A sheepshead is as adept at bait-stealing as a pickpocket in lifting wallets.
It's also been said that an angler must set the hook just before the fish bites.
While these statements may be a bit of an exaggeration, certainly many anglers have experienced the frustration of examining an empty hook after reeling in to check their bait.
You can often tell when a sheepie is biting by sight, rather than by feel. When the line twitches or begins to move, set the hook hard.
Many successful sheepshead enthusiasts on both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of Florida fish straight down near barnacle-encrusted pier pilings or over rock piles, favorite haunts of the "convict fish," so named because of its stealth and the seven dark bands encircling its lightly colored body. Other likely spots include bridge pilings, oyster bars, jetties, submerged debris, logs, or shipwrecks.
Sheepshead tend to become more active during a high tide change and many veteran anglers suggest that a faster current contributes to a feeding spree.
By using a bell-type sinker or a baited jig head, an angler can quickly lower his bait to the bottom where these fish seem to gather in greater abundance. Due to a hard mouth, it's best to keep your 3/0 or 4/0 hook razor sharp.
A sheepie is not shy. If you haven't had action within a few minutes after dropping a bait in one particular spot, move to another. They'll either hit right away or not at all.
The most popular bait in Florida waters is a fiddler crab. Other successful offerings used by sheepshead buffs throughout Florida include shrimp, sea worms, sand fleas, oysters, minnows, and cut bait. Cotee's recently introduced Natural Bait is drawing increasingly rave reviews. Chumming with scraped barnacles and broken clams frequently draw the fish to a specific area.
Although common throughout the Sunshine State year-round, sheepshead become more active when water temperatures cool down from mid-October through March.
A member of the porgy family--a specie which also includes the mangrove snapper--sheepshead generally average between one and three pounds. However, some landed might be on the plus side of 10 pounds.
It gets the name "sheepshead" because of its flat, protruding teeth which gives its face a sheeplike look. In addition to its stripes, the sheepie can be distinguished from the porgy by a rounded instead of a forked tail.
Since it's often necessary to quickly move the fish away from pilings or obstructions, try using monofilament line in the 12- to 20-pound class. A short piece of heavier shocker leader might be employed as protection against sharp dentures.
Deep fried or baked, sheepshead filets taste great. It's certainly a welcomed alternative to high meat prices in our supermarkets.
Also, those going after sheepshead often claim an added bonus by catching redfish, trout, snook, whiting, and drum which often frequent the same aqua environment.
Once hooked, anglers find the sheepie to be a hard, durable battler that'll make powerful underwater runs. A five-pounder is a worthy adversary for those using light tackle, while a 10-pounder is guaranteed to make the heat skip a beat or two.
Copyright (c) 1997 Herb Allen. All rights reserved.
Home | Library | Fishing | Saltwater Fishing