On the Water: February is best time to fish for sheepshead

Closing out January, sheepshead numbers, especially large ones, weren’t caught widespread as in previous years. Let’s hope that changes for the better this month.
February is the peak season for one fish in Southwest Florida that thrives during the cooler winter months — the sheepshead (Archosaurs probatocephalus). Sheepshead are easily identified by their broad body with telltale black vertical stripes that many have renamed the convict fish. They’re equipped with almost human-like teeth that would give dental hygienist nightmares. That mouth full of teeth is used for crunching crustaceans, mollusks, barnacles and such.
When we think of sheepshead and where to find them inshore, we look for them around oyster bars, or anywhere oysters and barnacles are likely to grow. Oyster bars aren’t the only place to look; sheepshead are structure oriented and prefer a good tide flow. Put those two together and there are endless places across our inshore waters to target. Structure with a good growth of oysters and barnacles should not be overlooked. Areas that should pop into your mind with that combination are bridges, piers, docks, jetties, seawalls and other submerged obstructions inshore and along the beaches. Downed or submerged trees or large branches are a good possibility. They also congregate along shorelines, drop-offs, depressions and creeks. Nearshore artificial reefs and hard bottom in gulf waters out to around 50-foot depths are prime areas to target when weather allows.
As mentioned, sheepshead are equipped with a mouth full of teeth, however they are not sharp and very seldom cut through a leader. Their teeth are for crushing hard objects not catching fast-moving bait fish. A small, thin, sharp hook is preferred to consistently get the hook to penetrate between those teeth. And even then, a little luck comes in handy.
I generally rig one of two ways. First, with a #1 or 1/0 circle hook tied to 2-4 feet of 20-pound fluorocarbon leader with either a small sliding egg sinker or split-shot sinker. Use just enough weight to get it to the bottom, when you fish around oyster bars and structure you will get hung up a lot, if you go with as little weight as possible it will help to reduce hang ups. Sheepshead are difficult to unhook, if you pinch the barb closed you save a lot of time and struggles.
Fresh shrimp is the go-to bait. Many hardcore sheepshead anglers use various other, sometimes secretive baits, but we are going to stick with shrimp. Shrimp are readily available, and they catch fish. Either a small shrimp threaded up the hook shank, hooked live or if the shrimp are large, cut them accordingly. The smaller the piece you can get away with the better your hook-up success will be; sheepshead are notorious bait stealers, bring a lot of bait.
Second, very productive, and my favorite, is a jig head rigged with a small live shrimp. Inshore we may use from an eighth to a half-ounce depending on depth and current. Pinch or bite the tail off and thread the shrimp tail first up the shank of the hook bottoming out at the head of the jig. A slow bouncing retrieve works best but it can vary from day to day, don’t be afraid to experiment. But remember, they feed off the bottom, a quick suspended retrieve will go untouched. We usually fish both methods and see what works best; it changes from day to day and locations. I have tried all the different colored jig heads, and they all catch fish, but one color may out fish the others on any given day.
For tackle, a light to medium light action rod with a fast tip is best; you really need to feel the light tap when they pick up the bait. A bait caster or spinner with 10 to 20-pound line, monofilament or braid, is all that’s needed. I use 15-pound braid, this really allows the anglers to feel the pick-up. Sheepshead aren’t as aggressive as snook or grouper when hooked, they put up a great fight but seldom make a hard effort to dash under rocks or pilings and cut you off, therefore a light rig is fine and a lot more fun.
This is the top month to hook into the biggest sheepshead of the year in Southwest Florida. If you put in some time to learn the tricks to locating and hooking sheepshead, you will be on your way to some good fishing. And your reward — they are some of the tastiest fish in the water.
Stay up to date with fishing regulations by visiting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission at www. myfwc.com. Also, upload the Fish Rules app on your phone. It has current regulations with pictures to help identify fish. If you turn on your GPS location the Fish Rules app updates to your location. In my opinion, it is more accurate and up to date than FWC’s website.
If you have a fishing report or for charter information, please contact us at Gulf Coast Guide Service — call or text 239-410-8576; website at www.fishpine island.com; or email gcl2fish@live.com
Have a safe week and good fishin’
As a lifetime resident of Matlacha and Pine Island, Capt. Bill Russell has spent his life fishing and learning.