Sheepshead

The sheepshead is a large porgy. It reaches a maximum weight of about 20 pounds. It’s coloration is silvery to yellowish white, with an olive-brown back and five or six dark slightly diagonal bars along each side. It is found close inshore, often in the brackish zones of estuaries. It uses it’s flat long teeth to crush mollusks and crabs and to scrap barnacles from rocks and pilings.

Fishing basics:

These species are primarily taken by bottom fishing structure and wreck fishing. The fisherman should look for sheepshead along irregular bottom, wrecks, reefs and structure not too far from shore. Sometimes the sheepshead is so fast in taking live bait that it is difficult to hook. One exciting way to catch this bait thief is to heavily chum an area with shrimp or bits of shellfish. After the sheepshead have begun to feed, cast with a small ¼ ounce jig. On light tackle this is a thrilling and sporting fish to catch. Use a medium /medium heavy class rod (12 to 20 pound) with a baitcast or spinning reel with 12 to 20 pound mono line. Around reefs and wrecks, use an 4 foot long heavier leader, with a single hook or a 2-hook bottom rig, using hook sizes from #6 to 2/0. For bait, sheepshead do not readily take artificial lures. They are best fished for with live bait or cut or whole natural baits. These include crab, shrimps, mussels, clams, worms, sand eels, cut strips of mackerel, cuttlefish, squid or octopus.

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