NE fishing

The black sea bass, a common species of sea bass found along the northeastern Atlantic coast of the United States, is a highly predatory species feeding on smaller fish and invertebrates such as crustaceans, marine worms, octopus, and squid. Many species of sea basses undergo sex reversals as adults, beginning their adult life as males, then changing into females for the remainder of their lives. The black sea bass is usually found in areas of the sea floor where structures such as rocky reefs and sunken vessels provide shelter.

During the peak of the American whaling industry in the mid-19th century, commercial ships like this whaler ventured out to sea for years at a time. When whales were sighted, small boats were launched from the main ship. The crew used hand-thrown harpoons to kill the animals, which meant rowing dangerously close to the massive mammals.