Thread: late december sheepies

Since we're on the topic of sheepshead, and I can only occasionally find what I'm looking for using the search feature (most likely due to my own ignorance- I just don't know what specific terms to use), what gear should I plan on bringing to the pier the last week in December? Are sheepshead liftable like a small/med Spanish or do they need a net? Line weight? Braid/mono? Jigging rod?

You'll need a net. A setup you use for Spanish will be fine. I like 20lbbraid so you can crank them out of the pilings. Tiny treble, floro leader, tiny swivel with the lightest weight that'll get the bait down.

You are right, Fordguy. I used the search feature and got confused, but that happens to me a lot. I'll just tell you what I use: A 6'-7' fairly stiff rod, a reel loaded with 12-15# mono, 1/2 to one oz. egg sinker (depending on waves and current, sometimes more), a swivel to keep the sinker from sliding down the leader, a 12# leader 12-18" long and a #10 treble hook.

I am different in that I use a conventional reel instead of a spinning reel---just personal preference. I agree with using as light a weight as possible, but sometimes an area gets crowded with fishermen and you (and they) need to use enough weight to keep your bait straight down and not tangle with others. If your knots are done correctly, you can put all pressure you need on with 12# test line. You can use heavier leader, and catch fish with it, but I have often found that a lighter leader will get lots more bites.

Keep your shrimp lively, hooking them through the head so they swim freely.
Good luck. I hope you wear out that net hauling in sheepies.

By the way, if you do get a new net, throw away the ski rope that comes with it and put on a larger rope that is easier on your hands---get braided rope that won't twist and tangle, and make it long enough, but not so long that the extra will be getting forever tangled. I've seen an awful lot of fish get away while the net man fumbles with an unsolvable tangle and the net halfway to the water.

Do you guys usually use a #8 or #10 treble for sheepies? I know I have heard of it but I don't think I have seen it done. In the Winter time, when I'm there, anyway.

The favored hook seems to be #10 treble. Two years ago, there was a fairly good bite going on and I was hooking up pretty regularly. Next to me was a father and son whom I'd never seen before, and neither could get a bite using heavy leader and a traditional sheepshead hook. The kid asked me what I was doing, so I rigged him up with a little treble on a lighter leader and he proceeded to REALLY piss his dad off by hooking one sheepie after another, until the old man swallowed his pride and switched over.

Not saying that you won't catch fish with other methods, but this works for me---and others. The light #10 treble lets the shrimp swim naturally and lighter line has less drag in the water. A mono tangle is easier to get out than braid and seems to not attract the barnacles on the pilings as badly.

Listen to Haywire. He knows what he's talking about! Definitely #10 3x bronze treble on 12# mono. Rod should be fast action 6 1/2 - 7+' to pull them back from the pilings. A net is a must, but most will be willing to share or net them for you. Hooks may need changing frequently since the powerful jaws of the Sheephead will flatten them in a hurry. Learn where to hook a shrimp between stomach and brain under the horn, to keep them alive.
good fishing...

Originally Posted by fshntime

Listen to Haywire. He knows what he's talking about! Definitely #10 3x bronze treble on 12# mono. Rod should be fast action 6 1/2 - 7+' to pull them back from the pilings. A net is a must, but most will be willing to share or net them for you. Hooks may need changing frequently since the powerful jaws of the Sheephead will flatten them in a hurry. Learn where to hook a shrimp between stomach and brain under the horn, to keep them alive.
good fishing...

Thanks guys!!! I have been using a 4X, #6 circle hook, with the sinker on the bottom, w/ 8# flor., hoping that they hook them self, while fishing at Perdido Pass. It works but the fish/hr rate is low. Tight Lines

The rig I described is for fishing the pier where the fish are generally suspended in the water column and not on the bottom, as you would be fishing in the pass---might not work as well there. Your weight underneath may be better, but I'd still try the little treble.

VMC 9626 4X #8 treble. Braid main line, fluorocarbon leader, small swivel and egg sinker. Ghost shrimp.