Sheepshead are a popular saltwater fish that are found in various inshore waters of the Atlantic Ocean. You can find them in South America, in countries like Brazil, but they’re most common in the Gulf of Mexico near the southeast of the United States.
These fish are easy to catch, fun to fight, and they make a tasty meal too. Anglers of all ages have fun chasing these little critters. If you want to catch a Sheepshead of your own, you’ll want to continue reading to find out all the tips and the best bait to do so!
Sheepshead Characteristics and Habits
Sheepshead are known for a couple of things. One, you can find them just about anywhere in inshore waters. They spend their time picking around rocks and sand in search of food. They also like to stay close to structure in case they need to take shelter. A few key areas you may find them include mangrove islands, piers, docks, jetties, reefs, wrecks, and really anywhere that has good surrounding structure.
Probably the most popular feature of Sheepshead are their teeth. If you aren’t familiar, let me explain. Sheepshead have human-like teeth in the front of their mouths, which they use to crush their prey. They have several rows of short stubby teeth that further break down their food, similar to molars.
And their characteristics? The body of a Sheepshead is compressed and round, and has a silver tone with vertical black stripes along its body. Hence their nickname, “Convict Fish!” These stripes help them to camouflage, while they also have sharp rigid fins to warn off predators. They can reach up to 30 inches but, on average, they’re usually smaller than 20 inches.
Sheepshead Fishing Regulations
Sheepshead fishing meets a lot of different regulations depending on where you’re fishing Different states have various rules when it comes to bag limits and minimum and maximum sizes. Most regions agree on having a year-round open season, and the requirement of a fishing license.
Whether you’re fishing for Sheepshead in the United States or another country, be sure to check the current regulations and make sure you have a license, if necessary, and obey any posted rules. The good news is that these fish are not in any danger, so you shouldn’t meet any strict regulations.
An Overview of Sheepshead Fishing
Sheepshead fishing is productive throughout the year, with each season providing a new opportunity to hook some. As previously mentioned, they spend most of their time inshore, especially during the cooler months so they can reach warmer temperatures. They migrate offshore to spawn in spring, but you can still locate them easily. When they are offshore, check around wrecks, reefs, and any pilings, and you should find them in no time.
When it comes to the time of day, there isn’t really any specific time that brings them out the most Sheepshead. But the tide does. Incoming and outgoing tides get them fired up! Stronger currents kick up the sand, bringing up mollusks and crustaceans that Sheepshead feed on. They also push out more bait, exposing them to hungry Sheepshead.
Now for the best gear for Sheepshead fishing. While these fish put up a little fight, they aren’t very big. That means you won’t need any heavy-duty equipment. A light-action rod with a 2000 spinning reel, a light braid and leader, and small hooks work just fine for Sheepshead.
Just make sure you have small hooks! These fish’s mouths don’t open too wide, and they aren’t very big in general, so having small bait on small hooks will give you the best chance at securely hooking them.
Sheepshead Fishing Methods
Before I dive into all the productive baits for Sheepshead fishing, I want to give some insight on how to fish for Sheepshead. There are a few key components to be successful at catching them.
As I already mentioned, you need to have tiny bait on small hooks, such as 1/0. If it’s too big, they’ll just pick at it rather than taking the whole bait, including the hook. When you have smaller hooks and bait, let your bait sit out right in front of structure. When you see or feel them biting, give them a bit of time so you ensure they have taken the whole meat. Once you feel your line pull away, you know they have the hook in their mouth, and you can hookset.
It’s beneficial to have your line sit out in a light current. This will give them the sense of a bait that’s pushed out from the force. It gets them fired up and ready to take your bait.
Best Sheepshead Baits
Now it’s time to dive into the world of baits. There are numerous live and artificial baits that capture the attention of these fish, which brings you one step closer to successfully catching a Sheepshead…
Live Bait
For live bait, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. It’s best to use a sinker to get your bait to head down where the Sheepshead are hanging out. A 1/4 oz sinker is the perfect choice. And, if there’s a strong current, you can always increase the size of the sinker
Small Crabs
Fiddler crabs are a popular crab option for Sheepshead bait. That’s because they run on the smaller side and are easier for Sheepshead to break up. When using these guys, hook them on the side of the shell and be careful not to penetrate further because you could kill them. It’s better to use them when they’re lively, as they further capture the Sheepshead’s attention then.
Sand Fleas
Similar to crabs, sand fleas also offer another crunchy meal for Sheepshead. They’re also a good size for Sheepshead’s smaller mouths. You can find these critters along beaches in the moist sand. You can even purchase a scooping tool to easily gather them up.
Barnacles
Barnacles are another favorite of Sheepshead. You can usually find the fish picking at them around docks, piers, and jetties. Barnacles can be scraped off and used as chum, but you can also get a smaller piece to place on your hook.
Shrimp
Shrimp is a common bait for Sheepshead, but there’s one con of using these crustaceans. If you leave them hanging off the hook, Sheepshead can just pull them off and not even touch the hook. It’s best to use smaller ones or cut bigger ones into pieces where the fish will need to bite the hook in order to get to their prey.
Clams
Clams are another tasty snack for Sheepshead and can be rigged through their shell. Hungry Sheepshead will head over to crunch them down and take a bite where the hook is.
Mussels
You can use mussels for Sheepshead although they might not be the top choice. If you’re allowed, you can find some near jetties or structures during a low tide. Some bait shops sell them as well. It can be tricky to get them to stay on the hook though, so some anglers recommend using an elastic miracle thread.
Artificial Bait
Now that I’ve talked about various live bait options, I’ll share some of the best artificial baits for Sheepshead. For all the ones mentioned, just keep in mind you’ll want to use the smaller-sized versions.
- Artificial Crabs. As fiddler crabs are probably the best option for live bait, the same goes for artificial fishing. These soft lures imitate crabs with realistic-looking bodies and legs. They also shimmer with eye-catching colors.
- Artificial Shrimp. Similar to artificial crabs, these lures also resemble real-looking shrimp with all the details. Gulp! and D.O.A make some great ones!
- Soft Plastics/Swim Baits and Jig Heads. This is a popular method for getting Sheepshead to bite, but you need to make sure your hook and lure are on the smaller size. Anything too big will be hard for them to bite fully.
- Crankbaits. Small crankbaits are also inviting to Sheepshead as they make movement and sounds. Their attention-grabbing colors are another plus in trying to lure the fish in.
Flies
There are plenty of saltwater flies for getting Sheepshead to bite. You’ll want to use a wet fly as these sink to the bottom. These are great because they’re micro-sized and perfect for fitting in the mouth of a Sheepshead. You could even try to use a fly on a non-fly fishing setup, but it may not be as easy.
For both methods, it’s important to keep in mind that Sheepshead tend to get sketched out by gear. Because they aren’t tough fighters, you don’t really need to go above 25 pounds on your leader. Keep it light so they can’t point it out. The same goes for hooks, including artificial lures as well. You want to make it seem as little sketchy as possible so you don’t scare them off.
Sheepshead Fishing Baits: Your Tool for a Great Fishing Experience
Sheepshead fishing is fun for everyone! It’s not too difficult, you don’t have to search around long and far to locate them, and when you have the right tools, you can bring them up in no time. You can fish for these guys on land or on a boat, so the possibilities are endless.
If you’re interested in Sheepshead fishing, but still need a head start, check out FishingBooker. There are hundreds of guides in areas across the country, so you can find one that best suits your Sheepshead fishing needs. What are you waiting for? Get out there and put my advice to the test!
Have you ever been Sheepshead fishing? What bait did you find most effective? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
The post The Best Sheepshead Bait: An Angler’s Guide appeared first on FishingBooker Blog.
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