Black Sea Bass
Centropristis striata
Also known as Sea bass, Blackfish, Rock bass, Black bass, Tallywag
Culinary Profile
Mild, fresh, somewhat delicate flavor.
Tender but firm.
Black sea bass is a good low-fat source of protein and magnesium.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Black sea bass are usually black, but smaller ones are more of a dusky brown. The belly is slightly paler than the sides. Fins are dark with dusky spots. The dorsal fin is marked with a series of white spots and bands. During spawning, dominant males turn bright blue and have a blue hump on their heads.
Biology
Black sea bass grow slowly, up to 2 feet and 9 pounds. They are able to reproduce when they reach 1 to 3 years old. They are protogynous hermaphrodites—most black sea bass start out as females, and as they mature and grow they become males. Researchers aren’t sure why this happens, but one hypothesis suggests the relative scarcity of males in a spawning group may be the stimulus for a female to switch sex.
Where They Live
Range Along the U.S. East Coast from Cape Cod to the Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico). Habitat Black sea bass prefer structured habitats such as reefs, wrecks, or oyster beds in temperate and subtropical waters. In the Mid-Atlantic (north of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina), they migrate seasonally as water temperature changes.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Generally year-round, but varies by state.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Massachusetts to the west coast of Florida. The United States is the only source for this species.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial fishery:Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: In 2023, commercial landings of black sea bass totaled 4.7 million pounds, and were valued at $13 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . In the Mid-Atlantic, commercial fishermen mainly use hook-and-line gear, pots, and otter trawls to catch black sea bass. Fisheries for black sea bass change seasonally with the species’ migrations. Of the gear utilized within the snapper grouper fishery, only the black sea bass pot is considered to pose an entanglement risk to marine mammals. When the fish are inshore, commercial fishermen catch them primarily with fish pots (both baited and unbaited) and handlines.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 104 Species
Where Black Sea Bass ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omega-3 DHA | 585 mg | 16 / 104 | 85% |
| Vitamin B12 | 3.82 µg | 24 / 106 | 77% |
| Selenium | 36.5 µg | 32 / 106 | 70% |
| Iron | 0.84 mg | 32 / 111 | 71% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 169 mg | 40 / 104 | 62% |
| Phosphorus | 198 mg | 70 / 111 | 37% |
| Protein | 17.73 g | 71 / 111 | 36% |
| Zinc | 0.4 mg | 82 / 111 | 26% |
Other New England/Mid-Atlantic Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Black Sea Bass.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Atlantic Blacktip Shark
Carcharhinus limbatus
Sweet, meaty taste.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Atlantic Common Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
Mild flavor.
Atlantic Herring
Clupea harengus
Small fresh herring have a more delicate flavor, while larger herring have a fuller, oilier flavor.
Atlantic Mackerel
Scomber scombrus
Mackerel has a rich, pronounced flavor. For a milder flavor, cut out the outer bands of dark meat along the midline.
Atlantic Mahi Mahi
Coryphaena hippurus
Mahi mahi has a sweet, mild flavor. For a milder flavor, trim away darker portions of the meat.
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark
Rhizoprionodon terraenovae
Reported to be quite tasty.
Atlantic Skipjack Tuna
Katsuwonus pelamis
Skipjack tuna has the most pronounced taste of all of the tropical tunas.
Atlantic Spiny Dogfish
Squalus acanthias
Mild and sweet.
Similar by Flavour: Other Mild-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the mild flavour profile of Black Sea Bass, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Acadian Redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Mild and slightly sweet. Redfish can be used as a substitute for haddock and similar fish.
Alaska Pollock
Gadus chalcogrammus
Pollock has mild-tasting flesh and is similar to other white fish like cod or haddock.
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Mild and sweet.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Black Sea Bass eat?
Black sea bass grow slowly, up to 2 feet and 9 pounds. They are able to reproduce when they reach 1 to 3 years old. They are protogynous hermaphrodites—most black sea bass start out as females, and as they mature and grow they become males. Researchers aren’t sure why this happens, but one hypothesis suggests the relative scarcity of males in a spawning group may be the stimulus for a female to sw…
Is Black Sea Bass a good source of omega-3 fatty acids?
Per 100 g raw, Black Sea Bass supplies 169 mg of EPA and 585 mg of DHA — the two long-chain omega-3s most cited in cardiovascular research.
Where is Black Sea Bass found?
Range Along the U.S. East Coast from Cape Cod to the Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico). Habitat Black sea bass prefer structured habitats such as reefs, wrecks, or oyster beds in temperate and subtropical waters. In the Mid-Atlantic (north of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina), they migrate seasonally as water temperature changes.
How does Black Sea Bass reproduce?
Black sea bass grow slowly, up to 2 feet and 9 pounds. They are able to reproduce when they reach 1 to 3 years old. They are protogynous hermaphrodites—most black sea bass start out as females, and as they mature and grow they become males. Researchers aren’t sure why this happens, but one hypothesis suggests the relative scarcity of males in a spawning group may be the stimulus for a female to sw…
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught black sea bass is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
There are two stocks of black sea bass: Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic stocks. According to the most recent stock assessments: The Mid-Atlantic stock is not overfished and is not subject to overfishing (2021 stock assessment). Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART .
Population
The stocks are not overfished.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Fishing gears used to harvest black sea bass have minimal impacts on habitat.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Management
NOAA Fisheries , the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council , and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission cooperatively manage the black sea bass fishery north of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Managed under the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan : Annual catch limit divided between the commercial and recreational fisheries.
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 19 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.