Posted By: Shoreboundangler
Sheepshead 101 - 12/16/17 07:22 PM
It looks like we are having an earlier than normal winter this year, so I thought I'd share an article I wrote for the Shoreboundangler website a few years ago about Sheepshead fishing. I hope it's not so long that you can't get through it without falling asleep!
As a dedicated Texas jetty fisherman, I frequently catch Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus). Although present year-round, I target them only in winter. Looking at past entries in my fishing journal, Christmas day seems to be as good as any for the official start to Sheepshead season here at my local jetty. The fishing will remain good all through winter and usually peaks in February-March.
The Sheepshead diet consists mainly of barnacles and crabs, both of which are found in abundance at most Texas jetties. They occasionally eat the green algae growing below the water line on the rocks. This becomes apparent in February when many of the fish I clean have stomachs stuffed with algae. Because their preferred meals are found on or in the jetty, fishing for Sheepshead means being up close and personal with the rocks. Although I have caught the occasional fish while bottom fishing away from the rocks or even in the surf, I catch 90% of my fish while fishing in between or on top of submerged rocks.
Sheepshead are well adapted to their lives near the jetty. They have burly scales to protect them from scrapes and an amazing set of choppers for grazing in and around the rocks. Up front they have incisors that look like a human in need of an orthodontist. Inside their mouths are covered with crushing teeth similar to molars. All of these specialized teeth make hooking and catching a Sheepshead somewhat difficult. Specialized gear and tactics are required to catch Sheepshead consistently.
Sheepshead are pretty particular about what they eat. They almost never bite cut bait or lures. Instead they prefer fresh or live bait. Small live shrimp are a good option. Fresh dead shrimp will work when the fish are feeding actively. Live shrimp will always out fish dead shrimp though. And if your dead shrimp is old and stinky, forget about it. Small live crabs work very well, but are hard to come by. I’ve read lots of information on using Fiddler crabs for Sheepshead bait. I’ve personally never used them, although I have on occasion tried unsuccessfully to catch them. Seeing the giant claws on Fiddlers makes me reluctant to use them anyway. There have been occasions, especially in mid-winter, when my pint of live shrimp will have a small stray blue crab mixed in. Although these are not technically legal for use as bait, I have used them with success. Again, small crabs are not easy to come by, and for me not part of my usual repertoire of baits for Sheepshead.
My personal favorite Sheepshead bait is live ghost shrimp. Ghost shrimp are found along open beaches of the Gulf. Their burrows are visible at the tide line where they look like a hole or a small volcano in the sand. The best time to catch them is when the tide is super low. Check the tide charts and pick a day with the lowest possible tide along the beach front. Use one of the sand pumps made out of PVC pipe that are available at most local tackle shops for around $30 bucks. Suck the ghosties from their burrows and put them in a small bucket with a little sand on bottom. If you plan to use them right away they will usually stay alive for a while without any special care. If you plan to hold on to them for a while use a small aerator or change their water every so often to keep them alive. They will work when dead, but as with all other types of bait, they work best when fresh and lively. In Texas you can only take 20 ghost shrimp per person per day for bait.
My second favorite Sheepshead bait is live sea anemones. I learned about them from an old salt at the Fish Pass jetties in Mustang Island State Park. He was consistently catching Sheepshead while I fished right next to him getting skunked. Eventually I got up the courage to ask him what he was using for bait. At first he wouldn’t tell me. Later, when he had his limit and was packing up to leave, he handed me the bottom of a Styrofoam cup with a bunch of goo in the bottom. He called them “nemonees” and told me I could get them by flipping rocks and scraping them off the bottom. I did catch a couple fish myself that day with the nemonees. It was several years later before I flipped rocks and scraped up some for myself. They really work. One good side effect of using anemones is that hardly anything but Sheepshead will eat them.
Once you’ve got your bait, it’s time to rig up. The conditions will play a role in how you rig, but some basic principles for terminal tackle can be applied to most circumstances. You will be fishing tight to the rocks and you will lose tackle! If you’re not getting hung up occasionally, you’re not fishing the right spot. Bring plenty of spare hooks and weights. I like to use a standard drop rig tied on a 30lb mono. Tie a suitable sized weight to the end of your line. About 12” to 18” above your weight, tie off a loop on a byte using an overhand figure eight knot. To tie the figure eight, pull a loop of line off the side of the main line, and then tie it with a one and a half overhand knot. If you tie a single overhand knot, the line strength will be compromised at the knot, and the loop will pull closed when you hook a fish. Push the loop through the hook eye and then over the entire hook.
Standard practice when choosing the size of your weight says to use just enough to allow you to cast and hold your bait in position. I’ve found that using a larger than normal weight has some distinct advantages. A larger weight allows you to hold the bait in position and prevents the current from washing your rig into the spaces between rocks. Also, you can keep a bit of tension on your line that allows you to feel subtle bites. It seems counter-intuitive that larger weights would help prevent hang-ups, but in my experience they do.
I’ve suggested using 30 lb mono for rigging. In the past I would use my standard 7’ spinning combo spooled with 15 lb mono, and then tie my drop rig on a long section of 30 lb clear monofilament leader attached to the main line. This worked well, but it was a pain to re-rig. Nowadays I use an 8’ heavy action rod and a large spinning reel that I can spool directly with 30 lb monofilament. Tying my rig directly on my main line saves time when re-rigging as opposed to having to tie on a leader every time you break off. The heavier line also helps with abrasion from the rocks, and makes it easier to land fish without a net. These days the only time I use the lighter rig is if the water is super clear. If I’m feeling rich I’ll use fluorocarbon instead of mono for my leader material, but mono works just fine.
Now that you’re rigged it’s time to fish! I’m pretty familiar with all the best spots at my jetty. The best spots seem have a few things in common. It seems obvious, but I prefer spots where I know I can put a bait out on bottom and retrieve it without getting hung up. Finding these kinds of spots for yourself will take some trial, error, and tackle! Another thing to look for is any break or change in the jetty rocks. Big gaps between submerged rocks are great. Fish directly in the gap. Large rocks displaced from the main jetty always deserve a look. Also, don’t be reluctant to fish the immediate edge of the submerged rocks right at your feet.
One trick that has worked well for me is to closely observe underwater structure on days when the water is really clear. Near the end of the Packery Channel south jetty there is a big shelf on the channel side that is about 6’ under water during normal tides. There’s a spot on this shelf where one of the boulders is rolled out and away from the jetty, leaving a big gap where the boulder used to be. I noticed this setup during a super clear day in summer and put it in my memory bank. Since the gap was not visible with the normal winter water clarity, I was able to find it using an adjacent landmark on the jetty. Sure enough when I fished the gap the following winter, it was loaded with Sheepshead. Once you’ve found a productive spot remember it and return to the same spot on later trips.
Once I’ve picked a spot, I’ll bait up with my ghost shrimp by piercing them multiple times on my small hook. I usually use a #1 or maybe a 1 ought J hook. Then I ball the bait up in the hook gap. I frequently use an underhand cast so I can accurately target my spot which will be very close to where I’m standing. Let the weight carry the bait to the bottom where it should be either sitting right on top of a submerged rock, or right where the bottom of the rock meets the sand. Tighten the line just enough so you can feel your weight, but not so tight that you drag the weight along the bottom. Now wait.
A lot has been written about how Sheepshead steal baits. People report losing baits without ever feeling a bite. My experience is that you will first feel a sharp tap, followed by either nothing, or by the line pulling tight. Once you feel the tap, wait to see if the line pulls tight. When it does, swing hard to set the hook. If you feel the tap followed by nothing, wait a couple seconds then gently lift your rod tip. If you feel weight or the line tightens, swing and set the hook. I feel like that first tap is pretty distinct. So much so, that I believe I can call my shots like a big leaguer calling out a homerun. Feel the tap, know that it’s a Sheepshead, and swing for the fence.
In support of those who like the light bite theory of Sheepshead fishing, I can report that on numerous occasions I never felt the bite. Only when I went to reel in did I feel the weight and realize that I have a fish. This happens frequently enough that I do believe you’ll get some light bites. However, if you’ve rigged like I suggest using a heavier than normal weight, and fish on a tight line, most bites will be felt.
Once you’ve hooked your fish you’ve got to land it. Since I usually use pretty stout tackle, I tend to lean on them pretty hard and horse them in. Obviously if you’re tackle is lighter, the drag must be correctly set and you can fight the fish slowly and wear him down. One thing for certain is that the Sheepshead is a fair fighter. He will not run into the rocks grouper style to try and break off. Rather, he will usually make a quick sprint away from the rocks and use his body broadside to resist your efforts to land him, kind of like a bluegill on steroids. Keep pressure on the line and when you get him close either grab the line and lift the fish out of the water, or use a long handled landing net. Be aware though that a big Sheepshead in a landing net usually ends up in a long untangling session. I recommend using heavy enough line that you can lift or drag your quarry up onto the rocks and avoid the net altogether.
Sheepshead are good to eat but tough to clean. If you do plan to keep a couple, I find it best to cut their throats to the gills and let them bleed out while still at the jetty. Once bled, pack them in ice and keep them cold until you’re ready to clean them. Fish cared for in this way have firm flaky fillets that are as good as anything we catch, except maybe flounder!ve firm flaky fillets that are as good as anything else we catch (except maybe flounder!)ll have firm flaky fillets that are as good as anything else we catch (except maybe flounder!)
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As a dedicated Texas jetty fisherman, I frequently catch Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus). Although present year-round, I target them only in winter. Looking at past entries in my fishing journal, Christmas day seems to be as good as any for the official start to Sheepshead season here at my local jetty. The fishing will remain good all through winter and usually peaks in February-March.
The Sheepshead diet consists mainly of barnacles and crabs, both of which are found in abundance at most Texas jetties. They occasionally eat the green algae growing below the water line on the rocks. This becomes apparent in February when many of the fish I clean have stomachs stuffed with algae. Because their preferred meals are found on or in the jetty, fishing for Sheepshead means being up close and personal with the rocks. Although I have caught the occasional fish while bottom fishing away from the rocks or even in the surf, I catch 90% of my fish while fishing in between or on top of submerged rocks.
Sheepshead are well adapted to their lives near the jetty. They have burly scales to protect them from scrapes and an amazing set of choppers for grazing in and around the rocks. Up front they have incisors that look like a human in need of an orthodontist. Inside their mouths are covered with crushing teeth similar to molars. All of these specialized teeth make hooking and catching a Sheepshead somewhat difficult. Specialized gear and tactics are required to catch Sheepshead consistently.
Sheepshead are pretty particular about what they eat. They almost never bite cut bait or lures. Instead they prefer fresh or live bait. Small live shrimp are a good option. Fresh dead shrimp will work when the fish are feeding actively. Live shrimp will always out fish dead shrimp though. And if your dead shrimp is old and stinky, forget about it. Small live crabs work very well, but are hard to come by. I’ve read lots of information on using Fiddler crabs for Sheepshead bait. I’ve personally never used them, although I have on occasion tried unsuccessfully to catch them. Seeing the giant claws on Fiddlers makes me reluctant to use them anyway. There have been occasions, especially in mid-winter, when my pint of live shrimp will have a small stray blue crab mixed in. Although these are not technically legal for use as bait, I have used them with success. Again, small crabs are not easy to come by, and for me not part of my usual repertoire of baits for Sheepshead.
My personal favorite Sheepshead bait is live ghost shrimp. Ghost shrimp are found along open beaches of the Gulf. Their burrows are visible at the tide line where they look like a hole or a small volcano in the sand. The best time to catch them is when the tide is super low. Check the tide charts and pick a day with the lowest possible tide along the beach front. Use one of the sand pumps made out of PVC pipe that are available at most local tackle shops for around $30 bucks. Suck the ghosties from their burrows and put them in a small bucket with a little sand on bottom. If you plan to use them right away they will usually stay alive for a while without any special care. If you plan to hold on to them for a while use a small aerator or change their water every so often to keep them alive. They will work when dead, but as with all other types of bait, they work best when fresh and lively. In Texas you can only take 20 ghost shrimp per person per day for bait.
My second favorite Sheepshead bait is live sea anemones. I learned about them from an old salt at the Fish Pass jetties in Mustang Island State Park. He was consistently catching Sheepshead while I fished right next to him getting skunked. Eventually I got up the courage to ask him what he was using for bait. At first he wouldn’t tell me. Later, when he had his limit and was packing up to leave, he handed me the bottom of a Styrofoam cup with a bunch of goo in the bottom. He called them “nemonees” and told me I could get them by flipping rocks and scraping them off the bottom. I did catch a couple fish myself that day with the nemonees. It was several years later before I flipped rocks and scraped up some for myself. They really work. One good side effect of using anemones is that hardly anything but Sheepshead will eat them.
Once you’ve got your bait, it’s time to rig up. The conditions will play a role in how you rig, but some basic principles for terminal tackle can be applied to most circumstances. You will be fishing tight to the rocks and you will lose tackle! If you’re not getting hung up occasionally, you’re not fishing the right spot. Bring plenty of spare hooks and weights. I like to use a standard drop rig tied on a 30lb mono. Tie a suitable sized weight to the end of your line. About 12” to 18” above your weight, tie off a loop on a byte using an overhand figure eight knot. To tie the figure eight, pull a loop of line off the side of the main line, and then tie it with a one and a half overhand knot. If you tie a single overhand knot, the line strength will be compromised at the knot, and the loop will pull closed when you hook a fish. Push the loop through the hook eye and then over the entire hook.
Standard practice when choosing the size of your weight says to use just enough to allow you to cast and hold your bait in position. I’ve found that using a larger than normal weight has some distinct advantages. A larger weight allows you to hold the bait in position and prevents the current from washing your rig into the spaces between rocks. Also, you can keep a bit of tension on your line that allows you to feel subtle bites. It seems counter-intuitive that larger weights would help prevent hang-ups, but in my experience they do.
I’ve suggested using 30 lb mono for rigging. In the past I would use my standard 7’ spinning combo spooled with 15 lb mono, and then tie my drop rig on a long section of 30 lb clear monofilament leader attached to the main line. This worked well, but it was a pain to re-rig. Nowadays I use an 8’ heavy action rod and a large spinning reel that I can spool directly with 30 lb monofilament. Tying my rig directly on my main line saves time when re-rigging as opposed to having to tie on a leader every time you break off. The heavier line also helps with abrasion from the rocks, and makes it easier to land fish without a net. These days the only time I use the lighter rig is if the water is super clear. If I’m feeling rich I’ll use fluorocarbon instead of mono for my leader material, but mono works just fine.
Now that you’re rigged it’s time to fish! I’m pretty familiar with all the best spots at my jetty. The best spots seem have a few things in common. It seems obvious, but I prefer spots where I know I can put a bait out on bottom and retrieve it without getting hung up. Finding these kinds of spots for yourself will take some trial, error, and tackle! Another thing to look for is any break or change in the jetty rocks. Big gaps between submerged rocks are great. Fish directly in the gap. Large rocks displaced from the main jetty always deserve a look. Also, don’t be reluctant to fish the immediate edge of the submerged rocks right at your feet.
One trick that has worked well for me is to closely observe underwater structure on days when the water is really clear. Near the end of the Packery Channel south jetty there is a big shelf on the channel side that is about 6’ under water during normal tides. There’s a spot on this shelf where one of the boulders is rolled out and away from the jetty, leaving a big gap where the boulder used to be. I noticed this setup during a super clear day in summer and put it in my memory bank. Since the gap was not visible with the normal winter water clarity, I was able to find it using an adjacent landmark on the jetty. Sure enough when I fished the gap the following winter, it was loaded with Sheepshead. Once you’ve found a productive spot remember it and return to the same spot on later trips.
Once I’ve picked a spot, I’ll bait up with my ghost shrimp by piercing them multiple times on my small hook. I usually use a #1 or maybe a 1 ought J hook. Then I ball the bait up in the hook gap. I frequently use an underhand cast so I can accurately target my spot which will be very close to where I’m standing. Let the weight carry the bait to the bottom where it should be either sitting right on top of a submerged rock, or right where the bottom of the rock meets the sand. Tighten the line just enough so you can feel your weight, but not so tight that you drag the weight along the bottom. Now wait.
A lot has been written about how Sheepshead steal baits. People report losing baits without ever feeling a bite. My experience is that you will first feel a sharp tap, followed by either nothing, or by the line pulling tight. Once you feel the tap, wait to see if the line pulls tight. When it does, swing hard to set the hook. If you feel the tap followed by nothing, wait a couple seconds then gently lift your rod tip. If you feel weight or the line tightens, swing and set the hook. I feel like that first tap is pretty distinct. So much so, that I believe I can call my shots like a big leaguer calling out a homerun. Feel the tap, know that it’s a Sheepshead, and swing for the fence.
In support of those who like the light bite theory of Sheepshead fishing, I can report that on numerous occasions I never felt the bite. Only when I went to reel in did I feel the weight and realize that I have a fish. This happens frequently enough that I do believe you’ll get some light bites. However, if you’ve rigged like I suggest using a heavier than normal weight, and fish on a tight line, most bites will be felt.
Once you’ve hooked your fish you’ve got to land it. Since I usually use pretty stout tackle, I tend to lean on them pretty hard and horse them in. Obviously if you’re tackle is lighter, the drag must be correctly set and you can fight the fish slowly and wear him down. One thing for certain is that the Sheepshead is a fair fighter. He will not run into the rocks grouper style to try and break off. Rather, he will usually make a quick sprint away from the rocks and use his body broadside to resist your efforts to land him, kind of like a bluegill on steroids. Keep pressure on the line and when you get him close either grab the line and lift the fish out of the water, or use a long handled landing net. Be aware though that a big Sheepshead in a landing net usually ends up in a long untangling session. I recommend using heavy enough line that you can lift or drag your quarry up onto the rocks and avoid the net altogether.
Sheepshead are good to eat but tough to clean. If you do plan to keep a couple, I find it best to cut their throats to the gills and let them bleed out while still at the jetty. Once bled, pack them in ice and keep them cold until you’re ready to clean them. Fish cared for in this way have firm flaky fillets that are as good as anything we catch, except maybe flounder!ve firm flaky fillets that are as good as anything else we catch (except maybe flounder!)ll have firm flaky fillets that are as good as anything else we catch (except maybe flounder!)
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