Thread: temp. that sheephead spawn

I guess title says it all. We will be down first two weeks of March hoping to find some sheephead.

Should be prime time

I sure hope they come in but am optimistic about all the structure the state has put out front of the pier. I remember couple years ago we were down for Christmas week and they were on fire. I had to rig my rods up and buy a bait bucket and shrimp so my nephew and his friend could catch some.

Originally Posted by wicked crappie

I guess title says it all. We will be down first two weeks of March hoping to find some sheephead.

Well, you won't find any sheephead but hopefully you will find some sheepshead. I can tell you are from Black River Falls, WI. I would imagine you are a Packer fan too. (lol) Tight Lines, Buddy!

I did actually get sort of ambitious and look back to posts a year ago about the Sheepshead fishing. I was thinking it was running late but seems like last year had not got fired up yet by this date. Always looking for an excuse to come down other than in May or September. Been a while since a good fishing report was posted. I thought most of y'all that get to hang out there all year were "real fishermen (persons)". If so....LIE....Get everyone's attention......make someone sit up straight in their chair and wake up. You can always recant the post later as a "fish tale".....Do something to make me at least get up off the couch and start tying leaders.

Water temp needs to be sustained in the mid to upper 60s to really kick off the spawn.
Usually coincident with the full moon in March (coincident around the Equinox).

We are not far off that water temp now (low 60s), and just past the Feb full moon.
So they should start schooling up for spawning in the next few weeks.
Robert may be correct about the recently placed nearshore reefs (one mile and five miles east of the pier) intercepting (some) of the sheepshead that might otherwise gather around the pier. But that remains to be seen...

Of course the shark situation did not help the bite at all last year.
In fact the influx of spanish about the same time (plus the dumping of tons of carcasses) kept the shark population 'happy' and seemed to put an abrupt end to the sheepshead bite.

But stay tuned over the next week to see IF the current weather 'warm up' gets things going...

Originally Posted by Pier#r

Water temp needs to be sustained in the mid to upper 60s to really kick off the spawn.
Usually coincident with the full moon in March (coincident around the Equinox

Water temps are kind of hard to come by these days. Past experience tells me that Dauphin Island runs a bit high. I've been guessing that the Katrina Cut might be the best approximation of beach temps.

Would be happy to hear any other ideas.

Mobile Bay NEP - Environmental Monitoring

Originally Posted by crazynewts

...Do something to make me at least get up off the couch and start tying leaders.

I even ground some points on stainless rod to make a gaff out of bordom waiting on the mail for wire sleeves (king leaders)and protec powder paint for jigs
But sure do like reading catching reports, or any report

Originally Posted by ironman172

sure do like reading catching reports, or any report

I've been down with a cold, Bill, so I haven't gotten out of the house for days. Next couple of days are supposed to be stormy, so I'm guessing it'll be the weekend before I get out on the pier again. Pretty soon, there will be reports from the octi, I predict.

Originally Posted by frednic

Water temps are kind of hard to come by these days. Past experience tells me that Dauphin Island runs a bit high. I've been guessing that the Katrina Cut might be the best approximation of beach temps.

Would be happy to hear any other ideas.

Mobile Bay NEP - Environmental Monitoring

Yeah, with Perdido Pass offline and no water temp report from 42012, I just look at the range from other nearby stations and average them...
DISL: 58-60
CedarPtPier: 57-59
Katrina UnCut: 62-61
BonSecourBay: 62-60
PensacolaBay: 63-61
NavarrePier: 62*
PanamaCityPier: 61-62

Lower number, then higher means an increasing trend.
Higher number then lower means the temp has dropped.
IF I HAD to drop a single number on our current water temp (at the pier) I would 'guesstimate' it at about 61.

Use with a 'grain of salt' because most of these stations have a tidal influence that shows the range between fresher bay water and saltier gulf water.
Right now the gulf is relatively warmer. But when the true trend sets in that may flip-flop as the shallow near shore waters warm faster than the deeper gulf waters.

We want a graph that looks like this near Tampa Bay (where the sheepshead and spanish mackerel bite jumped significantly this past weekend ;-)