A couple of weeks ago I was fishing near the Isle of Palms with my dad and a friend of ours and we started our morning like any other, trying to net some mullet. We caught a few within the first couple of casts, but the next cast yielded something we didn’t quite expect - a sheepshead about 22 inches long! We were pretty bummed that we didn’t catch him on hook and line, as we weren’t sure about the laws regarding catching gamefish in a net. We let him go just to be safe, but I’m curious, has anyone else ever caught a sheepshead in the cast net? We were also pretty far back in the marsh, so no structure around either, which we thought was odd.
Saw one on a flat off the ICW north of IOP yesterday. Have seen reports of guys catching them on fly when fishing the flats. They know where the fielders are…
2014 Key West 203DFS
1987 Landau
quote:
Originally posted by bonecrusherSaw one on a flat off the ICW north of IOP yesterday. Have seen reports of guys catching them on fly when fishing the flats. They know where the fielders are…
2014 Key West 203DFS
1987 Landau
I’ve thrown flies at those stupid things on the flats I can’t tell you how many times. Never got one to eat. Finally you get fed up with it and tap them with the rod tip. You can literally walk up to within ten feet of them though.
quote:
Originally posted by 23Sailfishquote:
Originally posted by bonecrusherSaw one on a flat off the ICW north of IOP yesterday. Have seen reports of guys catching them on fly when fishing the flats. They know where the fielders are…
2014 Key West 203DFS
1987 Landau
I’ve thrown flies at those stupid things on the flats I can’t tell you how many times. Never got one to eat. Finally you get fed up with it and tap them with the rod tip. You can literally walk up to within ten feet of them though.
Sounds like you need to carry a spear gun with you…
'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki
I once caught a sharpnose about three feet long in my cast net trying to get some menhaden. Boy that was not alot of fun to get out.
14 Carolina Skiff 25HP
Its not a sheepshead but I know the disappointment that goes through your head when you think “why couldn’t I get one this nice on a rod”. I’ve caught 5 nice bass in my net this year so far. I always toss them back, its just not right.
I’ve caught a slot red in the cast net before when throwing on a school of finger mullet. I put him back but not sure of the legality.
2005 Sea Hunt 212 Triton
“Head East”
Fairly certain it is legal to keep black drum, sheepshead, and bluefish of legal size caught in a cast net… Some other species too. Reds and trout must be taken by rod/reel or gig. Its all in the scdnr regs online under the restrictions column. Too bad you threw back a tasty meal!