Black sea bass...minimum length 10 inches....no limit on season or numbers....I have quit throwing these bad boys back while bottom fishing, in fact, I've added them to the target list.
The best approach is a multi-hook dropper rig with 1/0 or 2/0 circle hook with the sinker below the hooks. They eat about anything, but small pieces of squid stay on the hook best and allow multiple hook-ups on each drop. I am using light action spinning rods and they fight aggressively, and similar to the Red Snapper, they will stay above the structure and well up the water column after they start feeding. Its not uncommon for several fish to follow the hooked fish to the surface and makes fast action fishing suitable for the kids.
Its common to catch 15-20 fish keeper size, and my minimum length is 12 inches to make the team, they fillet easily and are white flaky meat very similar in taste to Red Snapper. After getting dinner in the box, the same fishing spots are holding 10-15 lb Red Snapper to catch and release for fun, plenty of action fishing for 4 hours nearshore on these 60 degree Winter Floridaze.
