As water temperatures drop and we get deeper into the month, sheepshead will appear on rock piles and bridge pilings everywhere. We caught nearly 50 Saturday working one of the bridges in Tampa Bay, and Van Vick and his party caught that many or more fishing a dock in Boca Ciega Bay.
Perhaps not as glamorous as species that jump spectacularly when hooked or peel off on long runs, sheepies when filleted properly are as good eating as it gets. On a limber-tip rod and 15-pound test, a 5-pounder will provide as much fight as you could ask for.
Particularly for small boaters unable to safely venture offshore, these notorious bait thieves are a worthy alternative. Many gather among protected waters of marinas, jetties, bridges, docks in residential canals and anywhere else with vertical, barnacle-encrusted structure.
Sheepies aren't particularly fond of bait that stay on a hook. Fresh-cut hide of a live bait, squid or octopus won't work. Pieces of shrimp, tubeworms, barnacles or oysters work better.
Keep an eye out for Asian green mussels clinging on seawalls, bridges, channel markers or docks. A long-handled scraper and crab net will help you quickly fill the bucket. Once you get the hang of shucking and threading them on the hook, you'll not find a more productive bait.
- Jay Mastry charters Jaybird out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 321-2142.
