I have a lil bit different take on the Sheepshead bite. Im finding that they actually have 2 types of a bite. There's the initial peck that's sometimes followed by a few more
light tugs. I'll usually wait till the line feels heavy. Once i detect the light tugs, i start slowly lifting the rod tip till its heavy enough that there's a bit of bend in the rod. Don't hook set. These guys will hook themselves most of the time. Just lift and start reeling. Hook sets most of the time end up with the hook popping out of the fishes mouth. Also J-hooks are the best hook for these fish. I use a short, off-set, cutting point, j-hook. Owner makes a very good one. As for setting the hook before the bite, that's retarded to me. Good luck with all that. I just started sheep herding last winter but, we were productive. Here's a pic of some from Wonderwood bridge.

I very much agree with MarkWRX. If you fish deep water you will definitely wanna be using braid. Stretch is incredibly bad for these guys. Its hard enough feeling the faint bites as is. Take every vantage point you can get. The moving around thing is HUGE. They are schooling around the structure. they will not sit in one place long. When you find them, They will hit the bait pretty quick. if you don't get a hit in say, a few minutes(4-5), move a few feet down the structure. Experiment and you will get on some.


the Flat point shovel was my scraper for chumming. Cheap and most of us already have one

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176 Sportsman

Me and a buddy went out Thursday between timiquan preserve and the bridge by hugy bay. We caught about 15 little sheep's all in the 10 - 15in range. Dead shrimp and 4/0 circle hooks. First we caught a bunch of rat reds, and within 10 minutes it turned to sheepshead. No pillions or oyster beds just tidal sand bars.

But go figure when I fish the "right" sheepshead spots I come home with an empty cooler.

But great job on your search and catch bet he was tasty!

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Being near the bridge piles by kayak is very challenging. So for sheepshead fishing I have to do it from actual bridges. I can have/feel the bite only when the tide is slack and high in that areas (high tide I mean here is for the amount of the water level enough for the sheepshead to be able to swim around).
When the tide is moving, my jighead is quickly swept away and becomes useless. Using heavier sinker does not do better either because the current around the bridge piles is too strong for even 4-oz sinkers.

Is dark time better than bright day time for the sheepshead like many other fish?
I have not heard that dark time is better than bright day time for sheepshead.
I would like to have my own power boat to go to Mayport Jetties. But, I just do not feel like spending the amount of money...

Ah check out that handsome fella in the background

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Ride 135

I have been specifically targeting sheeps for the past couple months now. I was pulling them in big numbers a few weeks ago but I have noticed that my spots have been producing fewer fish lately. I have the most luck on low incoming tides using a floor scraper to chum the walls. I will share a tip that really has helped me land more of them. When you lift and feel the pressure of something on the line, slowly lift up your rod until the fish makes his first dive back down to the bottom. Since I have been doing this I have hooked way more fish. I think it helps get a good hook set in the fish. If you can make the trip out to Nassau sound there is a ton of pilings you can fish with success. Make sure you bring a variety of weights. I use anywhere from 1/2 oz to 1 1/4oz depending on current. Goodluck, they are there waiting for you to catch them.

I am pretty happy about redfishing and sheepshead fishing with fiddler crab this January.
I have been catching either redfish or sheepshead for 4 consequtive weekends

This afternoon I went to bridge pilings without kayak.



Fresh sheepshead sashimi was very goos with soy sauce and wasabi paste.