Fishing

Landlubber report

	[Times photo (2003): Terry Tomalin]
	Rick Frazier shows off a sheepshead caught near Tierra Verde. The fish are around through March.

Cooling water and shorter days are the signals for big, breeding female sheepshead to move from the deep gulf where they spent the summer to shallow estuaries to spawn. The signals also tell anglers to get their gear ready for the best sheepshead fishing of the year.

December through March is the right time to catch sheepshead. Often referred to as "convicts" because of the dark bars on their body and their ability to steal bait off a hook, they are excellent to eat. They can be a little hard to clean, but the effort is worth it.

With large incisor teeth protruding beyond the lips and molars on the sides of their mouths, it's no wonder sheepshead are so named. With that set of choppers, a sheepshead has no problem crushing barnacles, oysters or whatever it wants to eat.

Finding sheepshead is the easiest part of this game. They're easily spotted below the surface, gnawing at barnacles and oysters attached to pilings. Bridges, piers and docks are their hangouts, and there are plenty of productive spots around the bay area.

Gathering bait is one of the best parts about sheepshead fishing. The fish bite barnacles, oysters, mussels, worms and a variety of crabs. All of these baits are free and easy to gather, and many can be collected in relatively the same spot with little effort. Low tide is the time to find these critters, and all that is needed is a small shovel, a hatchet or scraper and a bucket to hold the bait.

Unlike most inshore species, slack tide is best for targeting sheepshead. If there is any flow, the downcurrent side of the piling or structure will be the productive side. Sheepies don't like to be in a fast current, and they gather behind pilings to save energy while munching.

Since these fish are easy to find, they should be easy to catch too, right? Not always.

You have to acquire a delicate touch to keep these fish from stealing bait. Sheepshead are nibblers, and they'll nibble the bait right off the hook. After the nibbling starts, wait until the fish starts to pull, then set the hook. Waiting for tension is key.

Sheepshead are scrappy fighters, so it's wise to use medium/heavy tackle. Braided lines testing 20 to 30 pounds are best. The braids are more resistant to barnacles and pilings, and the thin line makes casting a breeze. Braids don't stretch so they are more sensitive than monofilament, which helps detect a sheepshead's nibble.

Fluorocarbon leader helps in clear water. If the water is muddy, monofilament works fine. The leader should be no more than three times the strength of the braided line.

Hooks are critical. Because a sheepshead's mouth is tough and full of teeth, hooks must be strong and extremely sharp. They also need to be small to not kill the bait and to allow the fish to bite it without notice. Bronze No. 2 hooks are a good choice.

Use as little weight as possible. Pinch-on weights are great. Use just enough to keep your bait down, because more weight makes it difficult to feel the nibbles.

The Gandy Bridge has long been a sheepshead hot spot, as are the beach feeder bridges. Don't overlook The Pier in St. Petersburg.

The daily bag limit for sheepshead is 15. Keep what you can use and release the rest.