Went out for sheepshead on 4-3, using fiddlers. Started at Nearshore Reef but could find only the usual BSB’s. Did not see much going on with other four boats there.
Moved deeper and located structure, with a lot of fish showing on graph. Structure-scan really does help. Bite was intense for 3 hours until fiddlers ran out. Each drop it was as though you either feel a hit within 10-20 seconds…or reel up, they already stole the bait. Landed about 12-15 sheeps up to 7-8#, and few of better fish pulled hook half way to boat. Several of the sheeps landed were hooked in lip or outside mouth, which is likely why other hooks pulled. Also got couple of dozen BSB’s; a few were eating/keeping size but most small.
I probably caught only one sheep for every 3-4 baits lost/missed bites. So what is your ratio on sheeps? I know I need to improve my technique, but they are quick and subtle. Short leader seems to help. The leader-less jig head shown in recent inshore post would appear to give better feel from bite? I’ll try that. In fact I’ll try most anything to help catch fish.
Not bad weather. Wind from south all day. Actually Friday weather turned out to be better than mid-week when good forecast did not hold.
Roger
Pioneer 197 SF
Good report.
quote:
So what is your ratio on sheeps?
Me? About 2 fish per cup of fiddlers, if it’s real calm and not much current 
Never been very good at those. 1 fish for every 3 or 4 baits puts you WAY ahead of me.
Capt. Larry Teuton
912-six55-5674
lteuton at aol dot com
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
What Larry said, 1 for 4 would be the best I could possibly hope for. I’m usually 1 out of 100 or something like that. The ones at the coal chute are good at what they do. They know how to suck the guts out and leave just the shell without even moving the line!
'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki
Coal chute! They are pros. Been there twice. They really do ninja those fiddlers.
Depends on the day and the bite. Best I have ever had was maybe 1/3, other days not so good. The most important things I have found is use a very short leader (6-8" max), and feel the bite before you feel the bite. What I mean here is use a slow jigging action and as soon as you feet any resistance, set the hook. Often a sheephead will take the bait with out any pull. When you actually feel the bite it is usually too late. Like a lot of other things, one day it will click.
Seafox 246 w 300 Yamaha
Agreed. The old adage about “set the hook before you feel bite”…translates into “keep line vertical, pay attention, keep tension on line, and set hook with any resistance or bump”.
Its just apparent when you’re in sheeps…bait missing, but no bite detected. The one other thing I wonder about, is a treble any better? I am convinced a J-hook is better than circle for sheeps, but will try trebles more for comparison.
Roger
I learned from the best, Sellsfish taught me everything I know bout sheepshead
they back David?
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PROUD YANKEE
Oyster Baron
NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
