For Florida anglers, sheepshead are a wintertime staple. These black and white fish are prized for their table fare as well as their challenge to hook. As the seasons change and the water and air temperatures drop, many of the classic game fish species become harder to target. Sheepshead offer anglers an opportunity to catch a cooler full of delicious fish and have a blast while doing it. Before we dive too far into fishing for sheepshead in Crystal River, we should go over what a sheepshead is.Â
The Sheepshead
Depending on where in the country you live, sheepshead is a name for very different fish. These aren't the pacific red and blackfish, nor the freshwater drum of the Midwest. The sheepshead we are fishing for is Archosargus probatocephalus, the black and white barred fish known for its human-like teeth.Â
Yep, teeth. The sheepshead feeds primarily on crustaceans and mollusks, where they put their molars and incisors to work crushing shells of their food. Their favorite foods coincide with rock piles, docks, and bridges where barnacles, crabs, and small fish are common. Sheepshead aren't large fish; the Florida state record is 15lb 2oz, with most fish between 3 and 8 pounds. Their wariness and sharp eyesight require anglers to use downsized gear, making fighting these relatively small fish an absolute blast for anglers of any age.
When
to Catch Sheepshead?
Sheepshead fishing is available year-round; however, with so many other species available for the warmer water months, the sheepshead tends to be overlooked. January to March are ideal months to try fishing for sheepshead as the cold water keeps them congregated around their food sources; March and April are the spawning months, so the fish tend to congregate in even greater numbers for those months. Unlike other species, sheepshead are social fish, so when you catch one, there are likely a few more to pull out of the same spot.
Where to
Catch
Sheepshead?
The most typical fishing advice for sheepshead is to target bridge pilings with loads of barnacles. Fishing Crystal River for sheepshead is different. Unlike most of the state, Crystal river doesn't have many saltwater bridges and docks to target sheepshead from. Instead of anchoring below a bridge and fishing the pilings, we head 10-20 miles
offshore
to the rock piles where sheepshead spend most of their time. These rockpiles are less affected by tides and daily temperature swings, so there is a good likelihood that the fishing trip will turn into a catching trip.
What is a Catching Trip?
Many anglers have heard the phrase, "It's called fishing, not catching," and while no one can guarantee a fish, these rockpile excursions are about the closest you can come. Not only are loads of sheepshead schooled up to feed and spawn, but many other species are swimming around the same piles too. Anglers can catch mangrove snapper, grunts, and even hogfish while dropping shrimp. When baits are dropped with frequency, and more fish begin to notice the activity, fishing can become an all-out frenzy. Multiple hookups are expected, with anglers dipping and ducking under each other with a rod doubled over from an excited fish. Snappers, grunts, and sheepshead all have relatively high bag limits, allowing a party of anglers to catch more than enough fish for a whole block party. Naturally, the show star is the sheepshead, and with a bag limit of 8 fish per angler, there are still more than enough tasty filets to go around.
In conclusion, the sheepshead is a phenomenal fish to target in the winter. Their food quality and fight are unmatched. Pairing those attributes with the healthy bag limits anglers can take, and it's no wonder they are so popular for anglers to target. With the lack of bridges and seawalls, Crystal River may not have the textbook locations for sheepshead; far too many anglers think of redfish and seatrout fishing instead. The truth is Crystal River has some of the best locations to target sheepshead on the gulf coast. With offshore rockpiles that can give constant action and the possibility of a mixed bag, it's Florida's best-kept secret. For anglers looking to chase away the wintertime doldrums and bring home a cooler of filets for the fryer or grill, a sheepshead trip is exactly what's needed. Give us a call or email us to book your next sheepshead trip with High Octane Fishing.
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