A sheepshead’s dentures make short work of the hard shell on the crustaceans and mollusks that are essential parts of the fish’s diet. (Photo by John Felsher)
January 29, 2025
By John N. Felsher
The blustery north wind pushed water out toward the Gulf of Mexico. Bundled against the biting cold, we watched several small crabs drift past our dock with the falling tide.
“Something keeps nibbling at my bait and taking it off the hook,” the young angler complained. “I can barely feel it. It must be really tiny.”
“It might be larger than you think. I have an idea,” replied the experienced adult before scooping several small crabs with a dip net and hooking one on the line.
“Don’t cast it,” the man instructed. “Just flip it several feet upstream and let the tide push it back under the dock next to the pilings. When you feel a slight weight on the line, set the hook.”
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The youngster followed the instructions, and a moment later his face lit up as the rod doubled over under the strain of a mighty sheepshead.
THE CONVICT’S APPEAL Often called “convicts” for the black and white stripes covering their flanks that evoke the prison garb of yesteryear, sheepshead range throughout the entire Gulf of Mexico and part of the Eastern Seaboard. Most run in the 2- to 6-pound range, but the all-tackle IGFA world record—caught from a concrete seawall on Lake Pontchartrain within the New Orleans city limits—weighed a whopping 21 pounds, 4 ounces.
Despite sheepshead being spirited fighters, abundantly accessible and delicious, many anglers turn up their noses at these fish. Perhaps it’s due to sheepsheads’ frustrating bait-stealing skills, their not-so-handsome appearance or the fact that their large scales and sharp, thick dorsal spines make them difficult to clean.
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Sheepsheads’ dentures are to blame for what some consider unattractive looks. The upper and lower jaws have several rows of teeth; the front ones look like human incisors and the back ones resemble human molars. And, while dressing these fish requires a bit of work, it’s truly worth the effort.
KNOWN HANGOUTS “Sheepshead love hard structures covered with barnacles,” says Marie Head, a biologist for the Alabama Marine Resources Division.
In addition to barnacle-encrusted objects, such as dock and bridge pilings, sunken boats and mangrove roots, you can find them around reefs, jetties and oyster bars.
“People can often catch really big ones right off the bank and along seawalls, private docks or public piers without a boat,” Head says.
Along the Louisiana and Texas coasts, many oyster reefs, shell beds and petroleum structures hold sheepshead. In Mississippi and Alabama, they also patrol grassy shorelines in search of shrimp and crabs, and roam sandy beaches munching on mole crabs (aka sand fleas). In Florida, many forage among mangrove roots, too. In addition, numerous wrecks and artificial reefs established for fish habitat are frequented by the convicts.
Bridge abutments, dock and pier pilings, rock jetties and oil rigs encrusted with barnacles attract foraging sheepshead. (Photo by John Felsher) PRIME TIME On the Gulf Coast, sheepshead congregate in huge numbers in winter before heading out to spawn in the Gulf of Mexico. The best fishing occurs during the colder months, which is when many sheepshead reach their heaviest weights. “People catch sheepshead all year long, but the prime time is from the beginning of winter through April,” Head says.
Spawning takes place in February, March and sometimes April, but the fish start bunching up in January. Anglers who locate a concentration can usually catch large numbers.
“It’s not unusual to go out in the winter and fill up a cooler. We also catch some fish in the 8- to 10-pound range,” says Tom Adams, Jr. with Fishing Tom Guide Service in Sulphur, La.
BAIT DEBATES Aside from small crustaceans, sheepshead also relish squid, clams and barnacles. But even minnows and other small finfish become part of the menu once in a while.
With powerful jaws and strong incisors, these fish easily snip barnacles off pilings, rocks and other objects, then crush the shells to eat what’s inside. So pull as close to a bridge, dock or oil rig as possible and, if feasible, tie up to it rather than anchor. Then, drop a bait to the bottom next to the submerged structure, keeping tabs on the line. Slowly raise the bait and let it fall back down. If nothing hits it on the bottom, crank up a few feet. Sheepshead rise and descend looking for barnacles or other potential meals throughout the entire water column, so keep trying different depths. When you feel a little heaviness, set the hook.
“You need a finesse touch to consistently catch sheepshead,” says Adams, who frequently opts for a dead or live shrimp on a 1/4-ounce jig head. “Sometimes, sheepshead want a dead shrimp, but other times they will hit a live shrimp better because it’s down there twitching.”
“When fishing bridges, I use a drop-shot rig with the sinker at the bottom and the hook above it,” says Ronnie Daniels with Fisher-Man Guide Services in Pass Christian, Miss. “The weight below the hook keeps the bait just off the bottom and gives you a direct line to the hook, so you can feel the bites better.”
Where legal, seasoned sheepshead anglers scrape barnacles off the pilings with a rake or shovel to create a cloud of debris in the water. The fish will quickly home in on the scent and succulent bits. Freeline a live shrimp into this chum cloud and get ready to set the hook.
For casting or dropping live baits, a Carolina rig is an excellent choice. Slip a sliding weight on the line and tie a barrel swivel on the end, then attach 18 to 36 inches of 15- to 30-pound fluorocarbon leader to the swivel and add a No. 2 to 1/0 Octopus or bait-keeper hook (depending on bait choice).
“When fishing specifically for sheepshead, I use a Carolina rig with a 1/2- to 3/4-ounce weight,” says Kenny Kreeger with Lake Pontchartrain Charters in Slidell, La. “I tip it with a live shrimp and put the bait as close to the structure as I possibly can.”
Sheepshead can’t resist a small crab. Wherever legal, hook one through the shell near either of its swimmer fins (the rear, rounded extremities) so it can still move easily. Break off the claws and toss them into the water for chum. A crab piece also works well, as does a whole fiddler crab—especially in Florida.
“Whenever I fish for sheepshead, I prefer live bait,” says Patric Garmeson with Ugly Fishing Charters
in Mobile, Ala. , who once held the Alabama state record with a 13-pound, 14-ounce catch. “If I’m specifically targeting sheepshead, I’ll use a small crab like a hermit crab or a fiddler. Sometimes, we catch sheepshead on baitfish, but in most occasions a crustacean is the way to go.”
“In the winter, we frequently catch fish in water just 2 to 3 feet deep,” says David Dillman with Galveston Bay Charter Fishing in San Leon, Texas . “We use a popping cork with a 15- to 20-pound-test leader and a No. 4 J-hook. When the cork goes down, don’t panic. Reel up the slack and count to three before setting the hook.
BITES AND BOUTS Characteristically, even the largest sheepshead just nibble at the bait, quickly stripping it off the hook without touching steel. Many anglers, therefore, have a tough time detecting their subtle bites.
“We don’t call them convict fish just because of their stripes,” Daniels says. “Sheepsheads are expert bait stealers. We either use shrimp chunks or small whole shrimp, and thread the hook through the body to hide it. We want a bait small enough so a sheepshead will take the entire thing in its mouth. If not, the fish will just sit there chewing it apart.”
Catching sheepshead comes down to anticipating a strike by instinct. Old-timers used to say, “Set the hook before a sheepshead bites.”
Once hooked, sheepsheads don’t slash and flash like speckled trout or run like rampaging redfish. Instead, they rely upon their brute strength to power their way toward the nearest structure. The pugnacious, buck-toothed brawlers will then hunker down in the most entangling cover, daring the angler to wrestle them out.
SHALLOW HAUNTS Although sheepshead commonly hang around somewhat deep structure, they do come into the shallows, even on the coldest days. Hard objects, including rocks, oyster clusters and sunken stumps and roots, absorb solar energy and radiate it into the water column, making the surroundings more comfortable for the fish.
“The upper part of Galveston Bay has spoil islands made of rock,” says Dillman. “When the sun beats down on those rocks, the water tight to the rocks is a little warmer than the rest. Even one or two degrees makes a big difference to a cold-blooded fish.”
The sun also warms the surface. On the coldest days, sheepshead regularly move up shallow to sun themselves and hover just under the surface. For fishing shallow, try a popping cork rig baited with a live shrimp or a crab piece.
FAUX ALTERNATIVES Although sheepshead normally prefer natural baits, they will occasionally hit soft-plastic crab or shrimp imitations, small spoons and other artificial enticements. At times, anglers throwing lures for trout or redfish catch a sheepshead as a bonus. Fly rodders can also score with crab and shrimp patterns.
“I’ve caught many sheepsheads by fishing a plastic shrimp on a small jig head,” Head says. “People just need to know how to work the jig. A Vudu Shrimp is bad to the bone for catching convict fish. They look and move like the real deal. I use the smallest jig head I can cast.”
Fishing for sheepshead requires considerable patience, but these combative powerhouses save many a day when other fish refuse to cooperate. And since they fight so hard and readily eat baits, these fish make great targets for young or novice anglers.
“For a family trip, sheepshead are awesome,” Dillman says. “Anyone can catch them, and kids have a great time fighting them. Sometimes they might catch a big one that gives them a memorable, hard fight.”
And nothing compares to the huge smile on a youngster’s face when battling a fish that could be the biggest he or she has ever seen.
This article was featured in the December-January issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe .