Winter Bait Stealers Sheepshead
December typically marks the beginning of the season for sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus), an inshore member of the porgy family. Sheepshead are a common North American species found from Cape Cod to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. After the summer months, targeting sheepshead provides an alternative to catching species such as snook, redfish, and trout. In Tampa Bay, sheepshead are sometimes referred to as “convict fish” due to their ability to remove bait without being detected.
Sheepshead primarily feed on shrimp, fiddler crabs, small crabs, bloodworms, sand fleas, and barnacles. Their diet leads them to frequent areas around docks, bridges, and similar structures where crustaceans are present. On light tackle, sheepshead are known for their strength, particularly larger females that can exceed 12 pounds. These females migrate from the Gulf of Mexico to spawn, typically arriving between early and mid-December and departing by early March, depending on water temperatures.
Fishing techniques should be adjusted according to location. When targeting sheepshead near bridges and docks, utilize medium spinning tackle equipped with 15-pound test braided line and a 25-pound test fluorocarbon leader paired with a #1 hook. Fish inhabiting these areas are typically smaller males, generally weighing between 1 and 3 pounds. Larger female specimens tend to reside in deeper sections of the Bay frequenting ledges, wrecks, and rock piles at depths ranging from 12 to 30 feet and averaging between 4 and 12 pounds. For these larger fish, it is advisable to employ heavier equipment, such as a 7-foot medium-heavy action rod matched with a larger spinning reel, rigged with 20-pound test braided line and a 25-pound test fluorocarbon leader, and secured with a loop knot to a 1/0 hook. A Texas rig setup is recommended, with the sinker positioned on the leader just above the hook. Incorporating a small glow soft bead can prevent the sinker from contacting the knot and may help attract larger fish. Sinker weight should be selected based on water depth and tidal movement, beginning at 3/8 oz. and increasing up to 1 oz., as conditions require. Lighter weights enhance bite detection, while insufficient weight may cause bait to drift off the bottom reducing opportunities for sheepshead to locate and consume it.
Check list:
· Check your hooks often. The sheep type teeth tend to break the circle hooks at the bend or tip making for lost fish.
· Avoid soft tip rods. You need pressure on them to set the hook.
· Keep your rod tip almost touching the water when fishing from a boat, no slack line or you will not feel the bite.
· Avoid large baits; they have small mouths.
· Replace or sharpen the hook often; they need to be sharp.
· When fishing under a bridge or along seawall, scrape the barnacles. This creates a chum slick drawing sheepshead to the source of food. It is like having a taco bus show up.
· Always have the point of the hook exposed.
Tackle:
· Blackfin 7’ medium and medium heavy spinning rods.
· Blackfin 4000 saltwater spinning reels.
· FINS braided line 20-pound test. I prefer white or yellow line for sheepshead fishing.
· Lee Fisher Sports 25-pound fluorocarbon leader. The leader should be at least 30-inches long.
· Lee Fisher Sports Triden #1 or 1/0 circle hooks. The three most important things to look for in a hook is strength, size, and sharpness.
Use live shrimp, fresh dead shrimp, fiddler crabs, bloodworms, and sand fleas. Fiddlers and sand fleas work best, but lack of time on my part to catch them drops down to second best with live shrimp and bloodworms. Since sheepshead are bait stealers, regular shrimp works best. Do not waste money on medium or large shrimp, it is just more bait for them to steal. My favorite artificial baits are Fishbites strips in either sand flea or shrimp flavor.
From shore look for sheepshead around bridges, docks, and rocky areas. On the water, their favorite spots are artificial reefs, wrecks (16 in Tampa Bay), ledges, and rocky bottom. Remember, the deeper water holds the bigger fish.
Fishing for the thieves of Tampa Bay is a fun and rewarding experience. Hooking and fighting an 8 or 10-pound sheepshead will put a big smile on your face; and, if you have kids, they will love the experience.
Capt. Sergio Atanes is the host of Fishing Adventures Florida and Capt. Sergio Fishing Chronicles on YouTube, Waypoint TV, Carbon TV, Outdoor Action TV, Angling TV and GEN7 Outdoors. Owner of Reelfishy.com Charter business with over 135 captains on staff. For information contact Capt. Sergio at (813) 973-7132 or email: atanes@msn.com