04-10-2007, 08:05 PM
Sheephead: It truely takes a different type of angler to target these infamous fish. They are known across the eastern seaboard for being one of the most difficult fish to catch. Many feel that it is infact the most difficult. They are an excellent food fish but a pain to clean with thier over sized rib cage. Sheepheads primarily eat barnicles, but are caught off of fiddler crabs, shrimp, and sometimes even cut squid if they are really hungry. Fiddler crabs are the most popular bait since they are readily availible and cheap to buy; plus they are very effective.
The rig is pretty basic. A simple carolina rig works just fine. I'll use a 1 oz egg sinker and a spro heavy swivel to start the rig. From the swivel, i'll tie on a 18" length of fluorocarbon and finished off with a small, short shank live bait hook. The live bait hooks hide well in the back of a fiddler crabs shell. [cool]
Many anglers say you have to set the hook before the fish strikes. LOL, it almost appears that way. What the sheepheads do is take the bait and sit there in limbo chewing it up. When you feel just the faintest of bumps, you need to set the hook. Sometimes you won't even feel a bite. I'll usually slowly move my line up and down from time to time. If I feel weight on the line, i'll set the hook. That's a sheepy knawing on my offering. [
] Braid line is very effective for sheephead because of the sensitivity it has. You can feel the most faintest peck on your bait, and you get a much more decisive hook set since it has no stretch.
Fishing closely to the pilons will score you a sheepie. Drop your line to the bottom and give a few cranks to get it up a bit. Sometimes you can see them rolling on thier sides to snag a barnicle. If you see them up shallow, bring your line up a little more.
Since these fish can get in excess of 10 pounds, you're going to need a drop net to land them. They are cheap to purchase and most tackle stores along the coast have them.
All that's left to say is Good Luck! You're going to need it. [
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The rig is pretty basic. A simple carolina rig works just fine. I'll use a 1 oz egg sinker and a spro heavy swivel to start the rig. From the swivel, i'll tie on a 18" length of fluorocarbon and finished off with a small, short shank live bait hook. The live bait hooks hide well in the back of a fiddler crabs shell. [cool]
Many anglers say you have to set the hook before the fish strikes. LOL, it almost appears that way. What the sheepheads do is take the bait and sit there in limbo chewing it up. When you feel just the faintest of bumps, you need to set the hook. Sometimes you won't even feel a bite. I'll usually slowly move my line up and down from time to time. If I feel weight on the line, i'll set the hook. That's a sheepy knawing on my offering. [
] Braid line is very effective for sheephead because of the sensitivity it has. You can feel the most faintest peck on your bait, and you get a much more decisive hook set since it has no stretch. Fishing closely to the pilons will score you a sheepie. Drop your line to the bottom and give a few cranks to get it up a bit. Sometimes you can see them rolling on thier sides to snag a barnicle. If you see them up shallow, bring your line up a little more.
Since these fish can get in excess of 10 pounds, you're going to need a drop net to land them. They are cheap to purchase and most tackle stores along the coast have them.
All that's left to say is Good Luck! You're going to need it. [
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