll know that, despite their small size, they bite hard and fast when you feel a bite. When it gets lighter, switching to squid strips or live bait may be helpful to add odor to the mix.

 

What are the best lures and baits for bass?

One of the distinct pros of sea bass fishing is the wide variety of bait, lures, and equipment you can use to target them. The best equipment on any given day will depend on the season, location, weather, sea state, and visibility. It’s worth knowing a little more before making that first cast.

In shallow water

although most sea basses are bottom feeders, surface lures may be worth a few casts to see if something bites, but certainly don’t spend too much time if there is no action with them.

In deeper water

it’s best to use jigs, cranks, swim lures (those fake swimmer fish that are a bit expensive), spoons (if it’s clear that flashing metal can help), and ponytails (basically a hairy tail jig!) I would choose the whitetail with these as it fits well with many baitfish.

If the weather is overcast or dark

it may be useful to try a “chatter bait” lure, a versatile lure whose purpose is to provide erratic action and flashing to attract bites in less visible areas. Crack Baits emit a sound that can help bass follow the sound and not rely on sight.

When to use live or dead bait?

Bass, like most fishes, prefer live bait but attack and eat most others. Squid, clams, crabs, mussels, and other bait attract all bass. Presenting them on a jig just above ledges and rocks is an excellent way to bite them.

 

What is the best season for the bar?

Although the fishing season for Sea Bass, particularly Black Sea Bass, is (rightly) considered to be better from May to September, it is possible to fish outside this period.

Studies have shown that sea bass moves offshore and into the warmer southern waters as the water temperature decreases. (Just like me!) There is concern that the current warming of the ocean may cause them to move further north in the spring, putting pressure on juvenile lobsters in places like Maine.

However, Sea Bass move by vibration, sight, and smell, so no matter the season, weather, or conditions, there is a chance to catch them.

 

Springtime :

As the waters warm up and spawning begins in April and May, the sea bass are hungry! (even more than usual) Although most methods work, we will see later when it is time to use them. The sea bass will hunt minnows, blue toads, and shad. However, squid is always a favorite. You can use pieces, live bait, or lures with jigs and jigs. If you have a natural or artificial smell, it will help if the conditions are not so clear. Small sea bass is found in estuaries and hide from large predatory fish.

The winter :

• Winter can mean different things to different people, so let’s call it water temperature. As all fish are cold-blooded, the sea bass gets their warmth (I know) from the water around them. The colder it gets, the slower their metabolism slows down, and their food needs.
• This doesn’t mean you can’t reach the fish, but adapting tactics will help. It is recommended to use slower lures, as the fish will probably not be ready to hunt like in the summer.
• If you’re jigging, a fish finder will help you get as close to the fish as possible (I know it looks like you’re putting the hook in the fish’s mouth. It’s a winter thought).

 

Summer :

Head for the wrecks in the summer or, if there are no wrecks, head for the rocky bottom or the bottom features. This is where large specimens will hang. This is the ideal time to find them and hang them. If you’re a little out at sea and have a boat (if you’re a little out at sea and don’t have a boat, there may be a problem), then you can try to drift and anchor, but your fish finder will help you find where they’re hiding. Be aware that your lighter fishing gear may catch something with a little more grunt than expected if you’re out at sea.

 

Falling :

Water temperature may drop, and fish may move slowly to the south. It will be harder but not impossible to catch now. Try to slow down the retrievals and use your fish finder more seriously. Under these conditions, use lures such as crankbait, spinnerbait, or cut squid.

 

Casting and hanging.

L lure fishing aims to attract sea bass and convince them that your fake fish is a much better meal than any crab they’ve tried to dig up from the bottom of the water. A good rod fishing technique will help you achieve this.

• Let the bait drop quickly to the desired depth and rotate the rod once it is reached.
• Pull up and shake the rod intermittently as you retrieve the lure to create vibrations and give the impression of a distressed or agitated fish.
• This will create flashes of light and vibration (depending on the bait used).
• Keep your shoulder and arm relaxed, and try to make a simple wrist movement on the stem. But hold it tight. When they bite, they bite!

Before casting the rod, practice dropping the lure a few lengths under the rod’s tip. Practice different casting techniques, such as pitching, underhand casting, side-arm casting, and flipping to lower the rod into the water. Try changing rods of different lengths, sizes, and weights to suit the fishing conditions and the fish you hit.

Pay attention to your surroundings when casting, not just those onshore or on the boat. It’s easy to get the brushes tangled on the rigging, and although the price of lures has dropped, losing them on a wreck or rocky bottom is never the highlight of a day. You can ask other fishers if there are any major snags in the area or use the Fish Finder if you are on the boat.

 

Best equipment for sea bass fishing

We have a larger article here on an excellent assembly for the Sea Bass (and other wrecks/structure assemblies) and more in-depth reviews of reels and equipment suitable for the Bass. However, the list below presents some of the best selections at reasonable prices on Amazon. Click on the links to check prices.

Bass fishing equipment

• A spinning rod about 1.80 m long can hold a 20 lb. braid and bait up to one ounce in weight.
• A half-decent reel that can hold the 20-pound braid
• a leader up to 30lb (Fluro-carbon)
• barrel swivels up to 75lb
• Hooks (we always prefer without beard) from 1/0 to 6/0
• of a selection of jigs, diamond spinners, and crankbaits. If you’re trying, we suggest a mixed pack like these.

 

Preparing the bar for the table

If you’re fishing for the table, you need to know a few things about how to prepare fish. It is an excellent friend, but it is also, even for a small fish, prone to burning the flesh if you don’t bleed, so do it! They fight oversize, and lactic acid can build up inside them.

Then, put them on ice as soon as you can, it will slow down the burning, and with less blood, it will also prevent the growth of bacteria. It will also make the fillets easier to remove.

How you cool them down is entirely up to you, but from your experience, the soft, flaky flesh looks great fried with a bit of lemon sprinkled on top. (we cook it on the boat if we are lucky in the morning) You have to beat it.

 

Know its location

It’s less about checking the GPS and more about knowing where you’re going fishing. There are limits, both for the length and the size of the bags for the bass, and you don’t want to spend a good day on the water and get fined when you return home for bringing home a lot of fish or smaller fish. Check these limits with your state or country. They are there to preserve the stocks and must be respected.

 

Conclusion

We can’t, won’t, and can’t pretend to know everything there is. This is one of the joys of fishing in general – learning! However, for starters, the tips and tricks above will help you fish your first sea bass. It’s an experience you’ll probably remember for a while, especially if you bring one home to eat!

Don’t forget to stay safe and watch the weather and tides, especially if you are in unfamiliar areas, and the best advice we can give you is to bring a variety of bait. You never know day to day what will catch the eyes of the Sea Bass. You’ll know just when you have one bending your rod.