Hit the jetties with a friend Tuesday morning. Got an early start, pulling up to the rocks not long after sunrise. Plan was to hit the sheeps first, then throw cut bait on the bottom. First sheepshead came within 5-10 minutes and the bite was good all morning until we ran out of fiddlers. Ended up catching 22, with all but 3 or 4 being legal. Caught a few BSB as well. Moved to a deeper spot to throw mullet on the bottom and picked up a half dozen or so sharpnose, one big red, a ray, and whiting. All in all a great morning with 6 species and 30+ fish caught. Headed back in about 1pm.
Question for everyone. I bought several 24" steel leaders with the black coating on them from haddrell’s knowing sharks are always around when bottom fishing. 4 different times yesterday fish got off, only to find out the leader pulled loose at the crimps…either up at the swivel or right at the hook. Anyone have issues with this and know how to remedy? Interestingly, we caught one sharpnose with a big circle hook and full leader hanging out of its mouth that was undoubtedly one of ours that pulled loose sometime within the hour prior. I guess those things will feed under almost any circumstances.
Yeah those leaders generally don’t hold up in my experience, get some wire and make them yourself. Haywire twist is pretty easy to learn and holds up well. Or just use heavy mono and circle hooks, sharpnose usually don’t bite through that.
Side note, how do you target sheeps at the jetties?
Yeah those leaders generally don’t hold up in my experience, get some wire and make them yourself. Haywire twist is pretty easy to learn and holds up well. Or just use heavy mono and circle hooks, sharpnose usually don’t bite through that.
Side note, how do you target sheeps at the jetties?
Yeah, after looking around for materials on the internet I’m thinking it may be worth making my own and knowing for sure the crimps were done right…or at least I can only be mad at myself if they end up pulling loose.
For the sheeps we used the trolling motor to slowly move along the rocks and threw fiddlers into the area where water washes over the top of the rocks. Only a small amount of weight is necessary (1-2 small splitshots). You’ll get hung up a lot so a mono leader is worth tying on. I have very little experience out there, but learning. I did the same thing Saturday and only got two small fish. Maybe being out at daybreak made the difference?
Great day for you!! Question?? I have a 18.5 CCS but have never been to the jetties. Where is the best place to launch and do you think its safe enough for a rookie to try it? I have always heard the big ships creates problems! true or not true?
How long a boat ride is the jetties from Folly bridge landing area?
quote:Originally posted by Fishguy98
Yeah those leaders generally don’t hold up in my experience, get some wire and make them yourself. Haywire twist is pretty easy to learn and holds up well. Or just use heavy mono and circle hooks, sharpnose usually don’t bite through that.
Side note, how do you target sheeps at the jetties?
looper - I try to bring a case back with me every time I visit my parents in PA. This was the first time I had it out on the boat while fishing and it tasted better than ever!
jcc - I don’t have much experience fishing the jetties, so I’m still learning. I’d like to think my general boating experience helps though. Common sense goes a long way out there. Fish on the downwind side of the rocks. If that means you’re fishing the inside of the jetties, just be aware of the ship traffic in and out. We had a couple come through while we were fishing and took a 10 minute break to move away from the rocks. Hard to do when they’re biting, but not worth it to get pushed on top of the jetties by a ship wake. As far as getting there, I launch out of shem creek or remleys, go out to the shipping channel and follow it all the way out. Not familiar with the best (safest) way to get there from folly. There’s a lot of areas I’m unfamiliar with, but know that you can be in 60ft and then on a sandbar a few seconds later, like between sullivans and the north jetty. Unless I know the area and am sure of myself, I take it easy on the speed knowing that no matter how slow I go, I’ll get there faster than if I’m waiting for the tide to come back in and push me off a bar.
Thanks for your reply and I agree with the common sense point. This is my 3rd boat in 30 years so I have some experience but just a bit rusty. None on my fishing partners have any Salt experience, just me. I will take your comments to heart and try the jetties sometime soon on a weekday when its not so busy. Thanks again and good fishing!
quote:Originally posted by troutguy7613
looper - I try to bring a case back with me every time I visit my parents in PA. This was the first time I had it out on the boat while fishing and it tasted better than ever!
jcc - I don’t have much experience fishing the jetties, so I’m still learning. I’d like to think my general boating experience helps though. Common sense goes a long way out there. Fish on the downwind side of the rocks. If that means you’re fishing the inside of the jetties, just be aware of the ship traffic in and out. We had a couple come through while we were fishing and took a 10 minute break to move away from the rocks. Hard to do when they’re biting, but not worth it to get pushed on top of the jetties by a ship wake. As far as getting there, I launch out of shem creek or remleys, go out to the shipping channel and follow it all the way out. Not familiar with the best (safest) way to get there from folly. There’s a lot of areas I’m unfamiliar with, but know that you can be in 60ft and then on a sandbar a few seconds later, like between sullivans and the north jetty. Unless I know the area and am sure of myself, I take it easy on the speed knowing that no matter how slow I go, I’ll get there faster than if I’m waiting for the tide to come back in and push me off a bar.
