I headed to Capers Reef today, looking for sheeps and maybe a sea bass. Tide was moving in pretty fast, so I used 3oz. on a Carolina rig with short, 6-10" leader. Fiddlers. Put the boat right on top of a ship but I didn’t see much action on the screen.
Couldn’t keep the line in the water for more than a minute or two before getting a sheep hit. With no sea bass around for some reason (more on that) I really learned what a sheepshead bite feels like. The bite is almost nothing, sometimes just a little more drag, not even a tap. I no longer hesitate to set the hook and its on!
Landed 7 keeper size fish in two hours before I ran out of fiddlers, just kept 2 for dinner. I literally had a bite on every drop.
Only one small sea bass, one big shark?..lost that rig…, one weakfish and what might have been a lane snapper.
After fishing I scouted the whole area and saw a big bunch of sea bass at the bow of the ship, with the ship facing the current. I had been fishing further aft. Seems like it really matters which side of the structure you fish in order to avoid the sea bass.
It took me a year to get my bait, rigs, anchoring, and technique down on the sheeps. Now its time to not catch some flounder. Any advise on that at the reefs this time of year?
No advice for dodging dinky doormats.
But if you’re after sea bass, take a cheap can of dog food. Peel top back 1/3 and drop off bow of boat. Stirs up a little feeding frenzy.
Did you caught 7 keeper sheep at Capers?
Also thanks for the tip on current for sheep and seabass, i didnt know that. Would I be correct in assuming that you caught all of the flounder downcurrent of structure?
Last, I can vouch for BlueGoose’s dogfood seabass method.
Palm beach 181 whitecap 115merc
Lowe 170 70hp
AKA Wannabe offshore fishing king
Check out my YouTube page
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCmxlXT3ChNyo3hMSimdlFNw
Yes 7 sheeps, plus the others. No flounder caught though I have not tried yet at the reefs.
Sounds like the larger sheep are moving out to the reefs. Thanks for the report Evolution.
2005 Sea Hunt 212 Triton
“Head East”
I agree, great post!.
Good luck out there.
Palm beach 181 whitecap 115merc
Lowe 170 70hp
AKA Wannabe offshore fishing king
Check out my YouTube page
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCmxlXT3ChNyo3hMSimdlFNw
Hey Evolution, did you run from the harbor or out of Dewees? just curious, I haven’t been out of Dewees in a couple years.
2005 Sea Hunt 212 Triton
“Head East”
Harbor. Heading out tomorrow again, its been continuously good all winter. Even shrimp is working now, which is good since we can’t get live fiddlers.
BTW I meant catching flounder, still trying to crack that nut if anyone has a tip.
I’ve been told to head out to 90’ to get 'em in winter.