By Capt. Jamie Thrappas, Yellow Dawg Fishing
February is typically a super fun month to fish and I personally enjoy it because of the lack of boat traffic we see in colder months. This year has been particularly mild, and the weather already feels like spring, making for excellent fishing days. February and March consistently offer the best sheepshead fishing I see, so that will be my primary focus. They luckily are also not a fish that requires you to be out there at the crack of dawn or sunset so anytime you have free will is just fine to get a bite or a sandwich for the cooler!
I have seen people use all kinds of tricks to get these bait bandits to eat, but as I’ve mentioned many times before my favorite baits to use are sand fleas and fiddler crabs when available. I like to double up on the bait, using two on the hook and tipping it with a fingernail-sized piece of sand flea flavored Fishbites. Even with 2 baits on there it’s crazy how fast they will rob you.
That’s why I like the Fishbites as it will typically make them peck at your hook a second or third time. While I’ve caught plenty of quality fish on circle hooks, when I’m really targeting sheepshead I prefer an Owner 1/0 needle-point straight J hook. It allows me to jam the hook in between their teeth and into the jaw bone. Often on bigger fish it’s impossible to get the hook out. It’s so jammed in there and the hook will bend or break attempting to get it out, so I consider it a sacrificial hook on most of my bigger fish. I also like to use a knocker rig with about 12″ of 20 lb leader or use a Carolina rig with the same length both with egg sinkers.
While I’m a big fan of strictly using fluorocarbon for leader on almost every species I target, in the past couple years I have switched to mono for leader. Especially when specifically looking for sheepshead with almost no impact on our catch ratio. Plus I have to regularly switch the leader out due to fishing structure and it helps to cut costs. The creeks and flats in the Spruce Creek and Rose Bay areas always are a second part of my day routine, as I find a lot of quality redfish and black drum enjoying the warmer shallow water this time of the year. If sheepshead aren’t your thing then get back there and start hunting. As always if you see me on the water say hello and get out and enjoy the area. Give us a shout if you’d like to see what February fishing here in Daytona has to offer!
