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Step 1
Check your area to see when bass are in season and what types frequent your local waters. Your state's Department of Fish and Game should have this information. Be sure to specify that you are looking for deep sea bass and not their freshwater cousins (which frequent rivers and lakes).
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Step 2
Charter a boat familiar with the waters in which you hope to go fishing. While a knowledgeable angler can take his own boat out, sport fishing requires licenses and adherence to specific safety protocols. If you don't have experiences with bass fishing, a number of reputable charter companies will rent out a boat and an expert captain to show you the ropes.
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Step 3
Seek out areas most conducive to bass fishing. Bass are shoal fish that follow their food source with the tides and can be especially abundant near reefs, wrecks and other areas with uneven bottoms. Check the tidal cycles in your area and look for places with abundant food supplies.
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Step 4
Bait your hooks carefully and use the fishing techniques most likely to lure the bass. Exact techniques vary from species to species, but many bass frequent depths of 50 to 90 feet. Their diet includes squid, crabs and small fish, and some species can be baited by chumming the water with scents of those creatures. Larger bait tends to catch bigger fish and should be sunk deeper in the water to entice them out.
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Step 5
Keep your bait moving and use patience when hooking a bass. They have softer mouths than other sporting fish and you typically want to let them completely swallow the bait before reeling them in. Use patience and let it pull on the line for a while before reeling it in for good. Your line should be flexible, but also firm, without an excessive drag.
