Thread: Fishing rigs FishingRigs fishing-rigs

I was trying to do a search on fishing rigs for sheepshead. Does aone know where this topic might be, or we could use this title to post various fishing rigs for fishing the pier...

6-7' medium to med-heavy spinning tackle, 8-12# line, egg sinker (1/4-1oz depending on current), 12-15# mono leader (flouro when they are picky) and a #4 bait holder hook.

Live shrimp, ghost shrimp, fiddler crabs or even fresh dead shrimp when they are really in the mood.

Yep, from the upcoming book...


The easiest and simplest is the "Live Shrimp Rig"
The size of the weight varies to match conditions in order to get the most natural presentation possible.
The size of the hook (and style) varies for the size of the shrimp and conditions (wind, current and target depth).

What most folkses call "Carolina Rig" is actually a "simple Fishfinder rig"...
A true "Carolina Rig" uses a bullet weight that may or may not be pegged in place.
The Fishfinder rig works best while bottom fishing so the weight is not felt as the fish moves away with the bait.
But it is versatile and often used from the pier to fish vertically for suspended fish.
The size of the weight can be varied (1/2 oz to 3 oz) as needed to compensate for wind and current.
The size of the hook can vary (#10 to #2) and the style (single, circle, treble) depending on size of the bait, the fish and the conditions.

I prefer a variation of the Drop Shot Rig...
It is simple yet incorporates the best features of the vertically fished Fishfinder Rig.
Again, the size of the weight and hook can vary to match conditions.

Hope this helps!

I use braided main line with a Carolina rig (fishfinder) and change over to fluorocarbon leader at the swivel and tie on a size 8 VMC 4x strong 9626BZ (short shank) treble hook. I think the treble gives you a better chance to hook up given the number of teeth you have to contend with in a sheepshead's mouth. Even then I occasionally lose a hooked fish and get back a ball of wire. The braid-fluorocarbon is a lot more sensitive than mono and a lot of times the bite feels like a 2" bluegill nibbling a night crawler but at least you feel it. If they are being real picky go down to 6# mono and split shot. Set your drag light and try to get away from the pilings when you set the hook. Bring ghost shrimp, live shrimp and fiddler crabs and you will have it covered as far as bait goes. I can't wait for late March.

... you got it ;-)


The idea is to vary the basic rigs so your presentation best matches the current conditions.
Don't be afraid to experiment or at times just return to the basics ;-)



+5# sheep on 4# mono 3/18/14 ;-)

#'er, I tried to respond to your answer on the PM but I'm not sure that I did but thank you for the valuable info.

Here's an older but informative thread on sheepshead from some local experts.

http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...69/index2.html

The ONLY thing I have against braid is the difficulty in getting out tangles. I'm an expert at getting tangles, but when it comes to getting them out, not so much. Also, I'm one of the few on the pier who like to use baitcasting reels when fishing for sheepies. Why? Check out my user name. ....And I like baitcasters.

Also, I like to use #10 trebles so the shrimp can swim more freely. It's one of those situations where you might lose a few more fish, but you get more bites to make up for it.

So which brand/style size 10 treble do you use? Kind of tired of you catching 4 to my one and getting a bad case of cooler envy. And what's the secret to training shrimp to twerk?

Originally Posted by Haywire

The ONLY thing I have against braid is the difficulty in getting out tangles. I'm an expert at getting tangles, but when it comes to getting them out, not so much. Also, I'm one of the few on the pier who like to use baitcasting reels when fishing for sheepies. Why? Check out my user name. ....And I like baitcasters.

Also, I like to use #10 trebles so the shrimp can swim more freely. It's one of those situations where you might lose a few more fish, but you get more bites to make up for it.

Chillinfish, I use a #10, 4X Eagle Claw treble. I loose very few fish but usually only to the pilings. I still have to change the hooks every three or four fish due to the fish bending and/or straightening the hook, but these work for me. I will add I have seen other experienced pier rats using a bronze straight or Kale hook #6 and catch about as many.

good fishing...