Black sea bass, Centropristis striate, are found along the U.S. Atlantic coast. Two types have been recognize, one north and the other south of Cape Hatters, North Carolina. The northern group winters along the 100 m depth contours off of Virginia and Maryland. Then it migrates north and west into inshore waters, where it becomes associated with structured bottom habitat (reefs, oyster beds and other wrecks too. It is a structure fish with reefs, kelp forest and rubble found offshore too. Smaller specimens often are found inshore finger channels. This fish is a consumer. It is near the bottom of the food chain.
www.sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov.../images/blackseabass.jpg
