Are they active and easy to catch in the fall/winter time? Was planning on sheepshead fishing during this time.
I have thousands of them in my marsh. During the flood tides I have seen Sheepshead coming up through the marsh in about 1 feet of water eating on fiddlers. Amazed they will swim that far into the marsh in that shallow of water.
No. Once the water cools they get scarce.
Go to a sandier or hard mud flat spot that is bare compared to the rest of the marsh at around nine to noon (when the sun starts getting hot) and they sun in large groups and herds for safety. Bring a broom and dust pan, and sweep up. You still will find them doing this even in the winter months on the warm days, just a lot less common. If you use a large storage container with about an inch or so of sand, mud and water they will stay alive for a long time, keep them close to your house or under your porch and they usually handle the cold but bring them in if it freezes.
17ft Key west
Just don’t kick the bucket over!
Best bet is to buy them 13$ a pint at HPT, they can scarce in the winter months
14’ Skiff-“Redfish Reaper”
Didn’t know HPT sold them, good to know for winter!
Haddrell’s in Mt. P sells them as well.