looking to target some sheeepshead. i plan on catching my own fiddlers or buying some clam strips for bait. I don’t have a trolling motor so i think my main issue is getting close enough to the rocks without putting the boat in jeopardy. would it be worth while to use a popping cork with a long leader (4ft maybe??) or toss down a carolina rig close to the rocks? I appreciate any advice on the subject.
Fishing for sheepshead at the jetties is something I don’t understand how folks do. I’ve done pretty well with them near docks and pilings inshore, but the hookset with that sneaky bite of theirs is a very delicate science in my experience. I don’t know how you could feel it with all the motion and commotion at the jetties (plus making sure you’re staying off the rocks). I suppose the answer is using a cork, staying constantly ready to set hook, and losing tons of bait along the way? I look forward to any advice you get from others that are successful there.
You need a good heavy anchor/chain. Set anchor a good ways off the rocks, maybe 100 feet or more. Make sure its set real good. Back towards the rocks until close enough to pitch a brick with a cheap rope tied to it over a rock till it sets. Pull ropes until boat is in desired position then tie off. The brick side is disposable. If a big wake comes untie or cut this line. Be ready to motor away on short notice. It’s not too bad once you try it a few times.
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.eyestrikefishing.com #predatorsstriketheeye
I do something very similar to what Optiker said. I tie a piece of cotton rope in a loop through the item that I throw to the rocks. I insert an anchor rope through the loop and hold on to both ends. One hooked into the rocks I tie off both ends of the anchor rope. When I get ready to leave I just hold onto one end of the anchor rope and it pulls through the loop tied to the item stuck in the rocks. I leave the item and a piece of cotton rope at the jetties. The cotton rope will disintegrate in little time.
BadBob
Polar 1910 BB 150 Johnson 2S
If you ain’t the lead dog then the scenery never changes
I love fishing the jetties. I use a trolling motor, so I can’t help you out with any anchoring advice. As far as bait/tackle, I use medium rod w/ 15lb braid and 20lb leader on a swivel. I run about 18 inches of leader with the smallest and strongest circle hook I can find. Sheepies will bend a strong hook straight, so strength counts. Fiddler crab is the ticket for sheep. I put a split-shot weight about 6 inches from the hook (weight size varies depending on winds). I try to replicate the fiddler crab falling off the rocks and getting caught by the currents.
Keep your line tight. Sheep are complicated, they don’t hit the bait hard. You’ll lose a lot of fiddler crabs trying. I you pull in an empty hook or a fiddler that’s been sucked dry, you can pretty must rest assured that you’re on the sheepshead. I like to give the hook a good jerk every 5-8 seconds, maybe sooner to keep your line tight if the currents are strong.
I catch a lot of red and black drum using this method too. They all love fidler crab! If you have a medium-heavy rod, take some cut bait with you and drop a bottom rig with some steel leader on the back of the boat. Chances of hooking up on a nice shark or bull red are pretty good!
Thanks for the ■■■■■■■■ I may try to apply the brick technique.If i catch my own fiddlers the night before will they be fine if i just leave them in a 5gal bucket in the garage so some other critter doesn’t get to them? I plan on catching 60 or so this evening then fishing first thing in the AM. Do i need to do anything special to keep them alive for this short period of time? I know if im trying to keep them alive for a period of time that sand/mud and water is necessary but this will only be for about 12 hours. i guess my main concern is having that many in the bucket. should i transfer them to larger container over night then back to the bucket just before leaving? never used fiddlers. I also plan on having clam strips as a backup in case the fiddlers evade me.
19’ American Skiff Coral Bay
Put the fiddlers in the bath tub,they might get too hot in a garage.Also you can just stop by Johns rod and reel and they will set you up with a Calcutta pole and everything you need to get out on the rocks and get some sheepies .
quote:
Originally posted by smanPut the fiddlers in the bath tub,they might get too hot in a garage.Also you can just stop by Johns rod and reel and they will set you up with a Calcutta pole and everything you need to get out on the rocks and get some sheepies .
Not sure if you’re married or not but if i put fiddler crabs in the bath tub, I’ll be the one sleeping outside. ha thanks though. I plan on swinging by Haddrell’s to pick up a few things later today, I’ll take a look at those
19’ American Skiff Coral Bay
Your fiddlers will live overnight in a bucket. No worries. What I do is spray them with freshwater in the evening and pour the excess out. I do the same in the morning, just a fresh rinse over them. I’ve kept them 3-4 days that way. Always in my garage, never in my bathtub. 
If worried about the heat you could bring them inside and still leave them in the bucket, but you’ll hear them crawling and scratching around all night.
If you have any trees with Spanish moss, throw a handful in the bucket. Guy down in Savannah taught me that. I’ve had crab live for a week in a small bait bucket w/ a handful of Spanish moss and a little water to keep them hydrated.
I don’t think the garage heat is going to destroy them. Their natural environment is pretty hot.
I just put them in a drawer out of my beer fridge (larger than 5 gallon bucket so they have a little space)and put them in the bushes. wet them and they’re fine for a couple days.
went out yesterday but couldn’t get any sheep with all the up and down of the waves and the wind blowing. lost a big one when he wrapped around anchor line. rookie mistake. got a nice red though
so did you catch any??
quote:
Originally posted by C Michael Bergenso did you catch any??
Thanks for asking, yes we caught 5 sheepshead. 4 were keepers. Also caught 2 keeper black drum and a handful of undersized black sea bass and a 3ft black tip. It was super windy so getting set at the jetties was a chore but we figured it out. Everything was caught on Carolina rig with a 1/0 hook and fiddler. Left the dock at 8 back by 12:30
19’ American Skiff Coral Bay
nice work! Looks tasty!
quote:
Originally posted by smanPut the fiddlers in the bath tub,they might get too hot in a garage.Also you can just stop by Johns rod and reel and they will set you up with a Calcutta pole and everything you need to get out on the rocks and get some sheepies .
I was going through a box in the garage last weekend and found a coozie from Johns … brought back a lot of memories.