Sheepsheads, seatrout and pompano eat shrimp in the winter. Bill Esslinger and family lucked out with good weather and fishing days between cold fronts fishing north Pine Island Sound with Capt. Bill Russell. PHOTO GIVEN
February is the peak season for a fish that lives in our waters during the colder winter months. The Sheeps-head (Archosaurs probatocephalus).
Sheepshead are easily identified by their broad bodies with telltale black vertical stripes that many have renamed the doomed fish. They are equipped with almost human-like teeth that will give dental hygiene nightmares. The mouth full of teeth is used for crunching crustaceans, mollusks, barnacles, etc.
When we think of sheepshead and where to find them along the coast, we look around oyster bars or anywhere oysters and barnacles tend to grow. Oyster bars aren’t the only place to look; sheepshead are structure oriented and prefer good water flow. Put those two together and there are endless places in our inshore waters to target.
The structure with its good growth of oysters and barnacles is not to be missed. Places that should come to mind in that combination are bridges, piers, wharves, jetties, seawalls and other submerged obstructions on the coast and along beaches. Downed or submerged trees or large branches are a good possibility. They also congregate on shorelines, drop-offs, depressions and creeks. Nearshore artificial reefs and hard bottoms in gulf waters up to about 40 feet deep are prime areas to target when weather permits.
As mentioned, the sheep’s head is equipped with a mouth full of teeth, however they are not sharp and very rarely cut into a leader. Their teeth are for crushing hard objects that cannot catch fast moving bait fish. A small, thin, sharp hook is preferred to consistently get the hook to penetrate between those teeth. And even then, a little luck comes in handy.
Many anglers rig one of two ways. First, with a #1 or 1/0 circle hook tied on two to four feet of 20-pound fluorocarbon leader with either a small sliding egg sinker or split-shot sinker. Just use enough weight to get it to the bottom, when you are fishing around oyster bars and structure you will get a lot of hang ups, if you go with as little weight as possible it will help to reduce hang ups.
Fresh shrimp is the go-to bait. Many hardcore sheepshead anglers use a variety of, sometimes sneaky baits, but we stick to shrimp. Shrimp are readily available, and they catch fish. Either a small shrimp thread the hook shank, hooked live or if the shrimp are large, cut them accordingly. The smaller the piece you can remove the better your hook-up success, sheepsheads are notorious bait thieves, carrying a lot of bait.
Second, very productive, and my favorite, is a jig head tipped with shrimp. On the beach we can use from an eighth to a half ounce depending on the depth and current. Pinch or bite the tail and trim the shrimp tail first up the shank of the hook going down the jig head. A slow bouncing shot works best but it can vary from day to day, don’t be afraid to experiment. But remember, they feed on the bottom, a quickly suspended acquisition is immovable. We usually fish both styles (circle hook and jig head) and see what works best; it changes daily and locations. I’ve tried all different colored jig heads, and they all catch fish, but one color can out fish the others on any given day.
For tackle, a light to medium light action rod with a fast tip is best, you really need to feel the light tap when they take the bait. A bait caster or spinner with 10 to 20-pound line, monofilament, or braid, is all that’s needed. I use 15-pound braid, it really allows anglers to feel the pick-up. Sheepshead are not as aggressive as snook or grouper when hooked, they put up a good fight but they rarely make the effort to rush under rocks or pilings and cut you off, therefore a light rig is fine and happier.
While targeting sheepshead from a boat obviously gives you more options, you’re still out of luck if you’re stuck fishing from shore. The bridges at Matlacha, and the Bokeelia Fishing Pier are known anchorages. Sheepshead eat goodies from pilings or structure, you have to fish as close as possible to get their attention. You can often see them feeding up and down the piles.
This is the peak month to engage in the biggest rams of the year. If you take some time to learn the tricks of finding and hooking sheepsheads, you’ll be on your way to some great fishing. And your reward, they are some of the tastiest fish in the water.
Stay current on fishing regulations by visiting www.myfwc.com. Also, upload the Fish Rules app to your phone. It has current regulations and seasons with pictures to help identify the fish.
Have a safe week and good fishing.’
As a lifelong resident of Matlacha and Pine Island, Capt. Bill Russell has spent his life fishing and studying the waters around Pine Island and Southwest Florida, and as a professional fishing guide for the past 23 years.
