Thread: What is mangling my hooks???

Pier#r---It was really cool of you to go out and catch those fish to show us their hook crushers. On such short notice, too.

I have never used "toes" as walleye bait, where do you buy those? What time of the year are they hot?

[QUOTE=Shaken71;84170

Always wanted to catch a sheepshead, any advice on how to specifically target them?[/QUOTE]


If you want to target sheepshead, the best time is March to early April, imo. I usually use live shrimp, since so many other near-shore species (pompano, redfish, black drum, whiting, spanish mackerel) are hot for shrimp at that time. I use as small of an egg sinker as I can get away with, considering the current and the wind. Below that I use a small black swivel, onto which I tie about 18" of 15 lb fluorocarbon leader, then a relatively small circle hook.

I've had a lot of success in recent years with fiddler crabs, using TWO crabs on a hook at a time. The sheepshead seems to hold onto it longer, take it down deeper and then can't spit the circle hook. You'll need a pier net, because a big sheepshead is a load to haul up -- too big to winch up by tightening your drag.
Fish it straight down and if possible, rest your bait on the side of the pilings where you see the sheepshead feeding. Lower it so that it doesn't spook them and keep a relatively tight line.