Sheepshead Fishing
Sheepshead are winter fishing fun! They are plentiful, reasonably easy to catch, and are excellent table fare. It is easy to confuse sheepshead with black drum as both have the black and white bars. The easy way to tell the two apart is by the mouth, sheepshead have teeth that look like molars while black drum have gums that are very rough like sandpaper and have no real teeth.
The primary diet of the sheepshead is shrimp, crabs, fiddler crabs, sand fleas, and oysters making the meat sweet. Most are in the 2-3lb range, though we often see catches around 6-8lbs, and even a few over 10lbs.
Sheepshead
Black Drum
Where Do You Catch Sheepshead?
While sheepshead are here all year they are easiest to catch during December-April, the colder the better! During these winter months sheepshead are known to inhabit shallower waters as they spawn and there are less bait stealers around like pinfish to interfere. During the summer months, large sheepshead migrate out to shallow reefs.
They are caught in the bay, pass, and nearshore reefs. In the bay you will find them along bridge pilings, older docks with plenty of growth on the pilings, and oyster beds. Sheepshead are smart bait stealers and can easily steal your bait.
While sheepshead are here all year they are easiest to catch during December-April, the colder the better! During these winter months sheepshead are known to inhabit shallower waters as they spawn and there are less bait stealers around like pinfish to interfere. During the summer months, large sheepshead migrate out to shallow reefs.
They are caught in the bay, pass, and nearshore reefs. In the bay you will find them along bridge pilings, older docks with plenty of growth on the pilings, and oyster beds. Sheepshead are smart bait stealers and can easily steal your bait.
Target them in the bay in water depths from 6-25ft deep. In the gulf on near shore reefs they can be caught in depths of up to 60ft. Around the jetties the depths are more in the 2-10ft range.
One great way to find sheepshead hot spots is to look for any vertical structures with a heavy build-up of barnacles. Older docks, pilings, and markers typically hold more barnacles resulting in a better chance of them inhabiting these structures.
Target them in the bay in water depths from 6-25ft deep. In the gulf on near shore reefs they can be caught in depths of up to 60ft. Around the jetties the depths are more in the 2-10ft range.
One great way to find sheepshead hot spots is to look for any vertical structures with a heavy build-up of barnacles. Older docks, pilings, and markers typically hold more barnacles resulting in a better chance of them inhabiting these structures.
How to Catch Sheepshead
When water clarity is high, sheepshead can be sight fished. Once you locate a sheepshead, attempt to make a cast as close to the structure they are inhabiting. Sheepshead are rarely skittish, so there is not much concern spooking them.
Fishing structures with old growth increase your chances of locating sheepshead. Fish as close to the structure as you can, sheepshead are known for staying within a foot of the structures they inhabit. It is very important that you get your bait within 24” from the structure you are fishing. When fishing bridge pilings, work the entire water column as the sheepshead are working up and down the pilings looking for food. They can be on the bottom or just a foot or so under the water.
You will feel bites from the sheepshead in the form of taps, this is them first crushing and killing the bait before swimming off with the bait. You need to keep a fairly tight line or the sheepshead will easily steal your bait.
While you can catch them after dark it is much better during the day. Sheepshead do not discriminate between a rising or falling tide but prefers to eat when there is moving water. Make sure you check the tides to see when would be the best time to get out on the water. Make sure the area that you are fishing has at least a moderate movement of water.
Sheepshead congregate in schools so once you catch the first one, keep fishing the same location and depth. Much like with mahi, once you hook one you have the opportunity to hook others in the same location.
Rigs and Bait
While a variety of baits will work, fiddler crabs are best, followed by small live shrimp, sand fleas, and oysters. While oysters work well, they are the hardest to get to stay on the hook. Some anglers use just magic thread to tie them on. Panty hose and gauze mesh are much cheaper and work just as well to make small oyster bait balls. Procure Inshore Scent can be used on all of your baits for further success.
The smaller your bait, the better. Sheepshead have extremely small mouths, even on an 8-10lb sheepshead, their mouth is no bigger than a quarter making them incredible thieves when it comes to stealing your bait. Too small is better than too large. Using both small hooks and bait will dramatically increase hookups and lessen the chance of these striped bandits making off with your bait. The best baits are no larger than a quarter.
Most of us have been trained to use circle hooks in almost all situations, but sheepshead are one of the few species that are easier to catch with a straight hook. You need no more than a #1 or #2 size short shank hook, sometimes even smaller.
Chumming can also work well for sheepshead, keep a garden rake or shovel in the boat to scrap the pilings of the dock or bridge to attract others from nearby locations. If you have done this you will know pretty soon if there are any sheepsheads nearby. The sound of you scraping the pilings and then the chum you are releasing should bring them to you in short order.
You can fish traditional Carolina rigs, dropper rigs, and sheepshead jigs. For sheepshead we will need a fluorocarbon leader that is 12-18 inches and a small, short shank J Hook. Don’t make your leader too long: Sheepshead are crafty fish that have a way of getting your bait off the hook without you even knowing. By fishing with a small leader, you increase your setup’s overall sensitivity, helping you feel the next bite and set the hook when you need to.
As for the size of the lead you will need a variety of sizes of egg leads 1/2oz up to 4oz. You want the lightest possible weight while still being able to keep it right next to the structure you are fishing.
We generally recommend the sheepshead jigs or dropper rigs as they make it easier to feel the very light bite at times.
Rods and Reels
Choose a rod 6-7ft medium to medium heavy action with a light touch so you can both feel the delicate bite of a sheepshead but also be able to pull the sheepshead away from the pilings and other structure. For a reel, choose a mid-sized spinning reel in the 3000-4000 size range spooled with 20lb super slick power pro braided line. Braided line is best when fishing for sheepshead. The braided line will dramatically increase overall sensitivity. Our favorite rods for sheepshead are the Star Seagis and the Star Plasma II inshore rods.