Rock Sea Bass
Centropristis philadelphica
How to tell it
Shallow cousin with a dark dorsal blotch and blue face lines.
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida (Atlantic)Federal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | No specific bag limit | Open year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| GeorgiaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | No specific bag limit | Open year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| North CarolinaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | No specific bag limit | Open year-roundSAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| South Carolina | No size limit | 20/day aggregate, max 10 of any one species | Open year-roundSC DNR 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida (Gulf), Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 0 lb 14.72 oz | 1992 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 0.5 lb | 2011 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Good, small fillets.
In the app
Point the camera at a rock sea bass and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about rock sea bass
How many rock sea bass can you keep?
Florida (Atlantic): No specific bag limit; Georgia: No specific bag limit; North Carolina: No specific bag limit; South Carolina: 20/day aggregate, max 10 of any one species.
What is the record rock sea bass?
0 lb 14.72 oz in Mississippi (1992). Other states’ records are in the table.