Black sea bass fishing out of Cape May runs in two windows, April to May and October to December. The nearest named structure ground is about 8.5 nautical miles off Cape May. If you run your own boat, this page covers when the fish are around, how far local boats run, the grounds and structure, how the fleet fishes them, and who works this water. The general picture of the black sea bass is covered elsewhere. This page stays at the dock in Cape May. For the wider coast, see the black sea bass fishing in the Atlantic Northeast and the wider Atlantic Northeast guide.
When black sea bass are around Cape May
Local boats list April to May and October to December. Both windows come from the operators who run these trips, and the fall window is listed twice.
| Window | Months | Who lists it |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | April to May | Miss Chris, wreck trip |
| Fall | October to December | Miss Chris, wreck trip |
| Fall | October to December | Hook N Cook, price list |
Spring
Miss Chris lists April to May for its wreck trip.
Fall
Miss Chris lists October to December for the same trip, and Hook N Cook lists the same October to December season on its price list.
How far Cape May sea bass boats run
The Cape May Artificial Reef sits about 8.5 nautical miles off Cape May. Past it, the fleet works wrecks and reefs offshore.
| Destination | Distance | Who runs it |
|---|---|---|
| Cape May Artificial Reef | About 8.5 nautical miles | Local boats |
| Offshore wrecks and reefs | Not listed | The Miss Chris |
| Offshore trips | Up to 22 miles, 8-hour trips | Hook N Cook |
The artificial reef
The reef is the nearest named structure ground in the local picture, a run of about 8.5 nautical miles from Cape May.
Offshore wrecks and reefs
Miss Chris also fishes wrecks and reefs offshore. Hook N Cook runs 8-hour trips up to 22 miles offshore, the outer edge of what the local fleet lists for this fish.
Grounds and structure off Cape May
Three named areas frame sea bass trips from Cape May: the artificial reef, the Rips and the canyons. Fish a specific piece of structure rather than the whole reef. For general structure technique, see our reef and wreck fishing guide.
Chart layers such as Chart Contours help you mark structure before you leave the dock. They are not for navigation.
- Reef: Cape May Artificial Reef, about 8.5 nautical miles off Cape May.
- Rips: Cape May Rips, 30 ft, made up of named shoals.
- Canyons: Wilmington, Baltimore, Poorman’s and Spencer.
Cape May Artificial Reef
The reef lies about 8.5 nautical miles off Cape May and is structure that local boats fish.
Cape May Rips
The Rips cover 30 ft of water. The named shoals are Eph, Prissy Wicks, Somer, North, Gunmount, Round, Overfalls and Middle.
The canyons
Wilmington Canyon, Baltimore Canyon, Poorman’s Canyon and Spencer Canyon mark the far offshore horizon.
How sea bass are fished locally from Cape May
Miss Chris lists two methods: drifting and anchoring on specific pieces of wreck or reef structure. Anchoring holds the boat over one piece, while drifting covers the structure until you find fish.
- Anchor on a piece. Hold over one specific piece of wreck or reef.
- Drift the structure. Move across the structure and search it.
Anchoring on a piece
You hold over one specific piece of wreck or reef, which is what fishing a piece means in practice.
Drifting the structure
Drifting moves you across the structure and searches it, and it is how you find a piece worth holding on.
Who fishes for sea bass from Cape May
These Cape May charters list black sea bass fishing out of Cape May:
- The Miss Chris wreck boat: wreck trips April to May and October to December.
- JP Charters out of Cape May: twin 350 hp Mercury engines, 6 guests.
- Hook N Cook Sport Fishing: 8-hour trips up to 22 miles, October to December.
- Legal Limit Charters with Captain T.J.: sails from Utsch’s Marina.
- Common Sense Sportfishing charters
- Jersey Boy Charters in Cape May: Cape May location.
FAQ: black sea bass fishing out of Cape May
When do Cape May boats fish for black sea bass?
Local boats list April to May and October to December. Miss Chris lists both windows, and Hook N Cook lists October to December.
How far is the Cape May Artificial Reef?
About 8.5 nautical miles off Cape May.
How far offshore do sea bass trips go?
Hook N Cook runs 8-hour trips up to 22 miles offshore. Miss Chris also fishes offshore wrecks and reefs.
Do local boats drift or anchor?
Both. Per Miss Chris, they drift and anchor on specific pieces of wreck or reef structure.
Which rules apply on a Cape May sea bass trip?
New Jersey rules apply inshore. Federal rules can apply on offshore runs. Check the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife and NOAA Fisheries before you fish, since seasons and limits change.
