Inconsistent weather has made it difficult to pattern fish recently. Seatrout traditionally are the go-to fish this time of year for many inshore anglers, however finding those quality sized trout has been a bit unreliable. Redfish can be caught on the pretty days with a good tide but those have been few and far between. That’s why the Sheepshead gets the nod for an angler’s best bet this week.
What the sheepshead my lack in style points it more than makes up for in table fair. Considered to be one of the best eating fish in our local waters, the sheepshead feeds before, during and after cold fronts. Can be found living under wind protected docks, heavily schooled around bridges and jetties and even occasionally sight casted to on those picture-perfect days poling the flats.
Options for bait range from shrimp, small crabs, pieces of bigger crabs and barnacles. Small hooks are necessary due to their small mouth. Light to medium action rods should be used with really no more than 15-pound braided line. The bite is often quite subtle and a heavier rod with a stiff tip doesn’t allow you to get a good feel for it.
Sheepshead enthusiast can often be seen scraping barnacles off of bridge pilings in order to get the sheepshead chummed up beneath the boat. Cutting a handful of shrimp into small pieces and dropping them around the pilings on a slower tide accomplishes the same thing. Anglers targeting sheepshead around docks will find that a small split shot or very small egg sinker will help to hold your bait in place.
Capt. Tyson Wallerstein
Flats Monster Inshore Fishing
(727) 692-5868
capt.tyson@hotmail.com
www.Flatsmonster.com
- Jay Mastry - March 26, 2024
- Captains Corner, Gorta - March 23, 2024
- Dave Zalewski - March 12, 2024
