NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-200 

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service

Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Woods Hole, Massachusetts

February 2007

Essential Fish Habitat Source Document:

 Black sea bass, Centropristis striata,

Life History and Habitat Characteristics

Second Edition
182. U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Marine Mammal Stock Assessments – 2003. By Gordon T. Waring, Richard M. Pace, 

Janeen M. Quintal, Carol P. Fairfield, and Katherine Maze-Foley, eds., Nicole Cabana, Phillip J. Clapham, Timothy V.N. Cole, 

Gregory L. Fulling, Lance P. Garrison, Aleta A. Hohn, Blair G. Maise, Wayne E. McFee, Keith D. Mullin, Debra L. Palka, Patricia

E. Rosel, Marjorie C. Rossman, Frederick W. Wenzel, and Amy L. Whitingham, contribs. May 2004. vii + 287 p., 47 figs., 58 

tables, 4 app., index. NTIS Access. No. PB2004-106431.

183. NOAA Fisheries Service's Large Marine Ecosystems Program: Status Report. By Kenneth Sherman, Peter Celone, and 

Sally Adams. July 2004. iv + 21 p., 11 figs., 4 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB2006-102420.

184. A Large Marine Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management and Sustainability. By Frank J. Gable. August 2004. 

v + 84 p., 38 figs., 10 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB2005-101435. [Online publication only.]

185. Revised and Updated Edition of F. Bruce Sanford's 1957 "Planning Your Scientific Research Paper." By Jon A. Gibson. 

August 2004. x + 36 p., 5 figs., 12 tables.

186. Essential Fish Habitat Source Document: Silver Hake, Merluccius bilinearis, Life History and Habitat Characteristics. 

2nd ed. By Meredith C. Lock and David B. Packer. August 2004. v + 68 p., 28 figs., 6 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB2005-101436. 

[Online publication only.]

187. Essential Fish Habitat Source Document: American Plaice, Hippoglossoides platessoides, Life History and Habitat 

Characteristics. 2nd ed. By Donna L. Johnson. August 2004. vi + 72 p., 23 figs., 6 tables. [Online publication only.]

188. Northeast Regional Commercial Fishing Input-Output Model, by Scott R. Steinback and Eric M. Thunberg. NTIS Access 

No ________. April 2006. [Online publication only.]

189. Essential Fish Habitat Source Document: Sea Scallop, Placopecten magellanicus, Life History and Habitat Characteristics. 2nd ed. By Deborah R. Hart and Antonie S. Chute. September 2004. v + 21 p., 6 figs., 2 tables. NTIS Access. No. 

PB2005-104079. [Online publication only.]

190. Essential Fish Habitat Source Document: Atlantic Cod, Gadus morhua, Life History and Habitat Characteristics. 2nd 

ed. By R. Gregory Lough. November 2004. vi + 94 p., 27 figs., 5 tables, 1 app. NTIS Access. No. PB2006-101528. [Online 

publication only.]

191. Essential Fish Habitat Source Document: Northern Shortfin Squid, Illex illecebrosus, Life History and Habitat Characteristics. 2nd ed. By Lisa C. Hendrickson and Elizabeth M. Holmes. November 2004. v + 36 p., 13 figs., 1 table. NTIS Access. 

No. PB2005-101437. [Online publication only.]

192. Essential Fish Habitat Source Document: Atlantic Herring, Clupea harengus, Life History and Habitat Characteristics. 

2nd ed. By David K. Stevenson and Marcy L. Scott. July 2005. vi + 84 p., 40 figs., 7 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB2005-107567. 

[Online publication only.]

193. Essential Fish Habitat Source Document: Longfin Inshore Squid, Loligo pealeii, Life History and Habitat Characteristics. 2nd ed. By Larry D. Jacobson. August 2005. v + 42 p., 20 figs., 1 table. NTIS Access. No. PB2005-110684. [Online 

publication only.]

195. A Large Marine Ecosystem Voluntary Environmental Management System Approach to Fisheries Practices. By Frank 

J. Gable. December 2005. v + 84 p., 38 figs., 10 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB____-______.

196. Essential Fish Habitat Source Document: Haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus, Life History and Habitat Characteristics. 2nd ed. By Jon K.T. Brodziak. December 2005. vi + 64 p., 27 figs., 2 tables. NTIS Access. No. PB2006-103439. [Online publication only.]

197. In preparation by authors.

Recent Issues in This Series:

198. Essential Fish Habitat Source Document: Bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix, Life History and Habitat Characteristics. 2nd

ed. By Jon K.T. Brodziak. December 2005. vi + 89 p., 48 figs., 5 tables, 1 app. NTIS Access. No. PB2006-103439. [Online publication only.]

199. Distribution and Abundance of Fish Eggs Collected during the GLOBEC Broad-Scale Georges Bank Surveys, 1995-

1999. By John D. Sibunka, Donna L. Johnson, and Peter L. Berrien. August 2006. iv + 72 p., 28 figs., 1 table. NTIS Access. No. 

PB____-______. [Online publication only.]
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Carlos M. Gutierrez, Secretary

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., USN (ret.), Administrator

National Marine Fisheries Service

William T. Hogarth, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries

Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Woods Hole, Massachusetts

February 2007

This series represents a secondary level of scientific publishing. All issues employ 

thorough internal scientific review; some issues employ external scientific review. 

Reviews are -- by design -- transparent collegial reviews, not anonymous peer reviews. 

All issues may be cited in formal scientific communications.

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-200 

Postal Addresses: 1Geo-Marine Inc, 2713 Magruder Blvd, Suite D, Hampton VA 23666

2

National Marine Fisheries Serv., 74 Magruder Rd., Highlands NJ 07732

E-Mail Addresses: adrohan@geo-marine.com

 john.manderson@noaa.gov

 dave.packer@noaa.gov

Essential Fish Habitat Source Document:

Black Sea Bass, Centropristis striata,

Life History and Habitat Characteristics

Second Edition

Amy F. Drohan1, John P. Manderson2, and David B. Packer2
Editorial Notes on "Essential Fish Habitat Source Documents"

Issued in the NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE Series

Editorial Production

For "Essential Fish Habitat Source Documents" issued in the NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE series, staff

of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center's (NEFSC's) Ecosystems Processes Division largely assume the role of staff of

the NEFSC's Editorial Office for technical and copy editing, type composition, and page layout. Other than the four covers

(inside and outside, front and back) and first two preliminary pages, all preprinting editorial production is performed by,

and all credit for such production rightfully belongs to, the staff of the Ecosystems Processes Division.

Internet Availability and Information Updating

Each original issue of an "Essential Fish Habitat Source Document" is published both as a paper copy and as a Web

posting. The Web posting, which is in "PDF" format, is available at: http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/nefsc/habitat/efh.

Each issue is updated at least every five years. The updated edition will be published as a Web posting only; the

replaced edition(s) will be maintained in an online archive for reference purposes.

Species Names

The NMFS Northeast Region's policy on the use of species names in all technical communications is generally to

follow the American Fisheries Society's lists of scientific and common names for fishes (i.e., Nelson et al. 2004a

; Robins

et al. 1991b), mollusks (i.e., Turgeon et al. 1998c), and decapod crustaceans (i.e., Williams et al. 1989d), and to follow the

Society for Marine Mammalogy's guidance on scientific and common names for marine mammals (i.e., Rice 1998e).

Exceptions to this policy occur when there are subsequent compelling revisions in the classifications of species, resulting

in changes in the names of species.

a

Nelson, J.S.; Crossman, E.J.; Espinosa-Pérez, H.; Findley, L.T.; Gilbert, C.R.; Lea, R.N.; Williams, J.D. 2004. Common and scientific names

of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. 6th ed. Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. 29; 386 p. b

Robins, C.R. (chair); Bailey, R.M.; Bond, C.E.; Brooker, J.R.; Lachner, E.A.; Lea, R.N.; Scott, W.B. 1991. World fishes important to

North Americans. Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. 21; 243 p. c

Turgeon, D.D. (chair); Quinn, J.F., Jr.; Bogan, A.E.; Coan, E.V.; Hochberg, F.G.; Lyons, W.G.; Mikkelsen, P.M.; Neves, R.J.; Roper, C.F.E.;

Rosenberg, G.; Roth, B.; Scheltema, A.; Thompson, F.G.; Vecchione, M.; Williams, J.D. 1998. Common and scientific names of aquatic

invertebrates from the United States and Canada: mollusks. 2nd ed. Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. 26; 526 p. d

Williams, A.B. (chair); Abele, L.G.; Felder, D.L.; Hobbs, H.H., Jr.; Manning, R.B.; McLaughlin, P.A.; Pérez Farfante, I. 1989. Common

and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the United States and Canada: decapod crustaceans. Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. 17;

77 p.

e

Rice, D.W. 1998. Marine mammals of the world: systematics and distribution. Soc. Mar. Mammal. Spec. Publ. 4; 231 p.
Page iii

PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION 

One of the greatest long-term threats to the viability of 

commercial and recreational fisheries is the continuing 

loss of marine, estuarine, and other aquatic habitats.

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 

Management Act (October 11, 1996) 

The long-term viability of living marine resources 

depends on protection of their habitat. 

NMFS Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research 

(February 1998) 

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 

Management Act (MSFCMA), which was reauthorized 

and amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act (1996), 

requires the eight regional fishery management councils 

to describe and identify essential fish habitat (EFH) in 

their respective regions, to specify actions to conserve 

and enhance that EFH, and to minimize the adverse 

effects of fishing on EFH. Congress defined EFH as 

“those waters and substrate necessary to fish for 

spawning, breeding, feeding or growth to maturity.” 

The MSFCMA requires NOAA Fisheries to assist the 

regional fishery management councils in the 

implementation of EFH in their respective fishery 

management plans. 

NOAA Fisheries has taken a broad view of habitat 

as the area used by fish throughout their life cycle. Fish 

use habitat for spawning, feeding, nursery, migration, 

and shelter, but most habitats provide only a subset of 

these functions. Fish may change habitats with changes 

in life history stage, seasonal and geographic 

distributions, abundance, and interactions with other 

species. The type of habitat, as well as its attributes and 

functions, are important for sustaining the production of 

managed species. 

The Northeast Fisheries Science Center compiled 

the available information on the distribution, 

abundance, and habitat requirements for each of the 

species managed by the New England and Mid-Atlantic 

Fishery Management Councils. That information is 

presented in a series of EFH species reports (plus one 

consolidated methods report). The EFH species reports 

are a survey of the important literature as well as 

original analyses of fishery-independent data sets from 

NOAA Fisheries and several coastal states. The species 

reports are also the source for the current EFH 

designations by the New England and Mid-Atlantic 

Fishery Management Councils, and understandably are 

referred to as the “EFH source documents.” 

NOAA Fisheries provided guidance to the regional 

fishery management councils for identifying and 

describing EFH of their managed species. Consistent 

with this guidance, the species reports present 

information on current and historic stock sizes, 

geographic range, and the period and location of major 

life history stages. The habitats of managed species are 

described by the physical, chemical, and biological 

components of the ecosystem where the species occur. 

Information on the habitat requirements is provided for 

each life history stage, and it includes, where available, 

habitat and environmental variables that control or limit 

distribution, abundance, growth, reproduction, 

mortality, and productivity. 

The initial series of EFH species source documents 

were published in 1999 in the NOAA Technical 

Memorandum NMFS-NE series. Updating and review 

of the EFH components of the councils’ Fishery 

Management Plans is required at least every 5 years by 

the NOAA Fisheries Guidelines for meeting the 

Sustainable Fisheries Act/EFH Final Rule. The second 

editions of these species source documents were written 

to provide the updated information needed to meet 

these requirements. The second editions provide new 

information on life history, geographic distribution, and 

habitat requirements via recent literature, research, and 

fishery surveys, and incorporate updated and revised 

maps and graphs. 

Identifying and describing EFH are the first steps 

in the process of protecting, conserving, and enhancing 

essential habitats of the managed species. Ultimately, 

NOAA Fisheries, the regional fishery management 

councils, fishing participants, Federal and state 

agencies, and other organizations will have to cooperate 

to achieve the habitat goals established by the 

MSFCMA.
Page iv 
Page v

Contents

INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................................................1

LIFE HISTORY ...................................................................................................................................................................1

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION ..................................................................................................................................5

HABITAT CHARACTERISTICS .......................................................................................................................................7

RESEARCH NEEDS .........................................................................................................................................................10

REFERENCES CITED ......................................................................................................................................................10

Tables

Table 1. Diet composition of black sea bass by fish length category.............................................................................17

Table 2. Diet composition of black sea bass by geographic area...................................................................................18

Figures

Figure 1. The black sea bass, Centropristis striata (from Goode 1884)..........................................................................19

Figure 2. Percent by weight of the major prey items in the diet of two size categories of black sea bass.......................20

Figure 3. Distributions and abundances of black sea bass eggs collected during NEFSC MARMAP ichthyoplankton 

surveys .............................................................................................................................................................21

Figure 4. Distributions and abundances of black sea bass larvae collected during NEFSC MARMAP ichthyoplankton 

surveys .............................................................................................................................................................24

Figure 5. Seasonal distributions and abundances of juvenile black sea bass collected during NEFSC bottom trawl 

surveys .............................................................................................................................................................28

Figure 6. Seasonal distributions and abundances of juvenile black sea bass in Massachusetts coastal waters ...............32

Figure 7. Seasonal distribution and abundance of juvenile black sea bass collected in Narragansett Bay during 1990-

1996 Rhode Island bottom trawl surveys.........................................................................................................34

Figure 8. Monthly log10 length frequencies of juvenile and adult black sea bass collected in Long Island Sound. ........35

Figure 9. Distribution and abundances of juvenile and adult black sea bass in Long Island Sound ...............................36

Figure 10. Relative abundance (geometric mean catch/tow) catch/tow and percent occurrence (proportion of samples 

in which at least one individual was observed) for juvenile and adult black sea bass in Long Island Sound ..37

Figure 11. Seasonal distribution and abundance of juvenile black sea bass in the Hudson-Raritan estuary collected 

during Hudson-Raritan estuary trawl surveys..................................................................................................38

Figure 12. Catch per unit effort for total catch of juvenile and adult black sea bass in Chesapeake Bay and tributaries..39

Figure 13. Seasonal distribution and abundance of juvenile black sea bass in Chesapeake Bay and tributaries...............40

Figure 14. Catch per unit effort for total catch of juvenile black sea bass in Chesapeake Bay .........................................41

Figure 15. Juvenile black sea bass catch per unit effort by site from the VIMS beach seine surveys...............................42

Figure 16. Seasonal distributions and abundances of adult black sea bass collected during NEFSC bottom trawl 

surveys .............................................................................................................................................................43

Figure 17. Seasonal distributions and abundances of adult black sea bass in Massachusetts coastal waters. ...................47

Figure 18. Seasonal distribution and abundance of adult black sea bass collected in Narragansett Bay during 1990-

1996 Rhode Island bottom trawl surveys.........................................................................................................49

Figure 19. Seasonal distribution and abundance of adult black sea bass in the Hudson-Raritan estuary collected during 

Hudson-Raritan estuary trawl surveys .............................................................................................................50

Figure 20. Seasonal distribution and abundance of adult black sea bass in Chesapeake Bay and tributaries ...................51

Figure 21. Distributions of black sea bass eggs collected during NEFSC MARMAP icthyoplankton surveys relative to 

water column temperature and bottom depth...................................................................................................52

Figure 22. Distributions of black sea bass larvae collected during NEFSC MARMAP icthyoplankton surveys relative 

to water column temperature and bottom depth...............................................................................................53
Page vi 

Figure 23. Distributions of juvenile black sea bass and trawls from NEFSC bottom trawl surveys relative to bottom 

water temperature, depth, and salinity..............................................................................................................54

Figure 24. Distributions of juvenile black sea bass and trawls in Massachusetts coastal waters relative to bottom water 

temperature and depth ......................................................................................................................................56

Figure 25. Seasonal distributions of juvenile black sea bass and trawls relative to bottom temperature and depth..........58

Figure 26. Distributions of juvenile black sea bass relative to mean bottom water temperature, dissolved oxygen, 

depth, and salinity, based on Hudson-Raritan estuary trawl surveys ...............................................................59

Figure 27. Hydrographic preferences for juvenile black sea bass in Chesapeake Bay and tributaries ..............................60 

Figure 28. Hydrographic preferences for juvenile black sea bass from the VIMS seine surveys......................................61

Figure 29. Distributions of adult black sea bass and trawls from NEFSC bottom trawl surveys relative to bottom water 

temperature, depth, and salinity .......................................................................................................................62

Figure 30. Distributions of adult black sea bass and trawls in Massachusetts coastal waters relative to bottom water 

temperature and depth ......................................................................................................................................64

Figure 31. Seasonal distributions of adult black sea bass and trawls relative to bottom water temperature and depth, 

based on Rhode Island Narragansett Bay trawl surveys...................................................................................66

Figure 32. Distributions of adult black sea bass relative to mean bottom water temperature, dissolved oxygen, depth, 

and salinity, based on Hudson-Raritan estuary trawl surveys .........................................................................67

Figure 33. Hydrographic preferences for adult black sea bass in Chesapeake Bay and tributaries...................................68
Page 1

INTRODUCTION

The black sea bass (Centropristis striata Linnaeus 

1758) (Figure 1) is a warm temperate serranid that 

ranges from southern Nova Scotia and the Bay of 

Fundy (Scott 1988) to southern Florida (Bowen and 

Avise 1990) and into the Gulf of Mexico. Fish have 

been reported on the Grand Banks of Canada (Brown et 

al. 1996), but are uncommon in cooler waters north of 

Cape Cod (Scattergood 1952; DeWitt et al. 1981). 

Black sea bass are typically found on the continental 

shelf in complex habitats such as reefs and shipwrecks, 

but young of the year (YOY) fish also occur in large 

numbers in structurally complex estuarine habitats. 

LIFE HISTORY 

EGGS

Black sea bass eggs are pelagic and the length of 

the incubation period is inversely temperature 

dependent (Able and Fahay 1998). 

Berrien and Sibunka (1999) showed that in the 

Mid-Atlantic Bight, areas with high average egg 

densities were generally located on the continental shelf 

in the vicinity of large estuaries including Chesapeake 

Bay, the Delaware River, and the Hudson River. Eggs 

are collected off Cape Hatteras as early as January but 

these may be reproductive products transported by the 

Gulf Stream from spawning areas to the south (Mercer 

1978). 

Black sea bass eggs also occur infrequently in large 

bays. They have been reported in Buzzards Bay, MA 

(Stone et al. 1994), with the highest egg concentrations 

between May and October, but eggs were also collected 

in January and April. Eggs are rare in Long Island 

Sound (Merrimann and Sclar 1952; Wheatland 1956; 

Richards 1959), and absent in Narragansett Bay Rhode 

Island (Bourne and Govoni 1988) and Delaware Bay 

(Wang and Kernehan 1979). 

LARVAE 

Larvae hatch from eggs at 1.5-2.1 mm TL and 

settle as early juveniles at 10-16 mm TL (Kendall 1972; 

Fahay 1983; Able et al. 1995). Kendall (1972) 

however, suggested that fish may delay settlement until 

they reach 25 mm TL. 

Gelatinous zooplankton may be important 

predators of larvae (Arai 1988). 

JUVENILES

In the Mid-Atlantic Bight, juveniles migrate in the 

fall from nearshore summer habitats to over wintering 

habitats on the outer continental shelf south of Long 

Island, NY. During warmer winters, juveniles may 

successfully over winter in deeper waters of lower 

Chesapeake Bay (MAFMC 1996; Chesapeake Bay 

Program 1996). The fall offshore migration of juveniles 

in most of the Mid-Atlantic Bight probably allows fish 

to avoid temperatures below the lower lethal limit 

(~2°C, see Habitat Characteristics section) (Hales and 

Able 2001). However, juveniles in the Gulf of Mexico 

also disappear in the fall from inshore collections in the 

lower reaches of Florida west coast estuaries where 

they are abundant, and appear to over winter in offshore 

areas (Reid 1954; Joseph and Yerger 1956; Springer 

and Woodburn 1960; Hastings 1972). 

The growth of juvenile black sea bass has been 

measured in situ by Able and Hales (1997) who used 

mark recapture techniques in the lower reach of a 

southern New Jersey estuary to show that growth rates 

of age-0 and age-1 fish from spring through fall 

averaged ~ 0.45 mm d (SE=0.04). Juvenile growth was 

higher during the summer (July-September; 0.74 mm d, 

SE= 0.05) than during the spring (March-June; 0.29 

mm d, SE=0.04) and fall (October-December; 0.39 mm 

d). Growth estimates for age 1+ fish derived from 

length frequencies of fish in the same region, but in a 

different study, were similar (average=0.77 mm/day) 

(Able et al. 1995). In the Hereford Estuary, New Jersey 

early juveniles ~ 20 mm SL are collected in July but 

leave the estuary in the fall at sizes > 40 mm TL (Allen 

et al. 1978). Age-1 fish enter this estuary at 60 mm TL 

but migrate in the fall at ~ 100 mm TL. In eastern 

Virginia bays juveniles are reported to be ~ 30 mm TL 

in April but reach 100-182 mm TL by the end of the 

growing season in November (Schwartz 1961). Juvenile 

black sea bass appear to allocate metabolic energy 

toward rapid growth from settlement to ~ 49 mm SL, 

but then show reduced growth as they begin to store 

energy as lipid at larger sizes (Guida, NOAA Fisheries, 

NEFSC, James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory, 

Highlands, NJ, pers. comm.). Guida (pers. comm.) 

speculated that this pattern represented a two-phase 

metabolic program that allows young fish to reduce size 

dependent predation mortality during and immediately 

following settlement while allowing for the storage of 

fats necessary for over wintering survival by larger 

individuals which are less vulnerable to predators. 

In the Mid-Atlantic Bight juveniles form annuli in 

otoliths in May or June which appears to be the 

beginning of the growing season for fish after their first 

winter (Dery and Mayo 1988). Annulus formation 

occurs earlier in the South Atlantic Bight (April and 

May) (Cupka et al. 1973; Mercer 1978; Waltz et al.

1979; Link 1980; Wenner et al. 1986). 
Page 2 

ADULTS 

Black sea bass are strongly associated with 

structurally complex habitats. Habitats used by adults 

include rocky reefs, cobble and rock fields, stone coral 

patches, exposed stiff clay, and mussel beds. In the 

South Atlantic Bight adult black sea bass are associated 

with hard or live bottom sponge coral habitat 

(Struhsaker 1969; Powles and Barans 1980; Grimes et

al. 1982; Wenner 1983; Chester et al. 1984; Sedberry 

and Van Dolah 1984; Parker and Ross 1986). In the 

Gulf of Mexico, limestone and coral reefs and other low 

relief structures are important habitats, but black sea 

bass are rarely found off deeper ledges (> 25 m) 

inhabited by larger serranids (Topp 1963; Godcharles 

1970; Bortone 1977). In Long Island Sound, adults are 

generally associated with structurally complex habitats 

embedded within areas of sandy rather than muddy 

substratum (Richards 1963b). Black sea bass are 

usually observed by divers hovering near or above 

shelters and retreat into them if threatened. Fish appear 

to remain near complex structures during the day, but 

may move to adjacent soft-bottom to feed at dawn and 

dusk (Steimle and Figley 1996). Once black sea bass 

find suitable summer habitat, they show strong habitat 

fidelity, and in the Mid-Atlantic Bight, remain until the 

fall migration (Briggs 1979). 

In the Mid-Atlantic Bight adult black sea bass 

migrate from nearshore continental shelf habitats to 

outer shelf over wintering areas, south of New Jersey, 

as bottom temperatures decline in the fall (Musick and 

Mercer 1977). Offshore migration begins as bottom 

water temperatures approach 7o

C (Nesbit and Neville 

1935; June and Reintjes 1957; Colvocoresses and 

Musick 1984; Chang 1990; Shepherd and Terceiro 

1994). Larger fish appear to migrate earlier than smaller 

fish (Kendall 1977). Tag returns from fish tagged in 

Nantucket Sound (Massachusetts) suggest that fish 

migrate south to the outer shelf near Block Canyon 

(south of Rhode Island) and then move southwest along 

the outer shelf toward Norfolk Canyon off Virginia 

(Kolek 1990). 

Fish in South Atlantic Bight and Gulf of Mexico 

appear to be non-migratory and attached to specific 

reefs throughout the year (Beaumariage 1964; 

Beaumariage and Wittich 1966; Moe 1966). Most fish 

using nearshore artificial reef and wreck habitats (< 20 

m deep) support commercial and recreational fisheries 

during the winter (Chee 1977; Mercer 1989; Adams 

1993). Sedberry et al. (1998) showed that 95% of black 

sea bass tagged and at large for more than one month in 

Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary were 

recaptured in the vicinity of the sanctuary. However 

some fish moved large distances as one individual was 

recaptured off St. Augustine (Florida), 167 km from 

Gray’s reef. Musick and Mercer (1977) suggested that 

some adult black sea bass in the Gulf of Mexico may 

migrate, but tagging studies performed in the 

northeastern Gulf of Mexico suggest that adult fish 

become site attached once established on a specific reef 

(Topp 1963; Beaumariage 1964; Beaumariage and 

Wittich 1966; Moe 1966). 

In the Mid-Atlantic Bight, adult black sea bass 

move from over wintering habitats on the outer 

continental shelf to inshore areas as waters warm in the 

spring. The inshore migration appears to begin in April 

as temperatures warm to > 7C (Nesbit and Neville 

1935; June and Reintjes 1957; Colvocoresses and 

Musick 1984; Chang 1990; Shepherd and Terceiro 

1994). Primary summer habitats for adults are located 

on the nearshore continental shelf at depths < 60 m and 

fish may use complex habitats in the lower reaches of 

large estuaries which are relatively shallow (~ 5 m). 

Adult black sea bass growth appears to vary with 

latitude. Growth was nearly twice as high for fish 

collected in Massachusetts than for fish in New York 

and Virginia (Dery and Mayo 1988; Kolek 1990; 

Caruso 1995). A similar latitudinal trend was suggested 

by Mercer (1978) and Wenner et al. (1986) who 

showed fish from the Mid-Atlantic Bight were larger at 

age and grew faster than fish from the South Atlantic 

Bight. Adults show linear growth up to age 6 (Wenner 

et al. 1986). 

Several studies have suggested that growth rates 

are sex dependent in adult black sea bass, with females 

growing more rapidly than males (Lavenda 1949; 

Mercer 1978; Wilk et al. 1978). However, Alexander 

(1981) used otolith analyses of year 1 and older fish 

from New York to suggest that males grow faster than 

females. Shepherd and Idoine (1993) suggested growth 

was sex dependent for all stages including transitional 

individuals. However, the sex dependent and 

geographic differences in growth may be related to site 

specific differences in exploitation rates, gear 

selectivity, and other sampling biases (Mercer 1978; 

Wenner et al. 1986). 

REPRODUCTION

Black sea bass are protogynous hermaphrodites, 

with fish changing sex from female to male as they 

increase in age and size. Age of sexual transition varies 

with latitude with females maturing and undergoing 

sexual transition at greater ages in northern latitudes 

(McGovern et al. 2002). Fish in the Mid-Atlantic Bight 

begin to mature at age 1 (8-17 cm TL) and 50% are 

mature at 2-3 yrs and ~19 cm SL (O'Brien et al. 1993). 

The majority of fish less < 19 cm are females, while 

larger fish are transitional individuals or males (Mercer 

1978). Detailed studies of sexual development and 

transition have been performed with individuals 

collected in the South Atlantic Bight and Gulf of 

Mexico, where the patterns are similar (Mercer 1978; 

Link 1980; Wenner et al. 1986; Hood et al. 1994). In 
Page 3

the South Atlantic Bight, frequency of occurrence for 

transitional fish is highest at ages 2-5 yrs (Waltz et al.

1979; Wenner et al. 1986). Fish older than 4-5 yrs and 

> 210 mm TL are primarily males (Hood et al. 1994). 

Maximum age and size of black sea bass are 7 yrs and 

330 mm TL, respectively. The age and size of fish 

undergoing sexual transition has decreased as a result of 

increasing fishing pressure (Alexander 1981; Shapiro 

1987). The frequency of large mature males also 

declined. A mark-recapture study of black sea bass in 

Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, Georgia also 

showed that size distributions of fish decreased 

overtime as a result of fishing pressure in the South 

Atlantic Bight (Sedberry et al. 1998). Reproductive 

potential in black sea bass may be limited by the 

availability of large males (Shepherd and Idoine 1993). 

Reproductive output varies with the abundance of large 

males for other serranids that show strong spawning 

hierarchies and paired spawning (McGovern et al.

1998). However, black sea bass reproductive behavior 

has not been studied and the participation of nondominant males in spawning could reduce the 

possibility that reproductive potential is depressed by 

the rarity of large dominant males (Shepherd and Idoine 

1993). 

Fecundity is related to body size and age. Female 

fish 2-5 years of age in the Mid-Atlantic Bight release 

between 191,000 and 369,500 eggs (Mercer 1978). In 

the South Atlantic Bight fecundity ranges from 17,000 

for age-2 females (108 mm SL) to 1,050,000 for age 2-

3 fish (438 mm SL) (Wenner et al. 1986). Frequency of 

occurrence for individuals in sexual transition may be 

highest just before spawning. 

Primary spawning habitats appear to be located in 

the nearshore continental shelf at depths of 20-50 m 

(Breder 1932; Kendall 1972; Musick and Mercer 1977; 

Wilk and Brown 1980; Eklund and Targett 1990; 

Berrien and Sibunka 1999). Gravid females are 

common on the continental shelf and generally not 

found in estuaries (Allen et al. 1978). Fish may spawn 

on sand bottoms broken by ledges and move to 

structurally complex habitats in deeper water after 

spawning (Kolek 1990; MAFMC 1996). Kolek (1990) 

showed that some tagged black sea bass return to the 

spawning grounds in Nantucket Sound and suggested 

that the animals may home to spawning grounds. The 

population Kolek (1990) studied appeared to spawn 

earlier and in shallower water than reported for other 

populations in the Mid-Atlantic Bight (Kendall 1977). 

In the Mid-Atlantic Bight, black sea bass spawn 

from April through October (Able and Fahay 1998; 

Reiss and McConaugha 1999). Spawning occurs earlier 

in the year at southern latitudes. In the South Atlantic 

Bight, spawning occurs from January through June with 

a peak from March through May (Mercer 1989). 

Spawning may also occur from September-October 

(Wenner et al. 1986). Fish in the Gulf of Mexico spawn 

from December through April (Hood et al. 1994). 

STOCK STRUCTURE 

The black sea bass population is currently managed 

as three separate stocks: Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, 

and Gulf of Mexico. The geographic dividing line for 

the Mid- and South Atlantic stocks is located at Cape 

Hatteras, North Carolina. The South Atlantic stock 

extends to Cape Kennedy, Florida (Ginsburg 1952; 

Mercer 1978; Shepherd 1991; Klein-MacPhee 2002), 

while the Gulf of Mexico stock ranges from Cape 

Kennedy to Texas (Bowen and Avise 1990). Ginsburg 

(1952) considered fish in the Atlantic and Gulf of 

Mexico to be separate species (C. striata and C. 

melana, respectively) based on meristic characteristics. 

Miller (1959) analyzed morphometric and meristic data 

from a larger number of specimens and concluded that 

the difference between populations warranted only 

subspecific designations: C. striata striata and C.

striata melana. Miller’s subspecific classification has 

been supported by analyses of osteological differences, 

allozyme and plasma protein variation, and mtDNA 

variation (Bortone 1977; Chapman 1977; Bowen and 

Avise 1990). 

Recently, black sea bass year class strength has 

been strong in the Mid-Atlantic Bight (Atlantic States 

Marine Fisheries Commission 2004). The 2002 yearclass was strong; the fourth highest since 1968; and the 

2003 year-class appear to show moderate strength. 

However, South Atlantic Bight black sea bass stock 

appears to be declining (Harris and Sedberry 2004). 

Virtual population analyses (Vaughan et al. 1995, 

1998) show the South Atlantic Bight stock population 

decreased from about 4 million individuals during 1979 

to about 2.2 million in 1986. This trend was followed 

by an increase to over 3 million in 1988 and 1989 

before the population decreased to 1.4 million in 1995 

(Vaughan et al. 1995, 1998). Estimates of total 

mortality ranged from 1.00 in 1979 to 1.76 in 1982 

(McGovern et al. 2002). In the Gulf of Mexico, black 

sea bass are federally managed but the status of the 

stock is unknown, which is why the Florida Fish and 

Wildlife Conservation Commission is proposing to 

regulate fishing practices (Florida Fish and Wildlife 

Conservation Commission 2004). 

FOOD HABITS 

Following the completion of the yolk sac stage (~ 

2-d), larvae starve after three days if not exposed to 

appropriate prey (microalgae and zooplankton) (Tucker 

1989). 

Food habits data collected during Northeast 

Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) bottom trawl 

surveys [see Link and Almeida (2000) for 

methodology] reveal that decapods were the dominant 
Page 4 

prey item for all size classes of black sea bass (Figure 

2). Juveniles, which are diurnal, visual predators, prey 

on benthic and epibenthic crustaceans (isopods, 

amphipods, small crabs, sand shrimp, copepods, 

mysids) and small fish (Richards 1963a; Kimmel 1973; 

Allen et al. 1978; Link 1980; Werme 1981; Hood et al.

1994), and their diets appear to change with body size. 

Bowman et al. (2000), using the same NEFSC food 

habits database, but only for the years 1977-1980, 

found that crustaceans dominated the diet for all size 

classes of juvenile black sea bass (Table 1). Amphipods 

were among the more important crustacean prey for the 

smallest juveniles (1-5 cm), and although decapods 

dominated the diet of fish 11-20 cm, the euphausiid, 

Meganyctiphanes norvegica, was also an important 

prey item for that size class. Among the important 

decapod prey for juveniles were Cancer irroratus and 

Crangon septemspinosa. Crustaceans are also dominant 

prey for juveniles in New Jersey coastal and estuarine 

areas, but fish > 110-180 mm SL incorporate fish prey 

(anchovy and silversides Menidia sp.) in their diets 

(Allen et al. 1978). Large juveniles in New Jersey 

estuaries also feed on lady (Ovalipes sp.), blue and 

xanthid crabs, as well as caridean shrimp (Festa 1979). 

In lower Chesapeake Bay eelgrass beds, fish 140-165 

mm TL consume juvenile blue crabs (Callinectes 

sapidus) and pipefish (Syngnathus sp.), as well as 

isopods, caprellid amphipods, and shrimp (Orth and 

Heck 1980). Kimmel (1973) reported a dietary shift in 

juveniles sampled in Magothy Bay, VA. Fish 30-90 mm 

SL consumed mysids (55%) and amphipods (15%), 

while juveniles 91-146 mm SL fed on larger 

brachyurian and xanthid crabs (35%) as well as mysids 

(19%), and polychaetes (14%). In nearshore continental 

shelf habitats in the South Atlantic Bight, amphipods, 

isopods and decapods are also important prey for 

juveniles 50-100 mm SL while larger individuals also 

consume more decapods and small fishes (Sedberry 

1988). 

Adult black sea bass are generalist carnivores that 

feed on a variety of infaunal and epibenthic 

invertebrates, especially crustaceans (including juvenile 

American lobster Homarus americanus, crabs, and 

shrimp) small fish, and squid (Bigelow and Schroeder 

1953; Miller 1959; Richards 1963a; Mack and Bowman 

1983; Hood et al. 1994; Steimle and Figley 1996). The 

Bowman et al. (2000) study showed that while 

crustaceans continue to be important diet items for the 

adults, fish also become more significant (Table 1), 

particularly for the largest black sea bass (> 40 cm), 

where sand lance (Ammodytes dubius) and scup 

(Stenotomus chrysops) were prominent. Sheepshead 

minnow (Cyprinodon variegates) was a major diet item 

for adults 36-40 cm. Decapods, and in particular, the 

crab Cancer irroratus, was the major crustacean prey. 

Squids are notable diet items for black sea bass 21-25 

cm. 

Regionally, in the Mid-Atlantic Bight, the winter 

diet of adult black sea bass is poorly known, although 

Bowman et al. (2000) showed that crustaceans, 

especially decapods, dominated the diet in that region. 

Other important prey in over wintering habitats may 

include echinoderms [e.g., sand dollars 

(Echinarachnius parma) and sea stars], mollusks [e.g., 

razor clams (Ensis directus)], and polychaetes; average 

benthic biomasses are 50-75 g/m2

 wet weight (Wigley 

and Theroux 1981; Steimle 1990). Squid (Loligo sp. 

and Illex sp.) and butterfish are also available during the 

winter. Species co-occurring with sea bass in over 

wintering habitats, including scup (Stenotomus 

chrysops), may be competitors for food (Austen et al.

1994.) Bowman et al. (2000) also showed that 

crustaceans, and again, especially decapods, dominated 

the diet in southern New England, Georges Bank, and 

inshore north of Cape Hatteras. In the South Atlantic 

Bight, black sea bass diets do not vary with season 

(Sedberry 1988). Fish, as well as epibenthic reef 

organisms (amphipods, stomatopods, shrimp, decapods) 

are dominant prey (Sedberry 1988; Bowman et al.

2000). Diets of fish in the Gulf of Mexico are similar to 

those of the South Atlantic Bight population (Miller 

1959; Cupka et al. 1973; Link 1980; Sedberry 1988; 

Hood et al. 1994). 

CO-OCCURRING SPECIES 

During the summer, adult black sea bass in the 

Mid-Atlantic Bight share complex coastal habitats with 

other fishes including tautog (Tautoga onitis), spotted 

hake (Urophycis regia), red hake (U. chuss), conger eel 

(Conger oceanicus), ocean pout (Macrozoarces 

americanus), pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides), northern 

sea robin (Prionotus carolinus), and transients such as 

gray triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) (Chee 1977; 

Musick and Mercer 1977; Eklund and Targett 1991). 

Butterfish (Peprilus triacanthus), smooth dogfish 

(Mustelus canis), round herring (Etrumeus teres), and 

windowpane flounder (Scophthalmus aquosus) cooccur in samples with black sea bass in inshore trawl 

surveys (Phoel 1985; Gabriel 1992; Brown et al. 1996). 

Adult black sea bass in the South Atlantic Bight cooccur with southern porgy and scad (Powles and Barans 

1980). Grouper, vermillion snapper, and red porgy 

occur on reef structures with black sea bass in the Gulf 

of Mexico (McGovern et al. 2002). Competition for 

food and shelter space with co-occurring species could 

affect habitat quality for black sea bass on specific reef 

structures.

Hartman and Brandt (1995) found black sea bass, 

presumably juveniles, in the summer diets of one year 

old weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) and other predators in 

Chesapeake Bay. 

Resource species that co-occur with black sea bass 

in soft bottom over wintering habitats include scup, 
Page 5

summer flounder, butterfish, squid, and American 

lobster (Chang 1990; Able and Kaiser 1994). 

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 

EGGS

Black sea bass eggs were collected during the 

1978-1987 NEFSC Marine Resources Monitoring, 

Assessment and Prediction (MARMAP) 

ichthyoplankton surveys mostly from New Jersey to 

Cape Hatteras (Figure 3). Eggs first appear in large 

numbers in June, with the highest mean monthly 

densities in July, August, and September, and the 

highest mean monthly density in August (6.63 eggs/10 

m2

). Egg numbers decline sharply in October. 

LARVAE 

During the NEFSC MARMAP surveys, peak 

months for larval abundance in the Mid-Atlantic were 

from July-September, with the highest mean monthly 

density in August (3.36 larvae/10 m2

) (Figure 4). 

Larvae first appear near Cape Hatteras and occur farther 

north as the year progresses. A few larvae occur in the 

Mid Atlantic Bight in November (Kendall 1972; Able 

et al. 1995). Infrequent collections of larvae in deeper 

water (> 200 m) water may be the result of the cross 

shelf transport from near shore spawning areas and 

away from high quality settlement habitats. 

Larvae have been reported in high salinity coastal 

areas of southern New England in August and 

September (Stone et al. 1994). Black sea bass in the 

near shore coastal larval assemblage were collected 

within 48 km in the New York Bight during the 

summer months (Cowen 1993). Larvae are abundant 

on the inner shelf outside Chesapeake Bay but not in 

association with estuarine plume water (Reiss and 

McConaugha 1999). Larvae may be more abundant in 

subsurface than in surface plankton tows in June near 

the mouth of Chesapeake Bay (Pearson 1941). Larval 

black sea bass also occur in surf zone plankton 

collections from northern New Jersey (Burlas et al.

2001). 

While black sea bass larvae are collected close to 

shore on the continental shelf, they rarely occur within 

estuaries. Larvae are not reported in Delaware Bay 

(Wang and Kernehan 1979), Great Bay, NJ (Able and 

Fahay 1998), or the Hudson-Raritan Estuary (Croker 

1965; Dovel 1981). Few larvae are collected in Cape 

Cod Bay (Scherer 1984), Narragansett Bay (Herman 

1962; Bourne and Govoni 1988), and other southern 

New England estuaries (Stone et al. 1994). Both eggs 

and larvae have not been collected in Mystic River 

estuary (Connecticut) (Pearcy and Richards 1962). 

Black sea bass larvae occurred in the Indian River 

estuary (Delaware) during one of three survey years 

(Pacheco and Grant 1965) but were absent in a 

subsequent two-year survey of the estuary (Scotton 

1970; Derickson and Price 1973; Klein-MacPhee 

2002). Able et al. (1995) speculated that most larvae 

settle in near shore continental shelf habitats and then 

move into estuarine nurseries where post-settlement 

stage juveniles can be abundant. 

JUVENILES

Because black sea bass are generally associated 

with structurally complex habitats and steep depth 

gradients, patterns of habitat specific distribution are 

not well described using standard trawl surveys. Black 

sea bass also use a variety of man-made habitats 

including artificial reefs, shipwrecks, bridge abutments, 

piers, pilings, jetties, groins, submerged pipes and 

culverts, navigation aids, anchorages, rip-rap barriers, 

fish and lobster traps, and rough bottom along the sides 

of navigation channels. The NEFSC and state trawl 

surveys avoid excessively rough bottom, shipwrecks, 

and reefs, or use roller gear, and thus under-sample fish 

that use structurally complex habitats. Furthermore 

these surveys avoid sampling in shallow coastal 

habitats where black sea bass may be abundant during 

juvenile life history stages. Thus habitat specific 

patterns of distribution derived from trawl survey data 

should be viewed with caution. 

The distributions and abundances of juvenile black 

sea bass collected during NEFSC bottom trawl surveys 

from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras are shown in 

Figure 5. Note that winter and summer distributions are 

presented as presence data only. In winter they occurred 

mostly offshore on the shelf in the Mid-Atlantic and 

southern New England between the 50-200 m isobaths. 

In the spring the highest numbers are found off 

Chesapeake Bay and Cape Hatteras near the 200 m 

isobath, small numbers also occur inshore. In summer, 

the few juveniles that were present were found mostly 

nearshore from Delaware Bay to Cape Hatteras. In the 

fall, the highest numbers were found nearshore in 

southern New England around Buzzards Bay, Rhode 

Island Sound, and the tip of Long Island, as well as at 

the mouth of the Hudson-Raritan estuary; high numbers 

were also found in the nearshore Mid-Atlantic from 

Delaware Bay to Cape Hatteras (Figure 5). 

Recently settled juveniles have been reported near 

the mouths of large estuaries from North Carolina to 

southern Cape Cod, and occasionally into the southern 

Gulf of Maine. At many locations, juvenile recruitment 

shows strong inter-annual variability (Adams 1993; 

Able et al. 1995) which may indicate that 
Page 6 

meteorological forcing and other “stochastic” factors 

strongly affect the transport and recruitment of larvae to 

specific settlement habitats. 

Juveniles appear to be most abundant in oceanic 

waters and polyhaline regions of many estuaries, but 

can occur at salinities as low as 8 ppt. Juveniles can be 

relatively common in estuaries south of Cape Cod, and 

are found in estuaries such as Narragansett Bay, Long 

Island Sound, the Hudson-Raritan estuary, Great Bay 

(NJ), Delaware Bay, Chesapeake Bay and tributaries, as 

well as many estuaries farther south (Bean 1902; 

Sherwood and Edwards 1902; Mansueti 1955; Richards 

1963a, b; Kimmel 1973; Allen et al. 1978; Chesapeake 

Bay Program 1996; Wilk et al. 1997; Able and Fahay 

1998; Geer 2002; Gottschall et al. 2000). 

The distributions and abundances of juveniles in 

Massachusetts coastal waters, based upon the spring 

and fall 1978-2003 Massachusetts inshore trawl 

surveys, are shown in Figure 6. Small numbers were 

found mostly in Buzzards Bay and around Martha’s 

Vineyard in the spring, in contrast to the fall, where 

very high numbers were found in the Bay and south of 

Cape Cod; a large catch was found on the eastern tip of 

Martha’s Vineyard. 

The seasonal distributions and abundances of 

juveniles in Narragansett Bay from 1990-1996, based 

on the Rhode Island bottom trawl surveys, are shown in 

Figure 7. They were not very common in the Bay; the 

largest mean catch (1.3 individuals/tow) occurred in 

summer in Mount Hope Bay. 

The distributions and abundances of both juvenile 

and adult black sea bass in Long Island Sound from 

April to November 1984-1994, based on the 

Connecticut Fisheries Division bottom trawl surveys 

(Gottschall et al. 2000), are shown in Figures 8, 9, and 

10. The size range of black sea bass captured in the 

survey ranged from 5-57 cm (Figure 8), with the 

majority of juveniles captured in October and 

November (84% and 57% respectively), many of which 

were YOY (< 10 cm) (Gottschall et al. 2000). Most 

black sea bass taken from May through August were 

adults. The following description of their distributions 

relative to depth and bottom type is taken from 

Gottschall et al. (2000). 

During May and June, when black sea bass were 

most commonly encountered (about 13.6% occurrence), 

they were mostly captured on the Mattituck Sill and 

along the Connecticut side of the Sound from Norwalk 

to Guilford (Figure 9). In contrast, during the summer, 

sea bass were found almost exclusively among sand 

wave formations on the Mattituck Sill in depths 

between 18-27 m. During the fall, they were once again 

more dispersed; however, during September they were 

taken only in depths < 27 m, whereas in October and 

November abundance was highest in depths > 27 m 

(Figure 10C) (Gottschall et al. 2000). 

Surveys of the Hudson-Raritan estuary (1992-

1997) show that juveniles were found from spring 

through fall, and the highest numbers were concentrated 

mainly around the center of Raritan Bay in summer and 

fall (Figure 11). 

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) 

trawl surveys from 1988-1999 of Chesapeake Bay and 

its tributaries showed that black sea bass was common 

in the lower Bay and James River, although they were 

rarely captured in large numbers (Geer 2002). The trawl 

survey caught 4,907 juveniles and 1,832 adults, with a 

size range from 2.0-35.4 cm (mean = 10.9 cm). 

Juveniles were common throughout the Bay and lower 

portions of the James and York Rivers during spring 

and summer (April to July) (Figures 12 and 13). Small 

juveniles (> 7.0 cm) first recruited to the gear in 

August, so Geer (2002) considered this month to be the 

beginning of the biological year. Juveniles migrated 

offshore in the winter and returned to the Bay the 

following spring at a maximum length of 11 cm. By 

July it was assumed that YOY fish are a maximum of 

17.5 cm (Geer 2002). 

The VIMS 1994-1999 beach seine surveys of 

Chesapeake Bay showed that juvenile black sea bass 

was uncommon, with only 98 fish captured, ranging in 

size from 2.2-15.3 cm (mean = 7.4 cm) (Geer 2002). 

The catch peaked during May (Figure 14), primarily 

along the ocean sites (Figure 15). 

ADULTS 

The distributions and abundances of adult black sea 

bass collected during NEFSC bottom trawl surveys are 

shown in Figure 16. Note again that winter and summer 

distributions are presented as presence data only. In 

winter they were found offshore near the 200 m isobath 

from southern New England to Cape Hatteras. High 

numbers were also found along the 200 m isobath in 

spring, with comparatively small numbers scattered 

along the Mid-Atlantic coast. In summer, the adults 

were found mostly closer to shore from the Delmarva 

peninsula to Cape Hatteras, In the fall, relatively small 

numbers were found along the coast of southern New 

England and Mid-Atlantic, but occurred farther 

offshore towards the Delmarva peninsula and Cape 

Hatteras; some higher numbers were found near the 200 

m isobath off Virginia. 

During the spring 1978-2003 Massachusetts 

inshore trawl surveys (Figure 17), adults were mostly 

found south of Cape Cod, around the islands, and in 

Buzzards Bay, with the highest numbers near Nantucket 

Island and south of the Cape in Nantucket Sound. 

Distributions were similar in the fall, with the highest 

numbers occurring in Nantucket Sound and in Buzzards 

Bay.

Very few adults were found in Narragansett Bay; 

none were found in winter (Figure 18). 

The distributions and abundances of both juvenile 

and adult black sea bass in Long Island Sound, based 
Page 7

on Gottschall et al. (2000), were discussed previously. 

Very few adults were found in the Hudson-Raritan 

estuary (Figure 19); those few that were present were 

found mostly around the middle of Raritan Bay. None 

were found in winter. 

The VIMS trawl and beach seine surveys of 

Chesapeake Bay and tributaries show that adults were 

more common during the latter part of the summer and 

into the fall on the eastern side of the Bay (Figures 12 

and 20) (Geer 2002). 

HABITAT CHARACTERISTICS 

EGGS

In the laboratory, the incubation period is 38 h at 

23o

C (Hoff 1970) and approximately 120 hrs at a 

temperature of 15o

C (Kendall 1972). Eggs are sensitive 

to high salinity, low pH, high nitrite-nitrate 

concentrations, and temperature extremes. 

During the MARMAP ichthyoplankton surveys, 

eggs were collected mostly between temperatures of 

about 10-25o

C (Figure 21). During July through 

September, the months of highest mean monthly 

densities, most of the eggs were found at increasing 

temperatures over the three months: for July, about 16-

22o

C; for August, about 17-24oC; and for September, 

about 17-21o

C. Their depth range over the period of the 

survey was between 10-375 m (Figure 21); however, 

overall they were found in relatively shallow depths. 

During July through September, the majority of eggs 

were found at 30 m. 

LARVAE 

Larval growth and development rates are inversely 

temperature dependant. In the laboratory, larval 

duration is 24 days at 18°C and 21 days at 22°C 

(Berlinsky et al. 2000). At 22°C, larvae grew from 3.5 

 0.1 to 12.2  0.6 mm in about 18 days, which was 

significantly faster than those cultured at 18°C 

(Berlinsky et al. 2000). Growth was significantly higher 

in greenwater (algae-water) than in cultures without 

greenwater. 

During the MARMAP ichthyoplankton surveys, 

larvae were collected between temperatures of 11-26o

C

(Figure 22). During July through September, the 

months of highest mean monthly densities, most larvae 

were found at about 15-19o

C in July, at 15-20oC in 

August, and in 17-21o

C in September. During the 

survey period they were found over a depth range 

between 10 m to > 2000 m (Figure 22); however, as 

with the eggs, the majority were found in shallow 

depths. During July through September, most were 

found at 30-50 m. 

JUVENILES

Structural complexity appears to be essential 

component of juvenile black sea bass habitat in offshore 

as well as inshore nurseries throughout the species 

range. In offshore areas, recently settled fish occur in 

accumulations of shell on sand substrata, complex 

microtopographies on exposed clay, on rocky reefs, and 

on wrecks (Able et al. 1995). Because eggs and larvae 

are largely absent in estuaries, Able et al. (1995) 

speculated that primary black sea bass settlement 

habitats were probably located along the near shore 

continental shelf in accumulations of the shells of 

bivalves, including Atlantic surf clams (Spisula 

solidissima). Large numbers of newly settled black sea 

bass were observed on sandy substrates with shell 

fragments adjacent to an artificial reef 15 km off the 

coast of Virginia-North Carolina (Adams 1993). 

Settlers were also observed on the reef. Within 

estuaries, young fish use shallow shellfish (oyster and 

mussel), sponge (including Microciona prolifera), 

amphipod (Ampelisca abdita), seagrass beds (especially 

Ruppia sp.), and cobble habitats as well as manmade 

structures such as wharves, pilings, wrecks, reefs, crab 

and conch pots (Bean 1888; Moore 1892; Sherwood 

and Edwards 1902; Hildebrand and Schroeder 1928; 

Arve 1960; Kendall 1972; Derickson and Price 1973; 

Musick and Mercer 1977; Clayton et al. 1978; 

Weinstein and Brooks 1983; Feigenbaum et al. 1989; 

Able et al. 1995). Early juveniles are rare on unvegetated sandy intertidal flats and beaches (Allen et al.

1978) as well as deeper, muddy bottoms (Richards 

1963b). Juveniles are primarily associated with shell 

bottom throughout the year in the lower reaches of a 

Georgia estuary (Dahlberg 1972). 

Juvenile black sea bass display extremely high site 

fidelity. Recapture rates of tagged juveniles 34-111mm 

TL (N = ~ 700) ranged from 20% to 30%, and 99% of 

recaptured fish occurred within 30 m of a release site in 

a New Jersey estuary (Able and Hales 1997). Young 

fish may be territorial and defend structured habitat 

from con-specifics (Werme 1981; Able and Fahay 

1998). Like many reef species, juvenile recruitment 

strength for black sea bass may be strongly affected by 

the availability of shelters that serve as predation 

refuges (Huntsman et al. 1983; Richards and Lindeman 

1987). Arve (1960) attributed black sea bass stock 

declines in the late 1950s in Chincoteague Bay, MD to 

declines in oyster populations that provided important 

shelter habitat for juveniles. Oysters, once common but 

now effectively extinct in Raritan Bay, NY and NJ, 

were once important juvenile black sea bass habitat in 

that estuary (Nichols and Breder 1927). 
Page 8 

In the Mid and South Atlantic Bights, black sea 

bass nursery habitats occur at depths < 50 m (Sedberry 

et al. 1998). Most nurseries are located at depths < 20 

m (Sedberry et al. 1998). Juvenile depth distributions 

appear to increase with age and body size (Kendall 

1977; Musick and Mercer 1977). Within estuaries, 

older juveniles use habitats < 10 m deep but the YOY 

are collected in shallower shoal habitats (1 m) (Musick 

and Mercer 1977). Older juveniles use deeper estuarine 

channels (Bean 1888; de Sylva et al. 1962; Richards 

and Castagna 1970; Zawacki 1976; Allen et al. 1978; 

Szedlmayer and Able 1996), jetties (Schwartz 1964), 

and bridge abutments (Allen et al. 1978). 

Laboratory studies show that growth rates of 

juvenile black sea bass vary with temperature, salinity, 

dissolved oxygen and prey quality (Berlinsky et al.

2000). Several studies have shown that juveniles grow 

most rapidly at intermediate salinities. Fish exposed to 

a salinity of 20 ppt showed higher growth than those 

exposed to 10 and 32 ppt in the laboratory (Berlinskiy 

et al. 2000). Optimal salinities for the growth of fish 

appear to be similar in the South Atlantic Bight (Cotton 

et al. 2003). Osmoregulatory costs are reduced for fish 

at intermediate salinities. High growth at polyhaline 

salinities may indicate that habitat suitability is higher 

in the lower reaches of estuaries and shelf areas under 

estuarine influence, than offshore nurseries, but 

experimental comparisons of habitat suitability in 

estuarine and continental shelf nursery habitats has not 

been performed. 

In the South Atlantic Bight, fish 20-140 mm SL are 

most abundant on reefs where salinities exceed 30 ppt, 

but have been collected in estuarine regions where 

salinities are as low as 9 ppt (Cupka et al. 1973). In the 

St. John’s River, FL, young-of the year black sea bass 

(28-71 mm TL) are primarily associated with salinities 

ranging from 15-25 ppt (Tagatz 1967). However, larger 

juveniles can occur in estuarine reaches where salinities 

are as low as 8-13 ppt. Juveniles were generally most 

abundant in the lower reaches of a Georgia estuary 

where salinities are > 30 ppt (Dahlberg 1972). 

Hales and Able (1995) showed that laboratory 

exposure to short term periods of low dissolved oxygen 

result in poor growth and significant mortality in age-0 

and 1+ black sea bass. In their study fish did not grow 

and showed respiratory distress and reduced feeding 

when exposed to oxygen concentrations < 2 ppm. In 

contrast exposure to ~ 6 ppm produced significantly 

positive growth rates (0.3% d TL). Fifty percent 

mortality occurred after short-term exposure to ~1 ppm. 

The authors speculated that conditions producing 

episodes of hypoxia near continental shelf settlement 

habitats could depress juvenile recruitment in some 

areas.

In the laboratory, juvenile black sea bass showed 

100% mortality when exposed to temperatures of 2-3°C 

in seawater pumped from a New Jersey estuary. 

Temperatures < 6°C resulted in increased shelter use 

and burial behavior and feeding decreased dramatically 

at values < 4°C (Able and Hales 1997). These data are 

consistent with early observations of juvenile mortality 

during episodic cold temperatures in shallow nursery 

areas in southern New England (Baird 1873). The fall 

migration of juvenile black sea bass from shallow 

estuarine and coastal nursery habitats to deeper offshore 

waters in the Mid-Atlantic Bight appears to be triggered 

by declining temperatures. Juveniles begin to move into 

deeper warmer offshore water as temperatures decline 

below 14o

C, and few individuals are collected in 

shallow areas when temperatures fall below 6o

C (Able 

and Fahay 1998; Klein-MacPhee 2002). In the MidAtlantic Bight, juveniles return to nearshore and 

estuarine habitats in the spring and are collected as 

early as March in the Chesapeake Bay region (Kimmel 

1973). 

Juveniles (20-140 mm SL) are collected at 

temperatures ranging from 6-30o

C in the South Atlantic 

Bight (Cupka et al. 1973). In North Carolina, young-of 

the year (30-50 mm SL) are abundant along inshore 

jetties at temperatures 6-29°C (Link 1980; Schwartz et 

al. 1981). Young of the year fish (28-71 mm FL) are 

also collected in June and July at temperatures ranging 

from 26.6-27.4o

C in the Saint John’s River, Florida 

(Tagatz 1967). During the winter and spring, larger 

juveniles (91-176 mm FL) occur at temperatures 

between 11.0-17.4o

C in the estuary. 

The spring and fall distributions of juvenile black 

sea bass relative to bottom water temperature, depth, 

and salinity based on 1963-2003 NEFSC bottom trawl 

surveys from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras are 

shown in Figure 23. In the spring, they were found over 

a temperature range of 4-18°C, with most spread 

between about 8-15°C and a peak in catch at 12°C. 

They were found at depths ranging from 1-400 m; there 

were peaks in the catch at 101-140 m. Their salinity 

range was between 28-36 ppt, with the majority spread 

between 33-35 ppt. In the fall, the juveniles were spread 

over a warmer temperature range than in the spring: 7-

28°C, with the majority found at temperatures > 15°C. 

They were also found at shallower depths than in the 

spring, with a range from 1 m to about 140 m, with 

most found between 11-40 m. Their salinity range was 

between 29-36 ppt, with the majority at 31-33 ppt. 

The spring and autumn distributions of juvenile 

black sea bass in Massachusetts coastal waters relative 

to bottom water temperature and depth based on 1978-

2003 Massachusetts inshore trawl surveys are shown in 

Figure 24. The few that were found in spring were 

found over a temperature range of 9-12°C and a depth 

range of 6-35 m. The much larger numbers that were 

found in the fall were found over a higher temperature 

range of about 10-22°C, with most between 17-21°C. 

Their depth range during that season was between 1-35 

m, with the majority between 6-15 m. 

The seasonal distributions of the few juveniles 

found in Narragansett Bay, relative to bottom water 

temperature and depth, based on 1990-1996 Rhode 

Island Narragansett Bay trawl surveys are shown in 
Page 9

Figure 25. In the spring they were found in 11oC 

waters, in summer almost all were found at 24oC, and in 

the fall they were found at a temperature range of 14-

22oC. Juvenile black sea bass were found at depths of 

30-40 ft (9-12 m) in the spring, 10-30 ft (3-9 m) in the 

summer, and from 10 ft to about 70 ft (21 m) in the fall, 

with most found in that latter season at 30-40 ft. 

The distributions and abundances of both juveniles 

and adults in Long Island Sound relative to depth were 

discussed previously, and can be seen, along with their 

relation to bottom type, in Figure 10 (Gottschall et al.

2000). 

The distributions of juvenile black sea bass relative 

to bottom water temperature, dissolved oxygen, depth, 

and salinity based on 1992-1997 NEFSC HudsonRaritan estuary trawl surveys are shown in Figure 26. 

Over the entire survey, juveniles were found in waters 

ranging from 3-23oC, with higher percentages found at 

temperatures > 15oC. They were found in dissolved 

oxygen levels of 4-11 mg/l, with most between 5-7 

mg/l. They were found over a depth range of 10-75 ft 

(3-23 m), most were found at relatively shallow depths 

from approximately 20-50 ft (6-15 m). Juveniles were 

found in salinities ranging from 20-33 ppt, with the 

majority found at 25-27 ppt. 

The hydrographic preferences of juveniles in 

Chesapeake Bay and tributaries from the 1988-1999 

VIMS trawl surveys are shown in Figure 27 (all years 

and months combined). According to Geer (2002), most 

juveniles were caught at dissolved oxygen levels of 5-8 

mg/l, at temperatures > 16oC, at salinities > 18 ppt, and 

at depths > 8 m, (Figure 27). The hydrographic 

preferences of juveniles caught in the 1994-1999 seine 

surveys are shown in Figure 28 (all years and months 

combined). Geer (2002) suggests that the majority were 

caught in slighter higher temperatures than that of the 

trawl survey, which may be due to sampling only 

during months where water temperatures are fairly 

warm. Most juveniles were also caught in higher 

salinity waters, with nearly 90% of the catch occurring 

in waters > 26 ppt (Figure 28). The majority of 

juveniles caught in the seine surveys were found at 

dissolved oxygen levels of both 3 mg/l and 6-7 mg/l, 

and at pH levels of 7.4-8.2. 

ADULTS 

As stated previously, black sea bass are strongly 

associated with structurally complex habitats, including 

rocky reefs, cobble and rock fields, stone coral patches, 

exposed stiff clay, and mussel beds (see the Life 

History section for further discussion). 

Over wintering habitats in the Mid-Atlantic Bight 

appear to occur at depths between 60-150 m (range: 30-

410 m) (Musick and Mercer 1977). Some fish may also 

over winter in deep water (> 80 m) off southern New 

England (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953; Chang 1990; 

Kolek 1990). Larger fish, that are generally male, occur 

in deeper water (Nesbit and Neville 1935; Musick and 

Mercer 1977; Able et al. 1995). Potential over 

wintering habitat may be defined by bottom water 

temperatures > 7.5C (Neville and Talbot 1964; 

Colvocoresses and Musick 1984). The lowest bottom 

temperatures recorded in the depth range inhabited by 

adult black sea bass off South Carolina was 5.6°C 

(Walford and Wicklund 1968). Adult fish exposed to 

temperatures near 6°C become inactive and were often 

found resting in holes and crevices (Adams 1993). 

Schwartz (1964) showed that adult black sea bass 

stopped feeding when exposed to a temperature of 8°C 

(salinity = 15 ppt) and died when temperatures were 

reduced below 2°C. Fish may not over winter in South 

Atlantic Bight estuaries in the northern part of the 

region, except during warm winters. Adult sea bass 

burrow into soft sediments during particularly cold 

winters off the coast of North and South Carolina 

(Parker 1990). Winter association of black sea bass 

with soft substrata on the continental shelf in the MidAtlantic Bight (Wigley and Theroux 1981) could be 

related to winter burial. 

In the South Atlantic Bight, black sea bass occur in 

habitats 10-120 m deep but are most abundant between 

20-60 m and occur at temperatures below 29°C 

(Struhsaker 1969; Link 1980). In the Gulf of Mexico 

they occur at depths of 7.3-18.3 m, and are most 

abundant between Tampa and Apalachee Bay 

(Godcharles 1970; Powers et al. 2003). Larger fish are 

generally found in deeper habitats than smaller fish 

(Musick and Mercer 1977). Fish have been collected at 

relatively low salinities (range: 1-36 ppt) in North 

Carolina estuaries but are most frequent where values 

exceed 14 ppt (Link 1980). Salinity ranges for fish in 

Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Bight estuaries are 

similar (Springer and Woodburn 1960). 

Adult black sea bass also appear to be vulnerable to 

low dissolved oxygen stress. Episodic hypoxia in the 

New York Bight has resulted in mortality for fish and 

benthic invertebrates, and avoidance on the nearshore 

continental shelf (Ogren and Chess 1969; Azarovitz et

al. 1979; Steimle and Radosh 1979). During such 

events commercial fishermen and sport divers have 

reported the disappearance and mortality of black sea 

bass and other fishes from shipwrecks and artificial 

reefs near the New Jersey coast. These hypoxic 

conditions are produced by meteorologically driven 

upwelling events that are followed by early and strong 

water column stratification that result in an unusually 

large dinoflagellate blooms. The transport of nutrients 

from the Hudson River estuary to the nearshore 

continental shelf may also be important. The Asbury 

Park Press (NJ) newspaper reported black sea bass 

mortality in an area where dissolved oxygen 

concentrations fell below 2 ppm off the New Jersey 

coast in June of 1997, which followed coastal 

upwelling. 
Page 10

The spring and fall distributions of adult black sea 

bass relative to bottom water temperature, depth, and 

salinity based on 1963-2003 NEFSC bottom trawl 

surveys are shown in Figure 29. In the spring, they were 

found over a temperature range of about 3-21°C, with 

most at 9-12°C. Their depth range was 1-400 m with 

higher percentages concentrated between 61-140 m. 

They were found in a salinity range of 32-36 ppt, with 

the majority between 34-35 ppt. In the fall, adults were 

spread over a warmer temperature range of 8-28°C, 

with most spread between about 16-27°C. Their depth 

range was shallower than in the spring: from 1m to 

greater than 160 m, with the majority at 11-40 m. Their 

salinity range was between 30-36 ppt, with the majority 

at 31-32 ppt. 

The spring and autumn distributions of adults in 

Massachusetts coastal waters relative to bottom water 

temperature and depth are shown in Figure 30. In spring 

they were found over at temperature range of 3-17°C, 

with the majority at 10-14°C. Their depth range during 

the spring survey was from 1-65 m, with most between 

6-25 m. The adults were found at warmer temperatures 

in the fall, being found over a range of approximately 

8-22°C, with the majority between 16-21°C. Almost all 

were found between depths of 6-20 m. 

The seasonal distributions of the few adults found 

in Narragansett Bay, relative to bottom water 

temperature and depth, are shown in Figure 31. In the 

spring they were mostly found in 13-14oC waters, in 

summer they were found in a temperature range of 15-

24oC, with peaks at 91-20oC, and in the fall the majority 

were at 19-20oC. Adults were found mostly at a depth 

of 100 ft (30 m) in the spring, 20-80 ft (6-24 m) in the 

summer, and from 30-50 ft (9-15 m) and from 100-110 

ft (30-34 m) in the fall. 

The distributions and abundances of both juveniles 

and adults in Long Island Sound relative to depth were 

discussed previously, and can be seen, along with their 

relation to bottom type, in Figure 10 (Gottschall et al.

2000). 

The distributions of the few adults found in the 

Hudson-Raritan estuary, relative to bottom water 

temperature, dissolved oxygen, depth, and salinity are 

shown in Figure 32. Over the entire survey, adults were 

found in a temperature range of 11-23oC, in a depth 

range of about 15-65 ft (5-20 m), and were spread over 

a salinity range spread 20-33 ppt. The majority were 

found at a dissolved oxygen level of 7mg/l. 

In Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, adults had 

similar hydrographic preferences to the juveniles in the 

VIMS trawl surveys (Figure 33) (Geer 2002). 

RESEARCH NEEDS 

 Studies examining hydrographic mechanisms and 

larval behaviors controlling larval transport from 

adult spawning and settlement habitats, including 

effects of hydrographic processes on the spatial 

characteristics of settlement habitats and on interannual variation in local early juvenile recruitment 

 Studies of the mechanisms determining successful 

migration from offshore settlement to estuarine 

nursery grounds. 

 Comparative studies of the functional habitat 

quality of coastal ocean and estuarine nursery 

grounds. 

 All aspects of reproductive biology and behavior 

including the spatial and environmental 

characteristics of primary spawning habitats, 

factors controlling sexual transition, and density 

dependent reproductive success. 

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Page 17

Table 1. Diet composition of black sea bass by fish length category. Data expressed as percentage of stomach content by 

weight. Squared brackets indicate major taxon subtotal; parentheses indicate minor taxon subtotal. Source: Bowman et

al. (2000); from NEFSC groundfish surveys, 1977-1980. 
Page 18

Table 2. Diet composition of black sea bass by geographic area. Data expressed as percentage of stomach content by 

weight. Squared brackets indicate major taxon subtotal; parentheses indicate minor taxon subtotal. Source: Bowman et

al. (2000); from NEFSC groundfish surveys, 1977-1980. 
Page 19

Figure 1. The black sea bass, Centropristis striata (from Goode 1884). 
Page 20

<=25 cm

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Amphipods

Anchovies

Ascidians

Bivalves

Clupeids

Cnidarians

Decapods

Euphasiids

Gadids

Gastropods

Misc.

Crustaceans

Myctophids

Other Fish

Polychaetes

Serranids

Sparids

Squids

Well

Digested

Prey

Percent

26-50 cm

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Amphipods

Anchovies

Ascidians

BivalvesBivalves

Cnidarians

Decapods

Gadids

GastropodsGastropods

Misc.

Crustaceans

Myctophids

Other Fish

Polychaetes

Serranids

Sparids

Squids

Well

Digested

Prey

Percent

Diet Composition of Major Prey Items

Figure 2. Percent by weight of the major prey items in the diet of two size categories of black sea bass. Specimens were 

collected during NEFSC bottom trawl surveys from 1973-2001 (all seasons). For details on NEFSC diet analysis, see 

Link and Almeida (2000). 
Page 21

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Black Sea Bass

(Centropristis striata)

Eggs

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

1978 to 1987

(Jan, Apr, May, Jun,

Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct)

Number of Tows = 6682; with eggs = 376

Eggs / 10m2

1 to <10

10 to <100

100 to 535

Figure 3. Distributions and abundances of black sea bass eggs collected during NEFSC MARMAP ichthyoplankton 

surveys, for all available months and years from 1978-1987 combined. 
Page 22

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Black Sea Bass

(Centropristis striata)

Eggs

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

January; 1978 to 1987

Number of Tows = 433; with eggs = 1

Monthly Mean Density = 0.023 Eggs/10m2

Eggs / 10m2

None

1 to <10

10

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Black Sea Bass

(Centropristis striata)

Eggs

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

April; 1978 to 1987

Number of Tows = 1020; with eggs = 1

Monthly Mean Density = 0.003 Eggs/10m2

None

Eggs / 10m2

1 to 3

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Black Sea Bass

(Centropristis striata)

Eggs

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

May; 1978 to 1987

Number of Tows = 1085; with eggs = 23

Monthly Mean Density = 0.694 Eggs/10m2

Eggs / 10m 2

None

1 to <10

10 to <100

100 to 177

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Black Sea Bass

(Centropristis striata)

Eggs

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

June; 1978 to 1987

Number of Tows = 709; with eggs = 43

Monthly Mean Density = 2.713 Eggs/10m2

Eggs / 10m2

None

1 to <10

10 to <100

100 to 199

Figure 3. Cont’d. 

From MARMAP ichthyoplankton surveys, January, April, May, and June, 1978-1987. 
Page 23

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Black Sea Bass

(Centropristis striata)

Eggs

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

July; 1978 to 1987

Number of Tows = 781; with eggs = 83

Monthly Mean Density = 3.892 Eggs/10m2

Eggs / 10m2

None

1 to <10

10 to <100

100 to 184

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Black Sea Bass

(Centropristis striata)

Eggs

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

August; 1978 to 1987

Number of Tows = 863; with eggs = 120

Monthly Mean Density = 6.630 Eggs/10m2

Eggs / 10m2

None

1 to <10

10 to <100

100 to 535

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Black Sea Bass

(Centropristis striata)

Eggs

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

September; 1978 to 1987

Number of Tows = 747; with eggs = 89

Monthly Mean Density = 3.331 Eggs/10m2

Eggs / 10m2

None

1 to <10

10 to <100

100 to 208

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Black Sea Bass

(Centropristis striata)

Eggs

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

October; 1978 to 1987

Number of Tows = 1044; with eggs = 16

Monthly Mean Density = 0.154 Eggs/10m2

Eggs / 10m2

None

1 to <10

10 to 41

Figure 3. Cont’d. 

From MARMAP ichthyoplankton surveys, July through October, 1978-1987. 
Page 24

Black Sea Bass

Larvae, <13mm length

(Centropristis striata)

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

1977 to 1987

(Jan, Mar, Apr, May, Jun,

Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov)

Number of Tows = 10149; with larvae = 376

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Larvae / 10m2

1 to <10

10 to <100

100 to 295

Figure 4. Distributions and abundances of black sea bass larvae collected during NEFSC MARMAP ichthyoplankton 

surveys, for all available months and years from 1977-1987 combined. 
Page 25

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Black Sea Bass

Larvae, <13mm length

(Centropristis striata)

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

January; 1977 to 1987

Number of Tows = 434; with larvae = 5

Monthly Mean Density = 0.066 Larvae/10m2

Larvae / 10m2

None

1 to <10

10 to 15

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Black Sea Bass

Larvae, <13mm length

(Centropristis striata)

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

March; 1977 to 1987

Number of Tows = 1031; with larvae = 1

Monthly Mean Density = 0.002 Larvae/10m2

Larvae / 10m2

None

1 to 3

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Black Sea Bass

Larvae, <13mm length

(Centropristis striata)

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

April; 1977 to 1987

Number of Tows = 1281; with larvae = 10

Monthly Mean Density = 0.128 Larvae/10m2

Larvae / 10m2

None

1 to <10

10 to 59

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Black Sea Bass

Larvae, <13mm length

(Centropristis striata)

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

May; 1977 to 1987

Number of Tows = 1472; with larvae = 10

Monthly Mean Density = 0.066 Larvae/10m2

Larvae / 10m2

None

1 to <10

10 to 24

Figure 4. Cont’d. 

From MARMAP ichthyoplankton surveys, January, March April, and May, 1977-1987. 
Page 26

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Black Sea Bass

Larvae, <13mm length

(Centropristis striata)

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

June; 1977 to 1987

Number of Tows = 893; with larvae = 21

Monthly Mean Density = 0.252 Larvae/10m2

Larvae / 10m2

None

1 to <10

10 to 42

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Black Sea Bass

Larvae, <13mm length

(Centropristis striata)

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

July; 1977 to 1987

Number of Tows = 938; with larvae = 59

Monthly Mean Density = 1.062 Larvae/10m2

Larvae / 10m2

None

1 to <10

10 to <100

100 to 170

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Black Sea Bass

Larvae, <13mm length

(Centropristis striata)

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

August; 1977 to 1987

Number of Tows = 1148; with larvae = 159

Monthly Mean Density = 3.364 Larvae/10m2

Larvae / 10m2

None

1 to <10

10 to <100

100 to 295

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Black Sea Bass

Larvae, <13mm length

(Centropristis striata)

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

September; 1977 to 1987

Number of Tows = 774; with larvae = 79

Monthly Mean Density = 1.734 Larvae/10m2

Larvae / 10m2

None

1 to <10

10 to <100

100 to 255

Figure 4. Cont’d. 

From MARMAP ichthyoplankton surveys, June through September, 1977-1987. 
Page 27

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Black Sea Bass

Larvae, <13mm length

(Centropristis striata)

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

October; 1977 to 1987

Number of Tows = 1147; with larvae = 24

Monthly Mean Density = 0.262 Larvae/10m2

Larvae / 10m2

None

1 to <10

10 to 65

76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

Black Sea Bass

Larvae, <13mm length

(Centropristis striata)

MARMAP Ichthyoplankton Surveys

61-cm Bongo Net; 0.505-mm mesh

November; 1977 to 1987

Number of Tows = 1031; with larvae = 8

Monthly Mean Density = 0.039 Larvae/10m2

Larvae / 10m2

None

1 to <10

10 to 16

Figure 4. Cont’d. 

From MARMAP ichthyoplankton surveys, October and November, 1977-1987. 
Page 28

Figure 5. Seasonal distributions and abundances of juvenile black sea bass collected during NEFSC bottom trawl 

surveys, based on NEFSC winter bottom trawl surveys (1964-2003, all years combined). Distributions are displayed as 

presence only. 
Page 29

Figure 5. Cont’d. 

Based on NEFSC spring bottom trawl surveys (1968-2003, all years combined). Survey stations where juveniles were 

not found are not shown. 
Page 30

Figure 5. Cont’d. 

Based on NEFSC summer bottom trawl surveys (1963-1995, all years combined). Distributions are displayed as 

presence only. 
Page 31

Figure 5. Cont’d. 

Based on NEFSC fall bottom trawl surveys (1963-2003, all years combined). Survey stations where juveniles were not 

found are not shown. 
Page 32

Figure 6. Seasonal distributions and abundances of juvenile black sea bass in Massachusetts coastal waters, based on 

spring Massachusetts inshore bottom trawl surveys (1978-2003, all years combined). Survey stations where juveniles 

were not found are not shown. 
Page 33

Figure 6. Cont’d. 

Based on fall Massachusetts inshore bottom trawl surveys (1978-2003, all years combined). Survey stations where 

juveniles were not found are not shown. 
Page 34

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0 0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.1

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0 0.1

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

1.3

0.1

0.0

0.5

0.0

0.0

0.0 0.0

0.0

0.1

0.1

0.0

0.0

0.1

0.4

0.2

0.1

0.4

0.0

0.1 0.2

Spring

Summer Autumn

Winter

Black Sea Bass Juveniles (< 19 cm)

Figure 7. Seasonal distribution and abundance of juvenile black sea bass collected in Narragansett Bay during 1990-1996 

Rhode Island bottom trawl surveys. The numbers shown at each station are the average catch per tow rounded to one 

decimal place [see Reid et al. (1999) for details]. 
Page 35

Figure 8. Monthly log10 length frequencies (cm) of juvenile and adult black sea bass collected in Long Island Sound, 

based on 155 fish taken in 106 tows during the finfish surveys of the Connecticut Fisheries Division between 1989-1994. 

Source: Gottschall et al. (2000). 
Page 36

Figure 9. Distribution and abundances of juvenile and adult black sea bass in Long Island Sound, based on 334 fish taken 

in 2,859 tows during the finfish surveys of the Connecticut Fisheries Division, 1984-1994. The largest circle size 

represents a tow with a catch of nine black sea bass. Collections were made with a 14 m otter trawl at about 40 stations 

chosen by stratified random design. Source: Gottschall et al. (2000). 
Page 37

Figure 10. Relative abundance (geometric mean catch/tow) catch/tow and percent occurrence (proportion of samples in 

which at least one individual was observed) for juvenile and adult black sea bass in Long Island Sound, by month, month 

and bottom type, and month and depth interval. Source: Gottschall et al. (2000). 
Page 38

Staten

Island

NEW

YORK

NEW

JERSEY

No/Tow

1

2 - 4

5 - 19

20 - 49

50 - 105

Black Sea Bass

Hudson-Raritan Estuary

Fall 1992 - 1996

Juveniles (<19 cm)

Staten

Island

NEW

YORK

NEW

JERSEY

No/Tow

1

2 - 4

5 - 19

20 - 49

50 - 105

Black Sea Bass

Hudson-Raritan Estuary

Winter 1992 - 1997

Juveniles (<19 cm)

Staten

Island

NEW

YORK

NEW

JERSEY

No/Tow

1

2 - 4

5 - 19

20 - 49

50 - 105

Black Sea Bass

Hudson-Raritan Estuary

Spring 1992 - 1997

Juveniles (<19 cm)

Staten

Island

NEW

YORK

NEW

JERSEY

No/Tow

1

2 - 4

5 - 19

20 - 49

50 - 105

Black Sea Bass

Hudson-Raritan Estuary

Summer 1992 - 1996

Juveniles (<19 cm)

Figure 11. Seasonal distribution and abundance of juvenile black sea bass in the Hudson-Raritan estuary collected during 

Hudson-Raritan estuary trawl surveys, 1992–1997 [see Reid et al. (1999) for details].
Page 39

Figure 12. Catch per unit effort for total catch of juvenile and adult black sea bass in Chesapeake Bay and tributaries, 

from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science’s (VIMS) trawl surveys, 1988-1999 (all years combined). Source: Geer 

(2002). 
Page 40

Figure 13. Seasonal distribution and abundance of juvenile black sea bass in Chesapeake Bay and tributaries, from the 

VIMS trawl surveys, 1988-1999 (all years combined). Monthly surveys were conducted using a random stratified design 

of the main stem of the Bay using a 9.1 m semi-balloon otter trawl with 38 mm mesh and 6.4 mm cod end with a tow 

duration of five minutes. Source: Geer (2002). 
Page 41

Figure 14. Catch per unit effort for total catch of juvenile black sea bass in Chesapeake Bay, from the VIMS seine 

surveys, 1994-1999 (all years combined). Source: Geer (2002). 
Page 42

Figure 15. Juvenile black sea bass catch per unit effort by site from the VIMS beach seine surveys, 1994-1999 (all years 

combined). Source: Geer (2002). 
Page 43

Figure 16. Seasonal distributions and abundances of adult black sea bass collected during NEFSC bottom trawl surveys, 

based on NEFSC winter bottom trawl surveys (1964-2003, all years combined). Distributions are displayed as presence 

only. 
Page 44

Figure 16. Cont’d. 

Based on NEFSC spring bottom trawl surveys (1968-2003, all years combined). Survey stations where adults were not 

found are not shown. 
Page 45

Figure 16. Cont’d. 

Based on NEFSC summer bottom trawl surveys (1963-1995, all years combined). Distributions are displayed as 

presence only. 
Page 46

Figure 16. Cont’d. 

Based on NEFSC fall bottom trawl surveys (1963-2003, all years combined). Survey stations where adults were not 

found are not shown. 
Page 47

Figure 17. Seasonal distributions and abundances of adult black sea bass in Massachusetts coastal waters, based on 

spring Massachusetts inshore bottom trawl surveys (1978-2003, all years combined). Survey stations where adults were 

not found are not shown. 
Page 48

Figure 17. Cont’d. 

Based on fall Massachusetts inshore bottom trawl surveys (1978-2003, all years combined). Survey stations where adults 

were not found are not shown. 
Page 49

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0 0.0

0.1

0.1

0.0

0.0

0.1

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.3

0.0 0.0

0.0

0.1

0.0

0.0

0.1

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.3

0.0

0.0 0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.3

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.1

0.0 0.0

Spring

Summer Autumn

Winter

Black Sea Bass Adults (>= 19 cm)

Figure 18. Seasonal distribution and abundance of adult black sea bass collected in Narragansett Bay during 1990-1996 

Rhode Island bottom trawl surveys. The numbers shown at each station are the average catch per tow rounded to one 

decimal place [see Reid et al. (1999) for details]. 
Page 50

Figure 19. Seasonal distribution and abundance of adult black sea bass in the Hudson-Raritan estuary collected during 

Hudson-Raritan estuary trawl surveys, 1992–1997 [see Reid et al. (1999) for details]. 

Staten

Island

NEW

YORK

NEW

JERSEY

No/Tow

1

2 - 4

5 - 19

20 - 49

50 - 105

Staten

Island

NEW

YORK

NEW

JERSEY

Black Sea Bass

Hudson-Raritan Estuary

Fall 1992 - 1996

Adults ( 19 cm) >

No/Tow

1

2 - 4

5 - 19

20 - 49

50 - 105

Black Sea Bass

Hudson-Raritan Estuary

Winter 1992 - 1997

Adults ( 19 cm) >

No Catches

Staten

Island

NEW

YORK

NEW

JERSEY

No/Tow

1

2 - 4

5 - 19

20 - 49

50 - 105

Black Sea Bass

Adults ( 19 cm) >

Hudson-Raritan Estuary

Spring 1992 - 1997

Staten

Island

NEW

YORK

NEW

JERSEY

No/Tow

1

2 - 4

5 - 19

20 - 49

50 - 105

Black Sea Bass

Hudson-Raritan Estuary

Summer 1992 - 1996

Adults ( 19 cm) >
Page 51

Figure 20. Seasonal distribution and abundance of adult black sea bass in Chesapeake Bay and tributaries, from the 

VIMS trawl surveys, 1988-1999 (all years combined). Source: Geer (2002). 
Page 52

Figure 21. Distributions of black sea bass eggs collected during NEFSC MARMAP icthyoplankton surveys relative to 

water column temperature and bottom depth, for the years 1978-1987, by month for all years combined. Open bars 

represent the proportion of all stations which were surveyed, while solid bars represent the proportion of the sum of all 

standardized catches (number/10 m2

). Note that the bottom depth interval changes with increasing depth. 

January

0

10

20

30

90

100

Stations

Egg Catch

April

0

10

20

30

90

100

May

0

10

20

30

40

June

Percent

0

10

20

30

40

July

0

10

20

August

0

10

20

30

October

Water-Column Temperature (0-200m, C)

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28

0

10

20

30

40

Black Sea Bass Eggs

September

Black Sea Bass Eggs

0

10

20

90

100

January

0

10

20

30

April

0

10

20

90

100

October

Bottom Depth (m), Interval Midpoint

1030507090

110

130

150

170190

210230

250

270

290

325375450

750

12501750

>2000

Stations

Egg Catch

0

10

20

30

40

0

10

20

30

40

September

May

0

20

40

60

0

10

20

30

50

60

June

Percent

0

10

20

30

60

70

July

0

10

20

30

80

90

August
Page 53

Figure 22. Distributions of black sea bass larvae collected during NEFSC MARMAP icthyoplankton surveys relative to 

water column temperature and bottom depth, for the years 1977-1987, by month for all years combined. Open bars 

represent the proportion of all stations which were surveyed, while solid bars represent the proportion of the sum of all 

standardized catches (number/10 m2

). Note that the bottom depth interval changes with increasing depth. 

January

0

10

20

30

60

70

Stations

Larva Catch

April

0

10

20

30

40

May

0

10

20

30

40

June

Percent

0

10

20

30

July

0

10

20

August

0

10

20

November

Water-Column Temperature (0-200m, C)

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28

0

10

20

30

40

Black Sea Bass Larvae, <13mm length

September

0

10

20

March

0

10

20

30

90

100

October

Black Sea Bass Larvae, <13mm length

0

10

20

80

90

January Stations

Catch

0

10

20

30

April

0

10

20

60

70

0

10

20

30

90

100

November

Bottom Depth (m), Interval Midpoint

1030507090

110130150170190

210230250270290325

375

450

750

1250

1750

>2000

0

10

20

30

40

September

0

10

20

30

40

50

May

0

10

20

30

40

June

Percent

0

10

20

60

70

July

0

10

20

30

40

August

0

10

20

30

60

70

October

March

0

10

20

60

70
Page 54

Black Sea Bass

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Survey

Spring 1968 - 2003

Juveniles (<19 cm)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1-10

11-2021-3031-4041-5051-6061-7071-8081-90

91-100

101-120121-140141-160161-180181-200201-300301-400401-500

>500

Bottom Depth (m)

Percent

Trawls N=12514

Occurrence N=426

Catch N=3972

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38

Salinity (PPT)

Percent

Trawls N=2270

Occurrence N=108

Catch N=654

0

10

20

30

40

50

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

Bottom Temperature (°C)

Percent

Trawls N=10879

Occurrence N=374

Catch N=3756

Figure 23. Distributions of juvenile black sea bass and trawls from NEFSC bottom trawl surveys relative to bottom 

water temperature, depth, and salinity, based on NEFSC spring bottom trawl surveys (temperature and depth: 1968-2003, 

all years combined; salinity: 1991-2003, all years combined). Light bars show the distribution of all the trawls, dark bars 

show the distribution of all trawls in which black sea bass occurred and medium bars show, within each interval, the 

percentage of the total number of black sea bass caught. Note that the bottom depth interval changes with increasing 

depth. 
Page 55

Black Sea Bass

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Survey

Fall 1963 - 2003

Juveniles (<19 cm)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1-10

11-2021-3031-4041-5051-6061-7071-8081-90

91-100

101-120121-140141-160161-180181-200201-300301-400401-500

>500

Bottom Depth (m)

Percent

Trawls N=14186

Occurrence N=1046

Catch N=14278

0

10

20

30

40

50

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38

Salinity (PPT)

Percent

Trawls N=2272

Occurrence N=217

Catch N=4028

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

Bottom Temperature (°C)

Percent

Trawls N=12207

Occurrence N=879

Catch N=11930

Figure 23. Cont’d. 

Based on NEFSC fall bottom trawl surveys (temperature and depth: 1963-2003, all years combined; salinity: 1991-2003, 

all years combined). Light bars show the distribution of all the trawls, dark bars show the distribution of all trawls in 

which black sea bass occurred and medium bars show, within each interval, the percentage of the total number of black 

sea bass caught. Note that the bottom depth interval changes with increasing depth. 
Page 56

Black Sea Bass

Massachusetts Inshore Trawl Survey

Spring 1978 - 2003

Juveniles (<19 cm)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1-5

6-10

11-1516-2021-2526-3031-3536-4041-4546-5051-5556-6061-6566-7071-7576-8081-85

Bottom Depth (m)

Percent

Trawls N=2482

Occurrence N=18

Catch N=29

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

Bottom Temperature (°C)

Percent

Trawls N=2407

Occurrence N=18

Catch N=29

Figure 24. Distributions of juvenile black sea bass and trawls in Massachusetts coastal waters relative to bottom water 

temperature and depth, based on spring Massachusetts inshore bottom trawl surveys (1978-2003, all years combined). 

Light bars show the distribution of all the trawls, dark bars show the distribution of all trawls in which black sea bass 

occurred and medium bars show, within each interval, the percentage of the total number of black sea bass caught. 
Page 57

Black Sea Bass

Massachusetts Inshore Trawl Survey

Fall 1978 - 2003

Juveniles (<19 cm)

0

10

20

30

40

50

1-5

6-10

11-1516-2021-2526-3031-3536-4041-4546-5051-5556-6061-6566-7071-7576-8081-85

Bottom Depth (m)

Percent

Trawls N=2338

Occurrence N=730

Catch N=102082

0

5

10

15

20

25

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

Bottom Temperature (°C)

Percent

Trawls N=2244

Occurrence N=695

Catch N=100494

Figure 24. Cont’d. 

Based on fall Massachusetts inshore bottom trawl surveys (1978-2003, all years combined). Light bars show the 

distribution of all the trawls, dark bars show the distribution of all trawls in which black sea bass occurred and medium 

bars show, within each interval, the percentage of the total number of black sea bass caught. 
Page 58

-1 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 0

10

20

30

40

-1 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 0

20

40

60

80

100

-1 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27

0

20

40

60

80

100

-1 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27

0

4

8

12

16

20

Bottom Temperature (C)

Winter

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Stations

Catches

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 0

10

20

30

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120

0

20

40

60

80

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120

0

20

40

60

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120

0

10

20

30

40

50

Winter

Autumn

Summer

Spring

Bottom Depth (ft)

Black Sea Bass

Juveniles (<19cm)

Black Sea Bass

Juveniles (<19cm) Stations

Catches

Figure 25. Seasonal distributions of juvenile black sea bass and trawls relative to bottom water temperature and depth, 

based on Rhode Island Narragansett Bay trawl surveys (1990-1996; all years combined). White bars give the 

distribution of all the trawls and black bars represent, within each interval, the percentage of the total number of 

juveniles caught. 
Page 59

Temperature (C)

Depth (ft)

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26

0

5

10

15

Stations

Catches

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l)

Salinity (ppt)

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

0

5

10

15

20

25

15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35

0

5

10

15

20

25

Juveniles (< 19 cm)

Figure 26. Distributions of juvenile black sea bass relative to mean bottom water temperature, dissolved oxygen, depth, 

and salinity, based on Hudson-Raritan estuary trawl surveys (January 1992 - June 1997, all years combined). Open bars 

represent stations surveyed and closed bars represent fish collected. 
Page 60

Figure 27. Hydrographic preferences for juvenile black sea bass in Chesapeake Bay and tributaries, from the VIMS trawl 

surveys, 1988-1999 (all years combined). Source: Geer (2002). 
Page 61

Figure 28. Hydrographic preferences for juvenile black sea bass, from the VIMS seine surveys, 1994-1999 (all years 

combined). Source: Geer (2002). 
Page 62

Black Sea Bass

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Survey

Spring 1968 - 2003

Adults (>=19 cm)

0

5

10

15

20

25

1-10

11-2021-3031-4041-5051-6061-7071-8081-90

91-100

101-120121-140141-160161-180181-200201-300301-400401-500

>500

Bottom Depth (m)

Percent

Trawls N=12514

Occurrence N=623

Catch N=11115

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38

Salinity (PPT)

Percent

Trawls N=2270

Occurrence N=116

Catch N=1506

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

Bottom Temperature (°C)

Percent

Trawls N=10879

Occurrence N=551

Catch N=10028

Figure 29. Distributions of adult black sea bass and trawls from NEFSC bottom trawl surveys relative to bottom water 

temperature, depth, and salinity, based on NEFSC spring bottom trawl surveys (temperature and depth: 1968-2003, all 

years combined; salinity: 1991-2003, all years combined). Light bars show the distribution of all the trawls, dark bars 

show the distribution of all trawls in which black sea bass occurred and medium bars show, within each interval, the 

percentage of the total number of black sea bass caught. Note that the bottom depth interval changes with increasing 

depth. 
Page 63

Black Sea Bass

NEFSC Bottom Trawl Survey

Fall 1963 - 2003

Adults (>=19 cm)

0

10

20

30

40

50

1-10

11-2021-3031-4041-5051-6061-7071-8081-90

91-100

101-120121-140141-160161-180181-200201-300301-400401-500

>500

Bottom Depth (m)

Percent

Trawls N=14186

Occurrence N=972

Catch N=4513

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38

Salinity (PPT)

Percent

Trawls N=2272

Occurrence N=195

Catch N=858

0

5

10

15

20

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

Bottom Temperature (°C)

Percent

Trawls N=12207

Occurrence N=826

Catch N=3951

Figure 29. Cont’d. 

Based on NEFSC fall bottom trawl surveys (temperature and depth: 1963-2003, all years combined; salinity: 1991-2003, 

all years combined). Light bars show the distribution of all the trawls, dark bars show the distribution of all trawls in 

which black sea bass occurred and medium bars show, within each interval, the percentage of the total number of black 

sea bass caught. Note that the bottom depth interval changes with increasing depth. 
Page 64

Black Sea Bass

Massachusetts Inshore Trawl Survey

Spring 1978 - 2003

Adults (>=19 cm)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1-5

6-10

11-1516-2021-2526-3031-3536-4041-4546-5051-5556-6061-6566-7071-7576-8081-85

Bottom Depth (m)

Percent

Trawls N=2482

Occurrence N=439

Catch N=1682

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

Bottom Temperature (°C)

Percent

Trawls N=2407

Occurrence N=434

Catch N=1671

Figure 30. Distributions of adult black sea bass and trawls in Massachusetts coastal waters relative to bottom water 

temperature and depth, based on spring Massachusetts inshore bottom trawl surveys (1978-2003, all years combined). 

Light bars show the distribution of all the trawls, dark bars show the distribution of all trawls in which black sea bass 

occurred and medium bars show, within each interval, the percentage of the total number of black sea bass caught. 
Page 65

Black Sea Bass

Massachusetts Inshore Trawl Survey

Fall 1978 - 2003

Adults (>=19 cm)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1-5

6-10

11-1516-2021-2526-3031-3536-4041-4546-5051-5556-6061-6566-7071-7576-8081-85

Bottom Depth (m)

Percent

Trawls N=2338

Occurrence N=205

Catch N=1067

0

10

20

30

40

50

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

Bottom Temperature (°C)

Percent

Trawls N=2244

Occurrence N=200

Catch N=1054

Figure 30. Cont’d. 

Based on fall Massachusetts inshore bottom trawl surveys (1978-2003, all years combined). Light bars show the 

distribution of all the trawls, dark bars show the distribution of all trawls in which black sea bass occurred and medium 

bars show, within each interval, the percentage of the total number of black sea bass caught. 
Page 66

-1 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27

0

10

20

30

40

50

-1 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27

0

10

20

30

-1 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27

0

20

40

60

80

-1 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27

0

4

8

12

16

20

Bottom Temperature (C)

Winter

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Black Sea Bass

Adults (>=19cm) Stations

Catches

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120

0

10

20

30

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120

0

20

40

60

80

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120

0

10

20

30

40

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120

0

10

20

30

40

50

Winter

Autumn

Summer

Spring

Bottom Depth (ft)

Black Sea Bass

Adults (>=19cm) Stations

Catches

Figure 31. Seasonal distributions of adult black sea bass and trawls relative to bottom water temperature and depth, 

based on Rhode Island Narragansett Bay trawl surveys (1990-1996; all years combined). White bars give the 

distribution of all the trawls and black bars represent, within each interval, the percentage of the total number of adults 

caught.
Page 67

Temperature (C)

Depth (ft)

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Stations

Catches

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l)

Salinity (ppt)

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35

0

5

10

15

20

Adults ( 19 cm) >

Figure 32. Distributions of adult black sea bass relative to mean bottom water temperature, dissolved oxygen, depth, and 

salinity, based on Hudson-Raritan estuary trawl surveys (January 1992 - June 1997, all years combined). Open bars 

represent stations surveyed and closed bars represent fish collected. 
Page 68

Figure 33. Hydrographic preferences for adult black sea bass in Chesapeake Bay and tributaries, from the VIMS trawl 

surveys, 1988-1999 (all years combined). Source: Geer (2002). 
Publishing in NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE

Manuscript Qualification

This series represents a secondary level of scientific

publishing in the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).

For all issues, the series employs thorough internal scientific

review, but not necessarily external scientific review. For most

issues, the series employs rigorous technical and copy editing.

Manuscripts that may warrant a primary level of scientific

publishing should be initially submitted to one of NMFS's

primary series (i.e., Fishery Bulletin, NOAA Professional Paper

NMFS, or Marine Fisheries Review).

Identical, or fundamentally identical, manuscripts should

not be concurrently submitted to this and any other publication

series. Manuscripts which have been rejected by any primary

series strictly because of geographic or temporal limitations

may be submitted to this series.

Manuscripts by Northeast Fisheries Science Center

(NEFSC) authors will be published in this series upon approval

by the NEFSC's Deputy Science & Research Director. Manuscripts by non-NEFSC authors may be published in this series

if: 1) the manuscript serves the NEFSC's mission; 2) the

manuscript meets the Deputy Science & Research Director's

approval; and 3) the author arranges for the printing and binding

funds to be transferred to the NEFSC's Research Communications Branch account from another federal account. For all

manuscripts submitted by non-NEFSC authors and published

in this series, the NEFSC will disavow all responsibility for the

manuscripts' contents; authors must accept such responsibility.

The ethics of scientific research and scientific publishing

are a serious matter. All manuscripts submitted to this series

are expected to adhere -- at a minimum -- to the ethical guidelines

contained in Chapter 2 ("Publication Policies and Practices") of

the Scientific Style and Format: the CSE Manual for Authors,

Editors, and Publishers, seventh edition (Reston VA: Council

of Science Editors). Copies of the manual are available at

virtually all scientific libraries.

edition of the United States Government Printing Office Style

Manual. That style manual is silent on many aspects of scientific

manuscripts. NEFSC publication and report series rely more on the

CSE Style Manual, seventh edition.

For in-text citations, use the name-date system. A special

effort should be made to ensure that the list of cited works contains

all necessary bibliographic information. For abbreviating serial

titles in such lists, use the guidance of the International Standards

Organization; such guidance is easily accessed through the various

Cambridge Scientific Abstracts’ serials source lists (see http://

www.public.iastate.edu/~CYBERSTACKS/JAS.htm). Personal communications must include date of contact and full name and mailing

address of source.

For spelling of scientific and common names of fishes, mollusks, and decapod crustaceans from the United States and Canada,

use Special Publications No. 29 (fishes), 26 (mollusks), and 17

(decapod crustaceans) of the American Fisheries Society (Bethesda

MD). For spelling of scientific and common names of marine

mammals, use Special Publication No. 4 of the Society for Marine

Mammalogy (Lawrence KS). For spelling in general, use the most

recent edition of Webster’s Third New International Dictionary of

the English Language Unabridged (Springfield MA: G. & C.

Merriam).

Typing text, tables, and figure captions: Text, tables, and

figure captions should be converted to Word. In general, keep text

simple (e.g., do not switch fonts and type sizes, do not use hard

returns within paragraphs, do not indent except to begin paragraphs). Also, do not use an automatic footnoting function; all notes

should be indicated in the text by simple numerical superscripts, and

listed together in an "Endnotes" section prior to the "References

Cited" section. Especially, do not use a graphics function for

embedding tables and figures in text.

Tables should be prepared with a table formatting function.

Each figure should be supplied in digital format (preferably GIF or

JPG), unless there is no digital file of a given figure. Except under

extraordinary circumstances, color will not be used in illustrations.

Manuscript Preparation

Organization: Manuscripts must have an abstract, table

of contents, and -- if applicable -- lists of tables, figures, and

acronyms. As much as possible, use traditional scientific

manuscript organization for sections: "Introduction," "Study

Area," "Methods & Materials," "Results," "Discussion" and/

or "Conclusions," "Acknowledgments," and "References Cited."

Style: All NEFSC publication and report series are

obligated to conform to the style contained in the most recent

Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Operations, Management & Information Division

Research Communications Branch

Editorial Office

Manuscript Submission

Authors must submit separate digital files of the manuscript

text, tables, and figures. The manuscript must have cleared

NEFSC's online internal review system. Non-NEFSC authors who

are not federal employees will be required to sign a "Release of

Copyright" form.

Send all materials and address all correspondence to: Jarita A.

Davis (Editor), Editorial Office, NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026.
National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA

166 Water St.

Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026

Publications and Reports

of the

Northeast Fisheries Science Center

The mission of NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is "stewardship of living marine resources 

for the benefit of the nation through their science-based conservation and management and promotion of the 

health of their environment." As the research arm of the NMFS's Northeast Region, the Northeast Fisheries 

Science Center (NEFSC) supports the NMFS mission by "conducting ecosystem-based research and assessments of living marine resources, with a focus on the Northeast Shelf, to promote the recovery and long-term 

sustainability of these resources and to generate social and economic opportunities and benefits from their use." 

Results of NEFSC research are largely reported in primary scientific media (e.g., anonymously-peer-reviewed 

scientific journals). However, to assist itself in providing data, information, and advice to its constituents, the 

NEFSC occasionally releases its results in its own media. Currently, there are three such media:

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE -- This series is issued irregularly. The series typically includes: data reports of 

long-term field or lab studies of important species or habitats; synthesis reports for important species or habitats; annual reports 

of overall assessment or monitoring programs; manuals describing program-wide surveying or experimental techniques; literature 

surveys of important species or habitat topics; proceedings and collected papers of scientific meetings; and indexed and/or annotated 

bibliographies. All issues receive internal scientific review and most issues receive technical and copy editing.

Northeast Fisheries Science Center Reference Document -- This series is issued irregularly. The series typically includes: data 

reports on field and lab studies; progress reports on experiments, monitoring, and assessments; background papers for, collected

abstracts of, and/or summary reports of scientific meetings; and simple bibliographies. Issues receive internal scientific review, but 

no technical or copy editing.

Resource Survey Report (formerly Fishermen's Report) -- This information report is a quick-turnaround report on the distribution 

and relative abundance of selected living marine resources as derived from each of the NEFSC's periodic research vessel surveys

of the Northeast's continental shelf. There is no scientific review, nor any technical or copy editing, of this report.

OBTAINING A COPY: To obtain a copy of a NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE or a Northeast Fisheries Science Center 

Reference Document, or to subscribe to the Resource Survey Report, either contact the NEFSC Editorial Office (166 Water St., 

Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026; 508-495-2228) or consult the NEFSC webpage on "Reports and Publications" (http://www.nefsc.

noaa.gov/nefsc/publications/).

ANY USE OF TRADE OR BRAND NAMES IN ANY NEFSC PUBLICATION OR REPORT DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT.

MEDIA

 MAIL